SB1252: Green Public Buildings Act; certain new or renovated buildings to be built to certain standards.


SENATE BILL NO. 1252
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology
on February 4, 2009)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Petersen)
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 11 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 8, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-1182 and 2.2-1183, relating to the Green Public Buildings Act.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 11 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 8, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-1182 and 2.2-1183, as follows:

Article 8.
Green Public Buildings Act.

2.2-1182. Short Title; findings.

A. This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Green Public Buildings Act."

B.  The General Assembly finds that:

1. Energy costs for public buildings are likely to increase over time.

2. Public buildings can be built and renovated using high-performance methods that save energy costs, preserve the environment, and make workers and students more productive.

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Green Globes" means the Green Building Initiative green building rating standard.

"LEED" means the United States Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environment Design green building rating standard.

2.2-1183. Building standards; exemption.

A. Any public body entering the design phase for construction of a new building greater than 5,000 gross square feet in size, or renovating such a building where the cost of renovation exceeds 50 percent of the value of the building, shall conform to LEED silver or Green Globes two globe standards and the buildings shall be designed, constructed, verified, and operated to achieve energy savings that exceed the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1-2004 (Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings) by at least 15 percent for new construction and 10 percent for major renovation.  In addition, water systems designed for such buildings shall be required to provide water use savings of at least 25 percent over the baseline standard established in the federal Energy Policy Act of 1992.

B. For state public bodies, an exemption from the design and construction standards required by subsection A may be granted by the Director of the Department of General Services only upon a finding of special circumstances that make construction to the standards impracticable.

C. For local public bodies an exemption from the design and construction standards required by subsection A may be granted by the local governing body of the locality or school board when circumstances such as marketplace constraints make construction to the standards unreasonable.

2. That the provisions of this act shall not apply to local public bodies and school boards until July 1, 2010.

SENATE BILL NO. 1252
Offered January 14, 2009
Prefiled January 14, 2009
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 11 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 8, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-1182 and 2.2-1183, relating to the Green Public Buildings Act.
Patron-- Petersen

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 in Chapter 11 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 8, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-1182 and 2.2-1183 as follows:

Article 8.
Green Public Buildings Act.

2.2-1182. Short Title; findings.

A. This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Green Public Buildings Act."

B. The General Assembly finds that:

1. Energy costs for public buildings are likely to increase over time.

2. Use of energy generated by the combustion of fossil fuels contributes substantially to the problems of pollution and global warming.

3. Public buildings can be built and renovated using high-performance methods that save energy costs, preserve the environment, and make workers and students more productive.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Green Globes" means the Green Building Initiative green building rating standard.

"LEED" means the United States Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environment Design green building rating standard.

2.2-1183. Building standards; exemption.

Any public body entering the design phase for construction of a new building greater than 5,000 gross square feet in size, or renovating such a building where the cost of renovation exceeds 50 percent of the value of the building, shall build to LEED silver or Green Globes two globe standards, unless granted an exemption by the Director of the Department of General Services for construction by state agencies, institutions and authorities, or by the governing body of a locality or school board. Any exemption shall only be granted when LEED or Green Globes standards do not exist for the type of building being constructed or due to special circumstances that make construction to such standards impracticable. Such projects shall not be required to obtain official LEED or Green Globes certification.