HB1264: Green Public Buildings Act; created.
Patrons-- Hope, Brink, Ebbin, Herring, Kory, Scott, J.M., Sickles and Surovell
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:
? 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.
C. 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 Environmental 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 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, 2011.