Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the School & Small Business Energy Efficiency Stimulus Program within the Board of Public Utilities.

Highlights:

• Defines “board” as the Board of Public Utilities or any successor agency (Sec. 1).

• Defines “SSBVEEVR Program” as the School and Small Business Ventilation and Energy Efficiency Verification and Repair Program (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Board of Public Utilities to create and administer a School and Small Business Energy Efficiency Stimulus Program to provide grants to boards of education and small businesses for the installation of certain HVAC systems and energy-efficient and water-conserving appliances to improve air quality and energy efficiency in school districts under the jurisdiction of a board of education and small businesses, including school districts and small businesses in underserved communities. The program will consist of the following (Sec. 2.a):

• The School and Small Business Ventilation and Energy Efficiency Verification and Repair Program; and

• The School and Small Business Noncompliant Plumbing Fixture and Appliance Program.

• Requires the board to create and administer the SSBVEEVR Program to award grants to boards of education and small businesses to ensure schools under Board of Education jurisdiction and small businesses shall have functional HVAC systems that are tested, adjusted, and, if necessary or cost-effective, repaired, upgraded, or replaced to increase efficiency and performance (Sec. 3.a).

• Specifies if the HVAC system does not meet the minimum ventilation rate requirements, the licensed mechanical engineer or qualified adjusting personnel shall review the HVAC system airflow and capacity to determine if additional ventilation can be provided without adversely impacting equipment performance and building indoor environmental quality (Sec. 3.ii).

• Requires survey readings of inlets and outlets to verify that all ventilation is reaching the served zone and that there is adequate distribution. Qualified testing personnel or qualified adjusting personnel to verify if inlets and outlets are balanced within the tolerance of the system design. Qualified testing personnel or qualified adjusting personnel shall document read values and deficiencies (Sec. 3.d).

• Specifies if a demand control ventilation system is installed, qualified testing personnel or qualified adjusting personnel will test it and adjust the ventilation to a carbon dioxide set point of 800 PPM or less. If the demand control ventilation system does not maintain average daily maximum carbon dioxide levels below 1,100 PPM, it will be disabled until the Board of Education or small business determines that the COVID-19 pandemic has ended, unless disabling the control would adversely affect the operation of the overall system (Sec. 3.j).

• Requires the board to create and administer the School and Small Business Noncompliant Plumbing Fixture and Appliance Program to provide grants to boards of education to replace noncompliant plumbing fixtures and appliances that fail to meet water efficiency standards, and waste and potable water and the energy used to convey that water, with water-conserving plumbing fixtures and appliances (Sec. 4.a).

Full Bill Text