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 building owners (state agencies) to repair and/or upgrade their buildings and infrastructure. A Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contract (GESPC) is another name for an EPC. The goal of an EPC is to improve energy and water efficiency of owned assets by reducing utility usage. The reduction also results in avoided future utility costs. The avoided future costs are the source of funds required to finance the EPC through a lease-purchase finance agreement. The EPC program is under the statutory authority of OSA. OSA provides program oversite and contract review support to state agencies utilizing the program. For state agencies, the OSA EPC webpage contains additional information and the OSA approved documents. The EPC program is a joint project between OSA and the Colorado Energy Office (CEO). Information on the EPC process and all the steps are on the CEO website. Please see the OSA EPC webpage for more information.
- 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, and more information can be found on the OSA New Construction/Major Renovations webpage.
- 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. Please see the OSA Buy Clean Colorado Act webpage for additional information.
- Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Eligible Decarbonizing Building Materials
The General Assembly has determined that there is great potential for businesses and individuals in the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in construction projects by purchasing and using eligible decarbonizing building materials. Beginning July 1, 2024, sales of eligible decarbonizing building materials are exempt from state sales and use tax.
By providing a sales and use tax exemption for eligible decarbonizing building materials, this will encourage businesses and individuals to purchase and use those building materials rather than industry standard materials. The purchase and use of eligible decarbonizing building materials will help improve environmental outcomes and accelerate necessary greenhouse gas reductions to protect public health and the environment and conserve a livable climate by incorporating emissions information from throughout the supply chain and product life cycle into building material purchasing and use decisions.
"Eligible decarbonizing building materials" are building materials that comply with the maximum acceptable global warming potential (GWP) limits as determined by the Office of the State Architect (OSA). Material GWP values are demonstrated through Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). Refer to the OSA Buy Clean Colorado (BCCO) Act webpage for the list of Eligible Material Categories and the OSA’s GWP limits.
The OSA created an initial “Sales & Use Tax System (SUTS) Exempt Eligible Decarbonizing Building Materials” list with eligible materials and the manufacturers of those materials that was shared with the Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR) in the spring of 2024. To add products to the list, please submit product EPDs, through OSA’s EPD Submission Form process with product, manufacturer, and EPD information. For multiple submissions (10 or more), please download and complete the spreadsheet format of the EPD Submission Form. The OSA will need at least one week to conduct the review and update the “SUTS Eligible Decarbonizing Building Materials” list. If necessary, OSA may contact the manufacturer for additional information. Once verified against OSA’s GWP limits, the OSA will update the list. Beginning in August 2024, OSA will share the updated list with the CDOR on the first Monday of each month.
A statutory town, city, or county may exempt the same items that are exempt from state sales and use tax pursuant to the act only by express inclusion of the exemption in its initial sales tax ordinance or resolution or by amendment thereto. See the Colorado Sales Tax Lookup tool for local sales tax rates of products/services.
More information on the sales and use tax exemption can be found at the CDOR Sales and Use Tax webpage.
- 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).
- Owned Buildings/Infrastructure Energy/Water Management
Water Efficient Landscaping Policy
Any project where landscaping is being modified on real property that begins a design solicitation on or after January 1, 2025, shall meet the Statewide Water Efficient Policy. The outlined procedures for statewide water efficient landscape policy suggest ways in which landscape personnel may meet the seven key principles of water efficient landscaping. The procedures include a list of training opportunities and resources.
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).
We cannot monitor what we do not measure. Per the Governor's Executive Order D 2022 016, agencies/departments have been directed to reduce potable water consumption by at least 2% by the end of FY 2024‐25 over the FY 2014‐15 baseline. It is up to each agency to work to reduce its usage by implementing submeters, leak detection, improved irrigation systems, xeriscaping, and other water efficiency measures. The Office of the State Architect (OSA) has created a Water Management Plan Template and is requiring that State Agencies fill out the template and submit it to the OSA by February 29, 2024. Water management plan implementation shall start on May 1, 2024. Implementation includes the actual work to be completed and requesting funding (CM/CR projects). Submit any CM/CR requests through the annual capital request process.
January 29th, 2024 - Water Management Plan Training
Contacts
Rod Vanderwall
Manager, Energy Programs
303-829-3631
Bailey Vigil
Buildings GHG Emissions Analyst (Buy Clean Colorado Act Manager)
720-813-7937
Hydie Alcantara
Buildings Materials Tax Analyst
720-557-0438
Johar Moss
Statewide Floodplain Management Administrator
720-854-5787
Employee Contact List - Office of the State Architect (OSA)