THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2180

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to energy.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State should upgrade the performance standard of roofs for all new residential and commercial construction projects by mandating the use of only cool roof materials.  The use of cool roofs will facilitate a decrease in dependency on foreign oil by the State and assist in reaching the Hawaii clean energy initiative goal of producing seventy per cent of the State's energy from clean sources by 2030.

     A cool roof is a roof using materials that significantly reduce heat absorption due to two special qualities - high solar reflectance or albedo, which reflects light, and high thermal emittance, which emits a high percentage of any heat absorbed by the roof back into the atmosphere.  The effect results in a cooler building and reduced energy costs for buildings with cooling systems by an average of seven to fifteen per cent.  While the cost of cool roofing materials is slightly higher when compared to traditional roofing materials, a building owner may recover the extra cost of the cool roof within three to five years, depending upon the cost of electricity and the specifics of the building.

     In addition to reducing the building's cooling costs, cool roofs will also offset carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming.  A one thousand square foot cool roof would offset ten metric tons of carbon dioxide by reducing the amount of electricity needed to cool the building.  Cool roofs also combat the heat island effect, which is a condition that occurs in urban areas like downtown Honolulu where buildings and surrounding infrastructure retain heat and increase the ambient air temperature.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that over the last several decades, approximately three to eight per cent of all energy used was to combat the heat island effect.  Installation of cool roofs will decrease the heat island effect and lower energy usage.

     The purpose of this Act is to promote energy conservation, reduce the State's dependence on foreign oil, and decrease the heat island effect by establishing specific performance standards mandating the use of cool roofs in all new residential and commercial construction in Hawaii.

     SECTION 2.  The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

Cool ROOFS

     §   -1  Definitions.  As used in this chapter, except as otherwise specifically provided herein:

     "Cool roof" means a roof constructed with cool roof materials.

     "Cool roof material" means:

     (1)  Any variety of roofing material that has a high solar reflectance and high thermal emittance, carries the United States Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR label, and meets the standards of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR system for low sloped roofs or steep sloped roofs, as applicable; or

     (2)  All roofing materials that have a solar reflectance of not less than 0.25 for steep sloped roofs, and 0.65 for low sloped roofs.

     "Low sloped roof" means a roof that has less than two inches of rise over twelve inches of run.

     "New construction" means any new construction of a residential structure, including single-family and multi-family residential properties, and any new construction of a commercial structure, including construction for businesses of any kind.

     "Steep slope roof" means a roof that has more than two inches of rise over twelve inches of run.

     §   -2  Requirements.  On or after January 1, 2015, no permit shall be issued for new construction, unless the structure's roof is constructed using cool roof materials.  If a cool roof version is unavailable in a specific roofing material, a radiant barrier may be installed as per the recommended manufacturer's specifications (for example, a radiant barrier may be used in combination with a cedar shingle roof).

     This section shall not apply to new residential structures that do not use electrical or other energy-consuming cooling systems.

     §   -3  Exemptions.  (a)  A variance may be requested by application to the energy resources coordinator of the department of business, economic development, and tourism; provided that solar energy systems under subsection (b) shall not require a variance.  The application shall include a description of the property and detailed explanation justifying the request for the variance.  A variance shall be deemed approved if not denied by the energy resources coordinator within thirty working days of the energy resource coordinator's receipt of the variance application.  A variance shall be granted only if the detailed findings by the energy resources coordinator establish that the cool roof will not significantly reduce the energy consumption of the residential or commercial building.

     (b)  That portion of a roof that is or will be covered by a solar energy system shall not be required to utilize cool roof materials as defined in section    ‑1.

     §   -4  Enforcement; powers of counties.  (a)  All counties in the State shall adopt and enforce rules, ordinances, and guidelines to take all reasonable actions to implement and enforce this chapter.

     (b)  The appropriate county agency shall enforce this chapter through the building inspection process.  The building inspector shall confirm as part of the regular inspection process, including inspection of the documentation required to be submitted by the builder, that the roof material qualifies as a cool roof in accordance with this chapter."


     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Cool Roofs; Residential Construction; Commercial Construction; Energy Conservation

 

Description:

Prohibits the issuance of permits for new residential and commercial construction in Hawaii beginning on January 1, 2015, unless the structure's roof is constructed using cool roof materials.  Establishes specific performance standards for cool roofs.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.