Alternative Energy in New State Construction (Texas)

Last modified on February 12, 2015.

Rules Regulations Policies Program

Place	Texas
Name	Alternative Energy in New State Construction
Incentive Type	Energy Standards for Public Buildings
Applicable Sector	State Government
Eligible Technologies	Biomass, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Passive Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Water Heat, Wind, Unspecified technologies
Active Incentive	Yes
Implementing Sector	State/Territory
Energy Category	Renewable Energy Incentive Programs
Requirement	Economic analysis of renewable energy and energy efficiency strategies in state building projects; strategies must be implemented if determined to be cost-effective.
Website	http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/sa_codes.html
Date added to DSIRE	2000-01-01
Last DSIRE Review	2012-11-06
References	DSIRE

Summary

Texas requires state government departments to compare the cost of providing energy alternatives for new and reconstructed state government buildings and for certain construction or repair to energy systems and equipment. The governing body must determine economic feasibility of incorporating alternative energy for space heating and cooling, water heating, electricity, and/or interior lighting (i.e. the "function") by comparing the estimated cost of providing energy for the function using conventional design practices and energy systems with the estimated cost of providing energy for the function using energy efficient architecture and design or alternative energy devices during the economic life of the building. If the use of alternative energy devices for a particular function is economically feasible, then the use of alternative energy devices must be included in construction plans.

Alternative energy is defined to include solar, biomass, wind, and geothermal energy sources. This section of Texas law (Texas Government Code § 2166.403) was originally put in place in 1995. It was amended in 2005 (S.B. 982) to add geothermal to the list of eligible resources and designate the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) as the authority for approving any methodology or electronic software used to make the required comparisons. SECO accepts one software program (RETScreen) for this purpose. Further details are available on the program website.

Incentive Contact

Contact Name	Eddy Trevino
Department	State Energy Conservation Office (CPA/SECO)
Address	111 E. 17th Street
Address 2	LBJ State Office Building, Room #1114
Place	Austin, Texas
Zip/Postal Code	78774
Phone	(512) 463-1876
Phone 2	(512) 463-1931
Email	eddy.trevino@cpa.state.tx.us
Website	http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us

Authorities (Please contact the if there are any file problems.)

Authority 1:	Texas Government Code § 2166.401 et seq.
Date Effective	09/01/2005 (as amended)
Date Enacted	05/05/1995 (subsequently amended)

• Incentive and policy data are reviewed and approved by the N.C. Solar Center's DSIRE project staff.