HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	124
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

requesting the department of accounting and general services to conduct a feasibility study on requiring renovations to state buildings to meet leadership in Energy and environmental design standards.

     WHEREAS, Act 96, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, introduced the requirement that new state buildings and facilities be constructed to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver or two green globes rating system or another comparable, state-approved, nationally recognized, consensus based guideline, standard, or system, which is codified in section 196-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

     WHEREAS, the new Student Life Center and the new Science and Technology Building at the University of Hawaii at Hilo were both constructed to meet LEED standards; and

     WHEREAS, because the State is not required by law to incorporate LEED standards into the renovation of existing state buildings and facilities, renovations to the Edwin H. Mookini Library or the Performing Arts Center at the University of Hawaii at Hilo do not meet LEED standards; and

     WHEREAS, the LEED program of the United States Green Building Council is recognized as the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings; and

     WHEREAS, requiring state buildings to meet standards for energy efficiency, in the long term, would reduce the State's energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy costs borne by taxpayers; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, that the Department of Accounting and General Services is requested to conduct a feasibility study on requiring renovations to existing state buildings and facilities to meet LEED standards or similar standards for energy efficiency and green building design; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Accounting and General Services is requested to submit to the Legislature a report of its findings and recommendations, including any necessary proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Comptroller.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

State Buildings; Energy Efficiency