Page 229 - Alternative Energy Systems in Building Design

STATE OF CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING ACTION PLAN 205

must meet LEED-EB standards by no later than 2015 to the maximum extent of
cost-effectiveness.

Energy efficiency All state-owned buildings must reduce the volume of energy
purchased from the grid by at least 20 percent by 2015 as compared with a 2003 baseline.
Alternatively, buildings that have already taken significant efficiency actions must
achieve a minimum efficiency benchmark established by the CEC.
Consistent with the executive order, all state buildings are directed to investigate
“demand response” programs administered by utilities, the California Power Authority,
to take advantage of financial incentives in return for agreeing to reduce peak electrical
loads when called on to the maximum extent cost-effective for each facility.
All occupied state-owned buildings, beginning no later than July 2005, must use the
energy-efficiency guidelines established by the CEC. All state buildings over 50,000 ft 2
must be retrocommissioned and then recommissioned on a recurring 5-year cycle or
whenever major energy-consuming systems or controls are replaced. This is to ensure
that energy- and resource-consuming equipment are installed and operated at optimal
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efficiency. State facility leased spaces of 5000 ft or more also must meet minimum
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star guidelines.
Beginning in the year 2008, all electrical equipment, such as computers, printers,
copiers, refrigerator units, and air-conditioning systems, that is purchased or operated
by state buildings and state agencies must be Energy Star rated.

Financing and execution Consultation with the CEC, the State Treasurer’s Office,
the DGS, and financial institutions will facilitate lending mechanisms for resource-
efficiency projects. These mechanisms will include the use of the life-cycle cost
methodology and will maximize the use of outside financing, loan programs, revenue
bonds, municipal leases, and other financial instruments. Incentives for cost-effective
projects will include cost sharing of at least 25 percent of the net savings with the
operating department or agency.

SCHOOLS
New school construction The Division of State Architect (DSA), in consultation
with the Office of Public School Construction and the CEC in California, was mandated
to develop technical resources to enable schools to be built with energy-sufficient
resources. As a result of this effort, the state designated the Collaborative for High
Performance Schools (CHPS) criteria as the recommended guideline. The CHPS is
based on LEED and was developed specifically for kindergarten to grade 12 schools.

COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGS

This section also includes private-sector buildings, state buildings, and schools. The
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is mandated to determine the level of
ratepayer-supported energy efficiency and clean-energy generation so as to contribute
to the 20 percent efficiency goal.