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Energy & Environment

The design and construction of either a new facility or the major renovation of an existing facility shall start with meeting the requirements of the OSA building code compliance policy.

Energy Performance Contracts Intro

An energy performance contract (EPC) provides an alternative funding source for a building owners (state agencies) to repair and/or upgrade their facilities. EPC projects are also known as a Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contract (GESPC). EPC projects improve facility energy and water efficiency, thus reducing utility usage and resulting in avoided future utility costs. The avoided future cost are the source of funds necessary over the life of the lease-purchase finance agreement within an energy performance contract. Additional information on the benefits of EPC is available on the CEO website. OSA provides program, technical, and contract review support to the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) in developing and implementing energy performance contracts. For State agencies an OSA EPC webpage contains the required State documents. Information on the steps, contract documents, EPC policies, and CEO contracts are on the CEO web site (follow the links within energy efficiency, commercial buildings web pages to the energy performance contract web page). Selecting an Energy Service Company following the OSA Request for Proposal process. The EPC ESCO Selection Process document explains in detail for procedure to select a qualified ESCO.

New Construction & Major Renovation Intro

The High Performance Certification Program policy (HPCP) is required for all general funded or academic designated projects greater than 5,000 square feet and include a HVAC system. The Colorado Department of Education, Building Excellent Schools Today grant program, and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund program provide state funds to a building that may need to meet the HPCP policy. Refer to their web site for additional information. Forms for all HPCP projects, state funded or other departments are available on the New Construction/Major Renovations web page.

Buy Clean Colorado Act Policy

The Buy Clean Colorado Act Policy applies to State public projects for which the cost exceeds five hundred thousand dollars and for which an agency of government issues a solicitation on or after January 1, 2024. This law directs the Office of the State Architect to establish maximum acceptable global warming potential (GWP) limits for categories of eligible materials, which include asphalt and asphalt mixtures, cement and concrete mixtures, glass, post-tension steel, reinforcing steel, structural steel, and wood structural elements. For any solicitation beginning on or after January 1, 2024, agencies/IHE shall require consultants to specify EPDs within the project specifications for all eligible materials proposed to be used on a project and shall require contractors who are awarded a project to submit EPDs for all eligible materials that are installed on the project. 

Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Eligible Decarbonizing Building Materials

Coming soon...

Building Life Cycle Cost Policy

State statute, CRS 24-30-1304 and 1305, requires that all state agencies and state institutions of higher education to analyze the life-cycle cost (LLC) of all real property constructed or renovated, over its economic life, in addition to the initial construction or renovation cost (Life-Cycle Cost Policy).

Existing Buildings Energy/Water Management Plans

For existing facilities, agencies should incorporate energy/water management plans, active maintenance strategies, and proactive oversight of all the systems to sustain overall efficient operations and provide for occupant comfort (Energy-Water Management Existing Buildings Policy).

Contacts

Rod Vanderwall
Manager, Energy Programs
303-829-3631

Bailey Vigil
Buildings GHG Emissions Analyst
719-429-6645

Hydie Alcantara
Buildings Materials Tax Analyst
720-557-0438

Employee Contact List - Office of the State Architect (OSA)

Resources

OSA Annual Meetings & Training