Code of Maine Rules
18 - DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
554 - BUREAU OF GENERAL SERVICES
Chapter 60 - IMPROVEMENT OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN STATE-FUNDED CONSTRUCTION
Section 554-60-11 - Standards

Universal Citation: 18 ME Code Rules ยง 554-60-11

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

Summary: This section describes the requirements for compliance with 5 M.R.S.A. §1764-A and these Rules.

1. Standards for Compliance

Designers must demonstrate compliance with these Rules by one of the means set out in Section 21 below.

For each applicable project, building owners subject to this rule shall:

A. Involve consideration of architectural designs and energy systems that show the greatest net benefit over the life of the building by minimizing long-term energy and operating costs.

B. Include an energy-use target that exceeds by at least 20% the energy efficiency standards (ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2001 hereafter "ASHRAE 90.1") in effect for commercial and institutional buildings pursuant to Title 10, § 1415-D.

C. Include a life-cycle cost analysis that explicitly considers cost and benefits over a minimum of thirty (30) years and that explicitly includes the public health and environmental benefits associated with energy-efficient building design and construction, to the extent they can be reasonably quantified.

The energy costs to be included in the life-cycle cost analysis shall include oil, gas, propane and electric.

The Department shall publish a schedule of energy price forecasts to be used in conjunction with this rule, and shall periodically publish energy price forecast updates when warranted.

The discount rate shall be the rate reflected in the most recent Delphis-Hanover Corporation municipal bond table.

The life cycle cost analysis shall include a comparison between the proposed building design and a building designed in accordance with Title 10, § 1415-D.

The proposed building design shall be deemed to comply with Sections 11.1.A and -.B, if the life cycle cost of the proposed building is lower than the life cycle cost of a building designed in accordance with Title 10, § 1415-D.

2. Optional Guidebook(s)

By January 31, 2005, The Bureau of General Services, in cooperation with the Public Utilities Commission and The Energy Resources Council, shall develop and make available one or more guidebooks, one of which shall be titled "State of Maine High Performance Buildings," describing methods for achieving compliance with this rule.

At its discretion, the Bureau of General Services, in consultation with the named agencies, may from time to time revise these guidebooks or approve additional guidebooks as acceptable methods of compliancy.

3. Discretion Allowed

Designers shall have discretion to utilize sound engineering, architectural and design principles in achieving the energy efficiencies and in developing the life cycle analyses described in this rule, so long as they are able to demonstrate the project meets the requirements of this rule to the satisfaction of the Bureau of General Services.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 5 M.R.S.A. §1764-A

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Maine may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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