VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

• Code of Virginia
• Virginia Administrative Code
• Constitution of Virginia
• Charters
• Authorities
• Compacts
• Uncodified Acts
• RIS Users (account required)

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

• Bills & Resolutions
  session legislation
• Bill Summaries
  session summaries
• Reports to the General Assembly
  House and Senate documents
• Legislative Liaisons
  State agency contacts

ACROSS SESSIONS

• Subject Index: Since 1995
• Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
• Summaries: Since 1994

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2008 SESSION

• history | hilite | pdf | print version

082380648
HOUSE BILL NO. 1195 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 9, 2008 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 11 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 8, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-1182 through 2.2-1186, relating to the Department of General Services; Green Buildings Act; report. ---------- Patrons-- Moran and Bouchard ---------- Referred to Committee on General Laws ----------

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 through 2.2-1186 as follows:

Article 8. Green Buildings Act.

§ 2.2-1182. Short title; findings.

A. This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Green Buildings Act."

B. The General Assembly finds that:

1. Energy costs for public buildings are skyrocketing and will likely continue to increase.

2. Use of energy generated by the combustion of fossil fuels contributes substantially to the problems of pollution and global warming.

3. 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.

§ 2.2-1183. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"LEED certified" means the United States Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environment Design green building rating standard.

"FSC certified" means Forestry Stewardship Council certified wood products.

§ 2.2-1184. Building standards; exemption.

A. Any state agency authorized by the General Assembly to undertake a major facility project located on state-owned land, shall build to LEED silver certification standards, unless granted an exemption by the Director of the Department of General Services. Such projects shall not be required to obtain official LEED silver certification.

B. Application of the requirement to build to LEED silver certification standards to major facility projects shall proceed in the following manner:

1. New construction projects of 150,000 square feet or more entering the design phase between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009.

2. New construction projects of 100,000 square feet or more entering the design phase between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010.

3. New construction projects of 50,000 square feet or more entering the design phase between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011.

4. New construction projects of 25,000 square feet or more entering the design phase after July 1, 2011.

C. The provisions of this article shall not apply to any construction project of a public school district.

§ 2.2-1185. Administration; monitoring.

A. The Department of General Services shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to enforce this article. Such regulations shall include criteria for determining when a project qualifies for an exemption from the LEED silver certification standard and the building standards that may be imposed on projects that are granted exemptions.

B. The Department shall monitor and document ongoing operating savings that result from major facility projects designed and constructed consistent with the LEED silver certification standards.

C. The Director shall evaluate requests for exemptions in consultation with the Secretary of Natural Resources.

§ 2.2-1186. Report.

On or before December 1 of each year, the Department shall provide to the Governor and General Assembly (i) a description of projects granted exemptions from the LEED silver certification standard, (ii) the reasons for exemptions, and (iii) recommendations for changes in policy.

2.  That the Department of General Services is directed to ensure that all state-owned and occupied buildings shall discontinue the use of incandescent light bulbs by December 31, 2009. Beginning on January 1, 2010, all state-owned and occupied buildings shall be required to use compact fluorescent light bulbs.