Report Title:

Seawater Air Conditioning; State Facilities

Description:

Defines seawater air conditioning (SWAC) as a renewable energy, requires the use of SWAC cooling in state facilities where implementation is feasible, and requires construction bids for state facilities include this technology where it would be feasible.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1714

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to energy efficiency in state buildings.

 

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

SECTION 1. Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 169, 2004 Legislature, expressed the legislature's support for the development of the seawater air conditioning/thermal energy storage system (SWAC) by Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC on Oahu. The resolution also requested the department of accounting and general services to assist Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC in conducting a study to determine the feasibility of implementing a SWAC/Thermal Energy Storage district cooling system for use in state facilities. Based on comparative studies of the cost effectiveness of SWAC systems versus conventional air conditioning systems, the legislature finds that the SWAC system under development by Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC is significantly more cost effective than the conventional air conditioning currently used in State of Hawaii buildings. Its use of a renewable energy source makes SWAC technology a desirable alternative to conventional air conditioning.

The purpose of this Act is to recognize SWAC as a renewable energy and to foster the use of SWAC in State buildings to the greatest extent feasible.

SECTION 2. Section 196-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "renewable energy" to read as follows:

""Renewable energy" means energy produced by solar, energy conserved by passive solar design/daylighting, ocean thermal[,] including seawater air conditioning district cooling, wind, wave, geothermal, waste-to-energy, or biomass power."

SECTION 3. Section 196-23, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

1. By amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) Agencies shall select, where life-cycle cost-effective, ENERGY STAR and other energy efficient products when acquiring energy-using products. For product groups where ENERGY STAR labels are not yet available, agencies may select products that are in the upper twenty-five per cent of energy efficiency as designated by the United States Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Federal Energy Management Program. Agencies shall use seawater air conditioning district cooling in state facilities located in areas where this technology is feasible and available.

Agencies shall incorporate energy efficient criteria consistent with designated energy efficiency levels into all guide specifications and project specifications developed for new construction and renovation, as well as into product specification language developed for all purchasing procedures. Agencies shall require the use of seawater air conditioning district cooling in all bidding documents involving the construction or renovation of state facilities located in areas where this technology is feasible and available, and shall provide a preference to bidders that incorporate this technology in their bidding proposals.

The State shall also consider the creation of financing agreements with private sector suppliers to provide private funding to offset higher up-front costs of efficient products."

2. By amending subsection (e) to read as follows:

"(e) Agencies shall implement energy reduction systems, and other highly efficient systems, in new construction or retrofit projects when life-cycle cost-effective. Agencies shall consider combined cooling, heat, and power systems when determined to be the most cost-effective when measured against other alternatives on a life-cycle cost basis. Agencies shall survey local natural resources to optimize use of available solar, ocean thermal[,] including seawater air conditioning district cooling, biomass, bioenergy, geothermal, or other naturally occurring energy sources."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

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