HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1294

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

 

 

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

 


SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that energy efficiency is a cornerstone of the State's transition to clean energy.  It is also a strong mechanism for protecting consumers from high energy costs.  The legislature has repeatedly found that promoting greater energy efficiency is in the public's interest.

The purpose of this Act is to establish an energy efficiency task force to make recommendations on energy proposals to ensure cost savings to all ratepayers.

SECTION 2. (a) The director of business, economic development, and tourism shall establish the energy efficiency task force to make recommendations on building and energy codes and standards for commercial buildings.  The director shall initiate the organization of and provide staff support for the task force.

(b) The director shall invite representatives of the following agencies to participate in the task force: 

     (1)  State energy office;

     (2)  State building code council;

     (3)  A county building official from each of the four counties appointed by the mayor;

     (4)  Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii;

     (5)  American Institute of Architects, Hawaii State Council;

     (6)  The public benefits fee administrator; and

     (7)  Any additional members from various sectors, including energy efficiency experts, nonprofit organizations, and others to be selected at the discretion of the director of business, economic development, and tourism.

A single member of the task force may represent more than one of the seven enumerated task force participant categories.

(c)  The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, to the legislature and the state building code council no later than January 31, 2018.  The report shall include:

     (1)  New building and energy codes and standards that existing and new commercial buildings or structure will follow to become more energy efficient, particularly with respect to the problem of open-door air conditioning;

     (2)  Proposals to define allowable air curtain or other retrofit technologies sufficient to protect against the co-mingling of indoor and outdoor air in commercial buildings and structures;

     (3)  Proposals to implement design and construction codes and standards for new commercial construction to avoid open-door air conditioning in the future; and

     (4)  Proposals for codes and standards to be included in the state building and energy codes with respect to commercial construction, to increase energy efficiency.

(d)  The members of the task force shall serve without compensation and shall be exempt from the requirements of chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

(e)  The task force shall terminate on June 30, 2018.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon a date to be determined.



 

Report Title:

Energy Efficiency; Task Force

 

Description:

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish a task force to make recommendations on building and energy code and standards for commercial buildings.  (HB1294 HD2)

 

 

 

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