Maine

Incentives/Policies for Renewables & Efficiency

Energy-Efficient Building Standards for State Facilities

Last DSIRE Review: 12/05/2012

Program Overview:

State:	Maine
Incentive Type:	Energy Standards for Public Buildings
Eligible Efficiency Technologies:	Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building, Specific technologies not identified
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:	Passive Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Geothermal Heat Pumps, CHP/Cogeneration, Bio-gas, Daylighting, Small Hydroelectric
Applicable Sectors:	State Government
Requirement:	Cost-effective incorporation of "green building" standards into the design, construction, operation and maintenance of any new, expanded or existing state building
Authority 1: Date Effective:	5 M.R.S. § 1764-A 7/1/2004
Authority 2: Date Enacted:	Maine Executive Order 27 FY 11/12 12/08/2011

Summary:

Via Executive Order 27, Maine requires that construction or renovation of state buildings must incorporate "green building" standards that would achieve "significant" energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, provided that the costs of doing so are cost-effective over the life of the building. All branches of state government are to cooperate with the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services (Bureau of General Services) to meet these requirements. School districts and municipalities are not required to comply with these standards. It is interesting to note that Maine originally designated Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards be incorporated into the design, construction, operation and maintenance of new/renovated state buildings in November 2003 (via Exec order 8 FY04/05). The current policy no longer requires LEED.

Maine Statutes Title 5, Section 1764-A also requires that plans and designs for the construction of new or substantially renovated buildings owned or leased by the state include: (1) the consideration of energy efficiency, (2) an energy-use target that exceeds standards for commercial and institutional buildings by at least 20%, and (3) a life-cycle cost analysis over a minimum of 30 years that explicitly addresses the costs and benefits of efficiency improvements.

History
Legislation in 2009 created the Task Force to Advance Energy Efficiency, Conservation, and Independence at State Facilities; the Task Force issued its recommendations in January 2010 (available on Maine's Bureau of General Services website).

Back even further, in March 2005, the governor of Maine announced that the state would join the federal "Energy Star Challenge." As part of this partnership, the state committed to encouraging building owners and operators throughout Maine to improve energy efficiency by 10% or more using performance contracting and other mechanisms. The state also agreed to track energy use and greenhouse-gas emissions from government buildings and identify the best ways to improve energy efficiency in those buildings.

Contact:

	Public Information Officer State Energy Program Efficiency Maine 19 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0018 Phone: (866) 376-2463 Fax: (800) 334-7033 E-Mail: efficiencymaine@efficiencymaine.com Web Site: http://www.efficiencymaine.com

	Dick Fortier Maine Public Utilities Commission State Energy Program 242 State Street #18 SHS Augusta, ME 04333-0018 Phone: (207) 287-3319 Fax: (207) 287-1039 E-Mail: Richard.Fortier@maine.gov Web Site: http://www.efficiencymaine.com/

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