Solar Space Heat

Renewable Portfolio Goal

Utah enacted The Energy Resource and Carbon Emission Reduction Initiative (S.B. 202) in March 2008. While this law contains some provisions similar to those found in renewable portfolio standards (RPSs) adopted by other states, certain other provisions in S.B. 202 indicate that this law is more accurately described as a renewable portfolio goal (RPG). Specifically, the law requires that utilities only need to pursue renewable energy to the extent that it is "cost-effective" to do so. The guidelines for determining the cost-effectiveness of acquiring an energy source include an assessment of whether acquisition of the resource will result

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City of Houston - Green Building Policy for Municipal Buildings

In 2022, the Houston City Council adopted the Municipal Building Decarbonization and Benchmarking Policy, requiring that city buildings target a 5% year-over-year reduction in electric power and natural gas consumption. This goal will be accomplished by implementing cost-effective measures to increase energy efficiency and decrease natural gas and other fossil fuel reliance through preventative maintenance, capital
improvement projects, and other measures. AP 3-41 outlines further guidance for energy performance and energy use intensity targets for existing city buildings,  new or replacement facilities, and major renovations. Energy use intensity (EUI) targets for electric power by building type include:

  • Public Service.....90
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City of Asheville - Efficiency Standards for City Buildings

In April 2007, the Asheville City Council adopted carbon emission reduction goals and set LEED standards for new city buildings. The policies passed by the City have set specific goals in a variety of climate related areas. These include
achieving LEED certification for new City buildings, reducing carbon emissions by 80%, reducing municipal waste by 50%, and transitioning to 100% renewable energy. To work towards this goal, the council also resolved that all new occupied city-owned buildings greater than 5,000 square feet will adhere to the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified "Gold" standard

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City of Greensburg - Green Building Requirement for New Municipal Buildings

In the aftermath of a May 2007 tornado that destroyed 95% of the city, the Greensburg City Council passed an ordinance requiring that all newly constructed or renovated municipally-owned facilities larger than 4,000 square feet be designed to conform to the platinum rating of the US Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED Green Building Rating System. The ordinance further requires that such buildings be designed to achieve all 10 points possible under EA Credit 1 "Optimize Energy Performance." Achieving this requires a whole building energy consumption reduction of 42% compared to the standard building baseline (ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004). 

As of 2014

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Puerto Rico - Excise Tax Exemption for Farmers

In Puerto Rico, "bona fide farmers" are exempted from paying sales and use tax on equipment, devices, and objects that operate solely on solar, wind, hydro, or any other type of power, excluding the power from petroleum and its derivatives. A farmer must be certified by the Department of Agriculture to be considered a "bona fide farmer" or "bona fide agricultural business." This exemption is part of a larger tax package aimed at supporting Puerto Rican farmers.

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Puerto Rico - Property Tax Exemption for Solar and Renewable Energy Equipment

Puerto Rico provides a property tax exemption for all "solar powered material, equipment or accessory and renewable energy collection, storage, generation, distribution, and application equipment."  Renewable energy is defined per Ley 325-2004: solar, wind, hydro, biomass, ocean thermal, wave, tidal and other energy "whose use is clean, reliable, safe and sustainable."

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Harford County - Property Tax Credit for Solar and Geothermal Devices

Harford County offers a tax credit from real property taxes imposed on residential buildings, nonresidential buildings, or other structures that use solar or geothermal devices for heating, cooling, water heating or generating electricity for on-site consumption. The credit amount is equal to one year of total real property taxes or $2,500 per device, whichever is less. In September 2010 the county added a provision limiting total credits to $5,000 per property per fiscal year. Total real property taxes include all real property taxes that would have been paid by the taxpayer for that year for the host building or structure

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City of Grand Rapids - Green Building Requirements for Municipal Buildings

In January 2006, the City of Grand Rapids approved a resolution detailing the city's sustainability policy for public buildings. The resolution directed city personnel to implement the principles for the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program and the EPA Energy Star and Green Lights programs. Included in this was a specific requirement that all construction and renovation projects involving municipal buildings larger than 10,000 square feet and a cost of $1 million or more receive LEED certification.

Update: Grand Rapids' 2019 strategic plan established goals for renewables, emissions reductions, and energy reductions for public buildings, as well as percentage increases

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New York City - Green Building Requirements for Municipal Buildings

In 2005 New York City passed a law (Local Law No. 86) making a variety of green building and energy efficiency requirements for municipal buildings and other projects funded with money from the city treasury. The building requirements (described in detail below) apply to new construction, building additions, and substantial reconstructions of existing buildings. Substantial reconstruction is defined as a capital project that involves construction work affecting at least 50% of the floor area or that involves rehabilitation work in at least two of the three major building systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing). The construction cost values below are

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Fort Collins - Green Building Requirement for City-Owned Buildings

The City Council of Fort Collins passed a resolution in September 2006 establishing green building goals for new city-owned buildings of 5,000 square feet or more. New buildings must be designed and constructed to achieve US Green Building Council LEED Gold certification, and existing buildings are to use the LEED standard as a guide for sustainable operation and maintenance, though no specific requirements are established.

To control the construction and design costs associated with new buildings meeting this standard, the goal of Gold can be reduced to Silver for projects where the payback period for earning Gold certification is ten

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