(1) On and after January 1, 2014, each school district, institute charter school, and each district charter school that receives operating moneys from the state shall ensure that each project for a new or substantially renovated building or structure is submitted to or verified by the highest energy efficiency standards practicable, including but not limited to the federal energy star label or the highest performance certification attainable. (2) The school district, institute charter school, or district charter school may consult with the Colorado energy office concerning the best building practices for the construction, redesign, or renovation project. If a school district, institute charter school, or district charter school consults with the Colorado energy office pursuant to this subsection (2), the Colorado energy office shall advise the school district, institute charter school, or district charter school concerning the best building practices for the construction, redesign, or renovation project. It is the intent of the general assembly that the Colorado energy office use existing resources to satisfy the requirements of this subsection (2). (3) A school district, institute charter school, or district charter school that has met the requirements of this section for designing or constructing a new or substantially renovated building or structure is encouraged to incorporate the high performance measures adopted or high performance standards met into its curriculum. (4) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "High performance standard" means a building or structure renovation, design, and construction standard that: (I) Results in the recovery of the initial capital costs attributable to compliance with this section over a time period to be determined by the school district, institute charter school, or district charter school, not to exceed fifteen years, by reducing long-term energy, maintenance, and operating costs; (II) Reduces the operating costs of a school district, institute charter school, or district charter school by reducing the consumption of energy, water, or other resources; (III) Improves the indoor environmental quality of a school building for a healthier learning environment; (IV) Protects Colorado's environment; and (V) Complies with the federal secretary of the interior's standards for the treatment of historic properties when such work will affect properties fifty years of age or older, unless the state historical society, designated in section 24-80-201, C.R.S., determines that the property is not of historical significance, as that term is defined in section 24-80.1-102 (6), C.R.S. (b) "Submitted" means the submission to a federal agency of an energy efficiency plan for design and construction pursuant to the requirements of this section. (c) "Substantially renovate a building or structure" means any renovation that causes the building occupancy to change or where alterations of the work area exceed fifty percent of the aggregate area of the building. If the alterations within the identified scope of the project of the work area exceed fifty percent of the aggregate area of the building, the alterations to existing buildings or structures are permitted without requiring modifications outside the identified scope of the project to the entire building or structure to comply with the requirements of this section. The alterations must conform to the requirements of this section as they relate to new construction only. (d) "Verified" means certification of the highest energy efficiency standards as practicable by an independent third party.
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