Report Title:

State Facilities; Green Building; LEED standards

Description:

Requires the incorporation of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified standards for buildings constructed or substantially renovated with funding consisting of fifty per cent or more in state funds. (HD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1019

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO GREEN BUILDING.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the "built environment" has a profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health, and productivity. In the United States, buildings account for thirty-six per cent of total energy use and sixty-five per cent of electricity consumption, thirty per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, thirty per cent of raw materials use, thirty per cent of waste output (one hundred thirty-six tons annually), and twelve per cent of potable water consumption.

Breakthroughs in building science, technology, and operations are available to maximize economic and environmental performance and otherwise reduce the adverse impacts of the built environment. Green building has many benefits, including air and water quality improvement, solid waste reduction, natural resource conservation, operating cost reduction, asset value and profit enhancement, employee productivity and satisfaction improvement, less strain on the local infrastructure, life-cycle economic performance optimization, and overall improvement to the quality of life. Green building meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System is a national consensus-based, market-driven building rating system designed to accelerate the development and implementation of green building practices. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards are used in designing, constructing, and certifying green buildings, highlighting benchmarks of sustainability, including site location and development, water use, energy, materials, indoor environmental quality, health and productivity, and financing. Buildings constructed or renovated using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards have lower operating costs, higher lease rates, and happier and healthier occupants than conventionally constructed structures. Twenty-two per cent of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design projects are owned by local governments and twenty-four per cent are owned by state and federal governments.

In 2002, the legislature mandated significant improvements in energy management of state facilities to save taxpayer dollars and reduce emissions that contribute to air pollution and global climate change. Act 77, Session Laws of Hawaii 2002, requires each agency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions attributable to facility energy use by thirty per cent by January 1, 2012. The Act, among other things, also requires state agencies to strive to expand usage of renewable energy.

Incorporating Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified standards in building construction and renovation will allow the State access to creative engineering and design guidelines that will provide needed direction, experience, and flexibility. It is the logical next step to creating an efficient energy future for Hawaii.

The purpose of this Act is to require the incorporation of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified standards for buildings constructed or substantially renovated with funding consisting of fifty per cent or more in state funds.

SECTION 2. Chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§196-    Leadership in energy and environmental design certified standards for newly constructed or substantially renovated facilities. All design that is initiated on or after January 1, 2006, for construction of a building or substantial renovation of a building, utilizing fifty per cent or more in state funds, shall meet or exceed leadership in energy and environmental design certified standards developed by the United States Green Building Council."

SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.