§46-19.5  Energy conservation standards forbuilding design and construction.  (a)  Energy efficiency buildingstandards based on the design requirements for improvements of energyutilization in buildings developed and approved by the American Society ofHeating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Incorporated (ASHRAE90.1), shall be incorporated by each county into its building code byOctober 24, 1994.  The standards shall apply to all buildings, includingstate buildings; provided that the standards for renovated buildings shall onlyapply to the renovated system or elements of the building.

(b)  The energy efficiency building standardsshall not apply to exempted buildings.  For the purposes of this section,"exempted building" means:

(1)  Any building owned or leased in whole or in partby the United States; and

(2)  Any building that is deliberately preservedbeyond its normal term of use because of historic significance, architecturalinterest, or public policy or that qualifies for special historic building codeprovisions.

For special applications such as hospitals,laboratories, thermally sensitive equipment, computer rooms, and manufacturingand industrial processes, the design concepts and parameters shall conform tothe requirements of the application at minimum energy levels, provided thatwhere these special applications are described in the ASHRAE handbook andproduct directory, applications volume, the criteria described therein shall beused.

(c)  The energy efficiency building standardsshall be enforced at the time of construction of a new building or at the timeof major addition, alteration, or repair of an existing building when theproposed major addition, alteration, or repair must comply with the standardsapplicable to new buildings under the applicable county building code.  Noofficial of the State nor of any county charged with the enforcement of laws orordinances pertaining to the construction or alteration of buildings orstructures shall accept or approve any plan or specification including orpertaining to the design and construction details and standards for a heatingor cooling system unless the energy efficiency building standards are met.  Allsuch plans and specifications submitted with or in connection with anapplication for a building or construction permit shall bear the certificationby a registered architect or engineer that the plans and specifications complywith the energy efficiency building standards.

(d)  At such time as performance standards thataddress the overall energy performance of buildings are promulgated pursuant tothe Energy Conservation Standards for New Buildings Act of 1976, title III ofthe Energy Conservation and Production Act, Public Law 94-385, such standardsshall be considered for adoption by each county and shall be incorporated intoits building code in addition to the standard adopted pursuant to subsection(a) above, as required by federal law. [L 1978, c 133, §1; am L 1994, c 168,§1]

 

Cross References

 

  Energy efficiency through life-cycle costing, see §103D-410.