18- 554 C.M.R. ch. 3, § I
The law requires that there shall be no public improvement constructed in excess of 5,000 square feet, leased in excess of 10,000 square feet without verification of life cycle costs that will meet or exceed the energy efficiency standards promulgated by the Office of Energy Resources under Title 10, Chapter 214, and the Bureau of Public improvements under Title 5, Section 1764.
The Bureau of Public improvements shall review and approve life cycle costs for the following:
The 108th legislature required that life cycle costing become a part of public improvement projects to assure that energy considerations, first cost, operating costs and long term costs are consistently analyzed and approved by the Bureau of Public improvements. The law was later amended to include compliance with energy efficiency building performance standards (building envelope energy loss) promulgated by the Office of Energy Resources.
Life cycle energy evaluation required by the Bureau of Public improvements addresses the total energy used by a facility (envelope, equipment, process, etc.). Because of Maine's climatic economic and social conditions, As efficient use of energy in all forms must be promoted in all new, renovated and leased buildings. Energy efficient buildings should be less expensive to own and operate over its expected life.
18- 554 C.M.R. ch. 3, § I