SB568: Buildings, state-owned; energy audits required thereof.

SENATE BILL NO. 568
Offered January 11, 2006
Prefiled January 11, 2006
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.2-1131.2, relating to the Department of General Services; energy audits for state buildings.
Patron-- Whipple

Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 2.2-1131.2 as follows:

§ 2.2-1131.2. Energy audits of existing state-owned buildings.

A. As used in this section: 

"Energy audit" means a determination of the energy consumption characteristics of a building by identifying the type, amount, and rate of energy consumption of the building and its major energy systems.

"Energy conservation measure" means the installation or modification of an installation in a building that is primarily intended to reduce energy consumption or allow the use of an alternative energy source, including but not limited to (i) insulation of the building and systems within the building; (ii) storm windows and doors, multiglazed windows and doors, heat-absorbing or heat-reflective glazed and coated windows and door systems, additional glazing, reductions in glass area, and other window and door system modifications; (iii) automatic energy control systems; (iv) equipment required to operate variable steam, hydraulic, and ventilating systems adjusted by automatic energy control systems; (v) solar space heating or cooling systems, solar electric generating systems, or any combination thereof; (vi) solar water heating systems; (vii) furnace or utility plant and distribution system modifications; (viii) caulking and weather-stripping; (ix) replacement or modification of lighting fixtures that increase the energy efficiency of the lighting system; (x) energy recovery systems; and (xi) energy management.

B. The Division shall establish a program to require every state-owned building to undergo an energy audit before December 30, 2008. After the completion of each energy audit, the Division shall develop an implementation plan to address energy conservation measures recommended by such audit to have a positive return on estimates in terms of energy savings and other benefits calculated at 6% of the cost of the capital investment over (i) 30 years, (ii) the lifetime of any new equipment used in the modifications, or (iii) the lifetime of the modifications, whichever is less.

C. By December 1, 2006, the Division shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the status of the energy audit program established pursuant to subsection B. Thereafter, the Division shall prepare, no later than November 30 of each year, reports to the Governor and the General Assembly on the status of the conduct of the energy audits and the implementation plans established pursuant to such audits.