Requires that public state buildings constructed or substantially renovated with 50 per cent state funding shall comply with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver standards; applies to building for which funding is appropriated in FY 2008 and after.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the greening of the "built environment" leads to the restoration of the natural environment, enrichment of communities, and strengthening of the economy. 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.

The legislature supports promoting environmentally sensitive and responsible design and creating healthy communities. 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. Act 77, among other things, also requires state agencies to strive to expand usage of renewable energy.

The purpose of this Act is to require all public state buildings that are constructed or substantially renovated with funding consisting of fifty per cent or more in state funds that are appropriated in fiscal year 2008 and thereafter to comply with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver standards.

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

"§196- Green building standards for public state buildings. (a) Qualifying public state buildings shall comply with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver standards, in the version most recently adopted by the United States Green Building Council, as a minimum design standard.

(b) As used in this section, "qualifying public state buildings" means facilities with a floor area greater than five thousand square feet, with funding for at least fifty per cent of the design or substantial renovation appropriated from general funds in fiscal year 2008 and thereafter. The term excludes wastewater treatment, solid waste, and other facilities for which Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification is not available or facilities that the director of design and construction has determined that compliance with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver standards would not be feasible."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2007.