255.257 Energy management; buildings occupied by state agencies. - Florida Statutes

255.257 Energy management; buildings occupied by state agencies.

   (1) ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND COST DATA. Each state agency shall collect data on energy consumption and cost. The data gathered shall be on state-owned facilities and metered state-leased facilities of 5,000 net square feet or more. These data will be used in the computation of the effectiveness of the state energy management plan and the effectiveness of the energy management program of each of the state agencies. Collected data shall be reported annually to the department in a format prescribed by the department.

   (2) ENERGY MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS. Each state agency, the Florida Public Service Commission, the Department of Military Affairs, and the judicial branch shall appoint a coordinator whose responsibility shall be to advise the head of the state agency on matters relating to energy consumption in facilities under the control of that head or in space occupied by the various units comprising that state agency, in vehicles operated by that state agency, and in other energy-consuming activities of the state agency. The coordinator shall implement the energy management program agreed upon by the state agency concerned and assist the department in the development of the State Energy Management Plan.

   (3) CONTENTS OF THE STATE ENERGY MANAGEMENT PLAN. The Department of Management Services shall develop a state energy management plan consisting of, but not limited to, the following elements:

   (a) Data-gathering requirements;

   (b) Building energy audit procedures;

   (c) Uniform data analysis procedures;

   (d) Employee energy education program measures;

   (e) Energy consumption reduction techniques;

   (f) Training program for state agency energy management coordinators; and

   (g) Guidelines for building managers.

The plan shall include a description of actions that state agencies shall take to reduce consumption of electricity and nonrenewable energy sources used for space heating and cooling, ventilation, lighting, water heating, and transportation.

   (4) ADOPTION OF STANDARDS.

   (a) All state agencies shall adopt the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, the Green Building Initiative’s Green Globes rating system, the Florida Green Building Coalition standards, or a nationally recognized, high-performance green building rating system as approved by the department for all new buildings and renovations to existing buildings.

   (b) No state agency shall enter into new leasing agreements for office space that does not meet Energy Star building standards, except when determined by the appropriate state agency head that no other viable or cost-effective alternative exists.

   (c) All state agencies shall develop energy conservation measures and guidelines for new and existing office space where state agencies occupy more than 5,000 square feet. These conservation measures shall focus on programs that may reduce energy consumption and, when established, provide a net reduction in occupancy costs.

History. s. 2, ch. 78-26; s. 115, ch. 79-190; s. 38, ch. 85-349; s. 3, ch. 91-113; s. 17, ch. 98-279; s. 23, ch. 99-399; s. 1, ch. 2001-259; s. 21, ch. 2008-227.