Sec. 55.115.  HIGH-PERFORMANCE, SUSTAINABLE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND RENOVATION STANDARDS FOR CERTAIN FACILITIES.  (a)  This section applies to the construction of an institution of higher education building, structure, or other facility, or the renovation of a building, structure, or other facility the cost of which is more than $2 million, or, if less than $2 million, more than 50 percent of the value of the building, structure, or other facility, if any part of the construction or renovation is financed by revenue bonds issued under this subchapter.
(b)  A building, structure, or other facility to which this section applies must be designed and constructed or renovated so that the building, structure, or other facility complies with high-performance building standards, approved by the board of regents of the institution, that provide minimum requirements for energy use, natural resources use, and indoor air quality.  In approving high-performance building standards, a board of regents shall consider, but is not subject to, the high-performance building evaluation system approved by the state energy conservation office under Section 447.004, Government Code, and may solicit and consider recommendations from the advisory committee appointed under that section.
(c)  Except as provided by this section, a building, structure, or other facility to which this section applies must be designed and constructed or renovated to comply with the applicable energy and water conservation design standards established by the state energy conservation office under Section 447.004, Government Code, unless the institution constructing the building determines that compliance with those standards is impractical and notifies the state energy conservation office of the determination and provides to the office documentation supporting the determination.
Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 937 (H.B. 51), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011.