HF 326 (LSB 2287YH (3) 85)

HOUSE FILE 326

BY  KAJTAZOVIC

A BILL FOR

An Act requiring the development of guidelines for the attainment of high-performance certification applicable to elementary and secondary public school buildings.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  297.7A  High-performance certification —— guidelines.
   1.  The department of education shall establish guidelines for school districts to follow regarding submitting an application for certification of the construction or renovation of an elementary or secondary public school building to the United States green building council’s leadership in energy and environmental design program. The guidelines shall provide contact information, sample applications, examples of successful construction and renovation projects undertaken by other school districts in this state and the costs incurred and energy savings resulting from the projects, and a list of criteria for school districts to consider regarding energy efficiency installations and upgrades. The guidelines shall be posted on the department’s internet site and updated annually.
   2.  The department shall by rule establish and publicize a recognition program for school districts that achieve silver, gold, or platinum certification pursuant to the energy and environmental design program.
EXPLANATION
   This bill requires the department of education to develop guidelines for the attainment of high-performance certification by the United States green building council’s leadership in energy and environmental design program applicable to elementary and secondary public school buildings. The bill states that the guidelines shall provide contact information for the council, sample applications, examples of successful construction and renovation projects undertaken by other school districts, and a list of criteria for school districts to consider regarding energy efficiency installations and upgrades.
   The bill provides that the department shall post the guidelines on the department’s internet site and update them on an annual basis. The bill requires the department to establish and publicize a recognition program for school districts that achieve specified certification levels pursuant to the energy and environmental design program.