2011 Connecticut Code
Title 16a Planning and Energy Policy
Chapter 298 Energy Utilization and Conservation
Sec. 16a-38a. Energy audits and retrofitting of state buildings. Energy efficiency maintenance program.

      Sec. 16a-38a. Energy audits and retrofitting of state buildings. Energy efficiency maintenance program. (a) The Commissioner of Public Works shall conduct an energy audit of all buildings owned by the state to determine the energy conservation and energy consumption characteristics of such buildings. Such energy audits shall be conducted in cooperation with the state department, agency, board or commission occupying such building. Such energy audits shall be conducted in accordance with guidelines established under the "National Energy Conservation Policy Act", Public Law 95-619, 92 Stat. 3206 (1978), as amended from time to time, and with the following schedule: (1) Preliminary energy audits of all buildings owned or leased by the state shall be completed within one year after July 1, 1979. The results from such preliminary audits shall be used to set priorities for subsequent audits. (2) Subsequent energy audits based on the priorities established in accordance with subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall be initiated at a rate of at least twenty per cent of total building floor space per year. Each audit procedure shall be completed within two years of its initiation.

      (b) (1) The Commissioner of Public Works shall review and evaluate the energy audits completed in accordance with this section and shall, within six months, recommend to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management buildings for cost effective retrofit measures to enable such buildings to attain the energy performance standards established under subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 16a-38. (2) It shall be a goal that beginning not later than July 1, 1982, work to retrofit at least twenty per cent of the total floor area of existing state-owned buildings for energy conservation shall be commenced in each fiscal year. Where technically feasible, renewable sources of energy shall be used for space heating and cooling, domestic hot water and other applications. (3) It shall be a goal that not later than June 30, 1991, all state-owned buildings be the subject of such energy conservation and renewable energy retrofit measures as will enable them to meet the energy performance standards established in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 16a-38.

      (c) The Commissioner of Public Works and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall jointly develop and publish guidelines applicable to all state agencies for an energy efficiency maintenance program for all state-owned buildings. The program shall include, but not be limited to, annually inspecting, testing and tuning fossil fuel burning equipment utilized for space heating or the production of steam or hot water for process uses. All agencies shall cooperate in implementing such maintenance program.

      (P.A. 79-496, S. 2, 5; P.A. 81-376, S. 3, 11; P.A. 87-496, S. 76, 110; P.A. 03-230, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 81-376 substituted "energy performance standards" for "energy performance goals" in Subsecs. (b) and (c), required commissioner to recommend to secretary, rather than select, buildings for retrofit measures in Subsec. (b), required commissioner to jointly develop guidelines with secretary for program under Subsec. (c), rather than in consultation with secretary, and set forth scope of program under Subsec. (c); P.A. 87-496 substituted "public works" for "administrative services" commissioner; P.A. 03-230 deleted former Subsec. (c) re preference for leasing buildings that meet energy performance standards, transferring provisions to Sec. 16a-38h(b), and redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as new Subsec. (c).

      See Sec. 4b-23 for secretary's responsibilities concerning recommended retrofit measures.