82R487 EAH-D

By: Ellis S.B. No. 454

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to improving state energy conservation, including through the use of thermostat settings and building efficiency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 447, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 447.014 and 447.015 to read as follows:

Sec. 447.014. STATE ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND EXPENDITURES DATABASE. The State Energy Conservation Office shall develop and maintain a database of state agency energy consumption and expenditures. The database must be designed to allow any agency to determine the agency's energy consumption and expenditures in each building occupied by the agency. The database may include the square footage occupied by a state agency in a building.

Sec. 447.015. INTEGRATED BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. (a) The State Energy Conservation Office, in consultation with the Texas Facilities Commission and the Department of Information Resources, shall develop a plan to incorporate integrated building management systems that use existing or planned investments in information technology infrastructure in each new state building or major renovation of a state building, including a new building or major renovation of a building of an institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, to maximize efficiency of all building systems and reduce ongoing maintenance costs.

(b) The plan developed under Subsection (a) must require an integrated building management system to be capable of integrating into a distributed and networked enterprise system to allow real-time monitoring and management from an Internet device of building systems, including energy performance, system maintenance, physical security, systems to monitor operating costs, and environmental performance.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 2165, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 2165.010 to read as follows:

Sec. 2165.010. THERMOSTAT SETTINGS IN STATE BUILDINGS. (a) A state agency or institution of higher education in charge and control of a state building shall adjust thermostat settings within industry standards for energy conservation, as determined by the United States Department of Energy, to achieve occupant comfort and to correspond to:

(1) seasonal temperature changes; and

(2) building occupancy schedules.

(b) This section does not apply to a building containing temperature sensitive operations, including computer and laboratory facilities and buildings in which populations live or are served on a 24-hour basis.

SECTION 3. Section 388.005(e), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

(e) A political subdivision, institution of higher education, or state agency annually shall report to the State Energy Conservation Office, on forms provided by that office, regarding the entity's efforts and progress under this section. The report must include the entity's seasonal specific thermostat settings and thermostat settings for nonpeak or off hours. The State Energy Conservation Office shall provide assistance and information to the entity to help the entity meet the goals set under this section.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.