In 1995, Florida enacted two far-reaching statutes encouraging the installation of passive and active solar systems in government buildings. The Florida Energy Conservation in Buildings Act, under Chapter 255 of the Florida Statutes, encourages the use of solar technologies in state buildings when life-cycle costs indicate they are economically feasible. It reads:
On and after January 1, 1979, no state agency shall initiate construction or have construction initiated, prior to approval thereof by the [Division of Building Construction of the Florida Department of Management Services], on a facility or self-contained unit of any facility, the design and construction of which incorporates or contemplates the use of an energy system other than a solar energy system when the life-cycle costs analysis prepared by the division has determined that a solar energy system is the most cost-effective energy system for the facility or unit. Florida also specifically advances the use of passive solar design and solar water heaters in educational facilities. Chapter 235 of the 1995 Florida Statutes specifies: (1) (a) Passive design elements and low-energy usage features shall be included in the design and construction of new educational facilities....
[The law defines passive design elements as "architectural features which minimize heat gain, heat loss, and the use of heating and cooling equipment when ambient conditions are extreme and which permit use of the facility without heating or air conditioning when ambient conditions are moderate. Such features may include, but are not limited to, building orientation, landscaping, earth bermings, insulation, thermal windows and doors, overhangs, skylights, thermal chimneys, and other design arrangements."
It defines low-energy use features as "engineering features or devices which supplant or minimize the consumption of fossil fuels by heating equipment and cooling equipment. Such features may include, but are not limited to, high efficiency chillers and boilers, thermal storage tanks, solar energy systems, waste heat recovery systems, and facility load management systems."]
(2) Each new educational facility for which the projected demand for hot water exceeds 1,000 gallons a day shall be constructed, whenever economically and physically feasible, with a solar energy system as the primary energy source for the domestic hot water system of the facility. The solar energy system shall be sized so as to provide at least 65 percent of the estimated needs of the facility. Sizing shall be determined by generally recognized simulation models, such as F-chart and SOLCOST, or by sizing tables generated by the Florida Solar Energy Center.
(3) If swimming and wading pools constructed as an integral part of an educational facility or plant are heated, such pools shall, whenever feasible, be heated by either a waste heat recovery system or a solar energy system.
For More Info: Florida Solar Energy Center, 1679 Clearlake Rd., Coco, FL 32922; (407) 638-1000; Fax: (407) 638-1016.
Similar to Maryland, Minnesota has passed a statute stating: Plans ... for a new building or for a renovation of 50 percent or more of an existing building or its energy systems must include designs which use active and passive solar energy systems, earth sheltered construction, and other alternative energy sources where feasible. (16B.32. Subdivision 1.)
For More Info: Minnesota Dept. of Public Service, Suite 200, 121 7th Place East, St. Paul, MN 55101-2145; (612) 296-7101.