§196-23  Energy efficient products. (a)  Agencies shall select, when life-cycle cost-effective, ENERGY STAR andother energy efficient products when acquiring energy‑using products. For product groups where ENERGY STAR labels are not yet available, agencies mayselect products that are in the upper twenty-five per cent of energy efficiencyas designated by the United States Department of Energy, Office of EnergyEfficiency and Renewable Energy, federal energy management program.

(b)  Agencies shall incorporate energy‑efficientcriteria consistent with designated energy‑efficiency levels into productspecification language developed for all purchasing procedures.

(c)  The State shall consider the creation offinancing agreements with private sector suppliers to provide private fundingto offset higher up-front costs of efficient products.

(d)  Agencies entering into leases, includingthe renegotiation or extension of existing leases, shall:

(1)  Incorporate lease provisions that encourageenergy and water efficiency wherever life-cycle cost-effective.  Build-to-suitlease solicitations shall contain criteria encouraging sustainable design anddevelopment, energy efficiency, and verification of facility performance;

(2)  Include a preference for facilities having anENERGY STAR building label in their selection criteria for acquiring leasedfacilities; and

(3)  Encourage lessors to apply for an ENERGY STARbuilding label and to explore and implement projects that will reduce costs tothe State, including projects carried out through the lessors' energy-savingscontracts. [L 2002, c 77, pt of §9; am L 2006, c 96, §9]