Bill To Encourage Green Building For Schools Reported From House Committee

The House Education Committee this week reported out House Bill 689 (Drucker-D-Chester) to provide incentives for school districts to construct cleaner and more efficient schools.

 

Current law requires school boards to first receive voter approval before commencing any major construction plans over a certain dollar amount, including new buildings or significant renovations. That law inadvertently impedes the construction of environmentally friendly schools due to the high up-front cost, which may push the cost of "green" construction over the limit.

 

"In many cases, the savings realized over the 30- to 40-year lifespan of a school are many times the initial cost of green projects," Rep. Drucker said. "This bill will eliminate a roadblock for school districts to choose green buildings."

 

House Bill 689 would exclude any costs incurred by a school district in the construction of a school building that meets a green building standard from the calculation of construction costs when determining if voter approval is needed.

 

At a minimum, green building standard projects would have to include performance-based credits that will improve a building's energy performance and promote the use of environmentally friendly building materials and technologies. Documentation to support the energy efficiency of the project would be required. Green building standard projects also would have to employ third-party, post construction review and have a performance record of certified green buildings in the United States.

 

The bill includes a requirement that green building standard costs be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education at the same time that construction cost estimates are submitted for approval. Inclusion of green building standard costs with construction costs would allow districts to demonstrate any long-term savings produced by investment in green building technologies.