Solar - Passive

Building Energy Code and Solar Requirement

Much of the information presented in this summary is drawn from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program and the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP). For more detailed information about building energy codes, visit the DOE and BCAP websites.

The California Building Standards Commission (BSC) is responsible for administering California's building standards adoption, publication, and implementation. Since 1989, the BSC has published triennial editions of the code, commonly referred to as Title 24, in its entirety every three years. On July 17, 2008 the BSC unanimously approved the nation's first statewide voluntary green building code

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Energy Efficiency in State Buildings

Recent Measures (2020)

On September 23, 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Directive 2020-10 which increased the requirements of emissions and energy use reductions in Michigan state-owned buildings. As per this directive, The Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB) must investigate the cost effectiveness of energy efficiency opportunities when planning or renovating a building owned or operated by the state. DTMB must ensure that:

  • All new buildings and facilities owned and operated by the State, and all major renovations of such buildings and facilities, are carbon neutral by 2040; and
  • All existing buildings and facilities owned and operated by
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Energy Conservation in State Buildings

2023 Update:

On May 17th, 2023, Governor Wes Moore signed executive order 01.01.2023.07 doubling Maryland's energy conservation goal for state-owned buildings from a 10% decrease by 2029 to a 20% decrease by 2031. The EO also requires the Maryland Green Building Council to update the High-Performance Green Building Program to ensure that all new buildings and major renovations align with the state's goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

These standards apply to new buildings or major renovation projects that are:

  • Funded solely with State funds and are of 7,500-gross square feet or larger or are community college
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Energy-Efficient Building Standards for State Facilities

In November of 2019, Governor Mills signed Executive Order 13, which requires state agencies to develop and implement a sustainability plan to meet or exceed the states renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction timelines and targets. It further requires the procurement of environmentally preferable products and services, encourage practices that lead to less wasteful workplaces and account for climate change projections when designing or siting new facilities or projects. The full text of the executive order can be found here.

Maine Statutes Title 5, Section 1764-A also requires that plans and designs for the construction of new or substantially renovated

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Green Building Action Plan for State Facilities

On December 14, 2004, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order S-20-04, creating a Green Building Action Plan to improve the energy performance of all state buildings. The order established energy savings targets for state facilities, declared the "Silver" level of LEED as the minimum performance standard for new buildings, and to required state government to purchase ENERGY STAR products when cost effective.

Governor Gerry Brown signed Executive Order (B-18-12), in April of 2012, updated some of these requirements while rescinding the earlier Executive Order. It adjusted the energy savings targets such that grid-based energy purchases must be reduced

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Energy Conservation Standards for State Facilities

In August 2004, Delaware’s governor signed House Bill 435, requiring state agencies to purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products if they are available competitively and within a reasonable time frame, and if they meet appropriate performance standards. Separately, in February 2010 Governor Markell issued Executive Order No. 18, which sets a variety of energy conservation goals and requirements intended to make the state a leader by example in clean energy and sustainability.

Under Executive Order No. 18, executive branch state agencies and departments were required to reduce energy consumption by 30% by the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 when compared

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Greening of State Government

History

Colorado has established mandatory sustainability requirements for the design and construction of state-owned buildings (including schools), state-assisted buildings, and publicly-assisted housing projects buildings. In July 2005, Colorado’s governor signed Executive Order D005 05, mandating that state agencies and departments evaluate business operations and implement new programs “to promote environmentally sustainable and economically efficient practices.” The order also created the Colorado Greening Government Coordinating Council (CGGCC), made up of representatives from each state agency and department, to develop and implement new conservation policies and augment existing ones.

Green Goals

In October 2015, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed Executive Order D

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Green Building Standards for State Facilities

Effective July 1, 2005, Act 1770 (the Arkansas Energy and Natural Resources Conservation Act), encourages (but does not require) all state agencies, including institutions of higher education, to use Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Green Globes rating systems whenever possible and appropriate in conducting or funding a public building project.

Title 22 of the Arkansas Code includes Arkansas-specific provisions for LEED and Green Globes certification. These rating systems add to the state building energy code established in 2004 for New Building Construction. Under the Arkansas-specific provisions, those pursuing LEED certification receive additional credit for the use of
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Energy Equipment Property Tax Exemption

Arizona’s property tax exemption was established in June 2006 (H.B. 2429) and originally applied only to “solar energy devices and any other device or system designed for the production of solar energy for on-site consumption.” For property tax assessment purposes, these devices are considered to add no value to the property.

A "solar energy device" for the purpose of this incentive is defined as "a system or series of mechanisms designed primarily to provide heating, to provide cooling, to produce electrical power, to produce mechanical power, to provide solar daylighting or to provide any combination of the foregoing

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Non-Residential Solar & Wind Tax Credit (Personal)

Arizona’s tax credit for solar and wind installations in commercial and industrial applications was established in June 2006 (H.B. 2429). In May 2007, the credit was revised by H.B. 2491 to extend the credit to all non-residential entities, including those that are tax-exempt. Third parties who install or manufacture the system are now eligible as well; not only those that finance a system as allowed in the original legislation. These provisions are retroactive to January 1, 2006.

The tax credit, which may be applied against corporate or personal taxes, is equal to 10% of the installed cost of

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