STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2473

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2453

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2453 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE BUILDINGS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to save energy by setting a minimum temperature of no less than seventy-three degrees Fahrenheit for air conditioning in state buildings under the jurisdiction of the Department of Accounting and General Services.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office.

 

     Your Committee finds that conserving energy by raising the minimum temperature of air conditioners and air conditioning systems can result in increased savings.  Your Committee further finds that there are industry standards that are applicable to setting temperatures based on clothing, activity level, and humidity.

 

     Your Committee finds that it is prudent to begin with a pilot project of a manageable number of buildings, to determine the most cost-efficient temperature levels that do not impair operation levels, rather than imposing a set figure on all state facilities.  Your Committee notes that the Department of Accounting and General Services is responsible for less than five percent of all State-owned facilities, which are mainly office buildings.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by limiting its mandate to state office buildings for which the Department of Accounting and General Services is responsible, and by not specifying a set temperature, but rather to base required temperatures on industry recommendations.  This Act has been further amended to provide an exemption for state buildings or facilities within state buildings utilized for the purposes of storage, medical or scientific activities which your Committee acknowledges may have specific temperature requirements.

 

     Your Committee notes that the Department of Accounting and General Services should work with the Hawaii State Energy Office to identify the appropriate industry standard for temperature settings in these buildings.

 

     Your Committee has also amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Comptroller to submit a report of temperature ranges suitable for achieving energy savings in the office buildings of the State 20 days before the start of the 2021 legislative session;

 

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2020; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2453, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2453, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 


Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

 

 

 

________________________________

LAURA H. THIELEN, Chair