SB 87-SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION ENERGY EFFICIENCY STD  8:02:19 AM CHAIR HUGHES announced the consideration of SB 87. She noted it is the second hearing of the bill. She listed those available to answer questions. BRITTANY HUTCHISON, Staff, Senator Anna MacKinnon, Alaska State Legislature, reviewed SB 87 on behalf of the sponsor. She summarized the purpose and goal of SB 87. She said the bill will increase energy and operating efficiency in school buildings. It will help make schools more affordable, maintainable, and longer lasting. School districts in Alaska need long-term operating cost savings, and energy and operating costs are eating up the base student allocation. As stewards of public funds, efficient use of money and energy is essential to public policy. The state needs to maintain and control costs for all public school facilities and extend the lives of those facilities by being more energy efficient, by using standardized component parts, and by placing prioritization on classroom infrastructure and functional design. 8:05:21 AM SENATOR STEVENS asked who makes up the group that is putting this together. He voiced concern about co-locating schools with other state facilities. MS. HUTCHISON replied that Section 10 lists the nine working group members: one from DEED, one from AHFC, one from AEA, one from the Cold Climate Research Center, one from DOTPF, one superintendent from a rural school district and one from an urban school district, and two members from the construction industry. She addressed Senator Stevens' concern about co-location. The bill provides that all agencies or organization must have background checks and separate entrances. She provided examples of who might co-locate in a school, such as health aides, firefighters, librarians. 8:07:05 AM SENATOR STEVENS had concerns about energy costs in rural areas. He said that some members in the working group would have experience with rural energy costs. MS. HUTCHISON agreed. 8:07:45 AM CHAIR HUGHES asked if two members from the construction industry would be enough. She suggested having one member be from either AEA or Cold Climate Research. MS. HUTCHISON responded that the sponsor has considered having architects or designers in the group and she is open to suggestions. She would like to keep it to 9 to 11 members. SENATOR BEGICH suggested having two alternates from the construction industry. MS. HUTCHISON said reiterated that the goal is to keep the working group manageable with 9 to 11 members. 8:09:37 AM SENATOR STEVENS asked if the working group has a higher authority than the local community has. MS. HUTCHISON said the group does not have authority over local control. She added that a school district can go above and beyond the recommendations for cost per square footage, but must pay for it. The idea is to follow certain standards. 8:10:58 AM CHAIR HUGHES asked whether an existing school would go through the same process to convert to a multiple-purpose facility. MS. HUTCHISON said that provision is included in the plan. CHAIR HUGHES questioned the clarity of "major maintenance project" on page 5, line 31. MS. HUTCHISON said she did not have the answer. 8:12:02 AM SENATOR BEGICH said that "major maintenance" in school construction is defined in statute. CHAIR HUGHES wondered if new out buildings on school property would follow the same process. MS. HUTCHISON said they had not considered it. CHAIR HUGHES suggested it would work, as the bill is written. 8:13:15 AM SENATOR BEGICH asked Ms. Hutchison if she would be looking at these suggestions soon. MS. HUTCHISON said the sponsor does have a list of suggestions and has heard from multiple stakeholders, including the Department of Law. She thought they would have a plan by 5:00 today. 8:14:17 AM SENATOR COGHILL saw that on page 10, lines 26 and 27, after the working group is done they report to the legislature. He asked if that is after regulations have gone into effect. MS. HUTCHISON explained the timeline. Once SB 87 passes, the working group would have 18 months to come up with a report to the legislature. Immediately after, the department would have 6 months to write regulations. The sponsor is considering the legislature's role as it relates to regulations. SENATOR COGHILL suggested that DEED, as a member of the working group, may want to be involved all through the process in order to provide a fiscal note. 8:15:46 AM MS. HUTCHISON said there is a DEED fiscal note attached which requests two full-time employees and one temporary employee. SENATOR COGHILL liked the timeline and the working group makeup. He also said he can accept the 18-month deadline. He asked if the working group has a definition for climate regions. 8:17:30 AM MS. HUTCHISON replied that there is a list of four climate zones in Alaska. AHFC can address the zones. CHAIR HUGHES pointed out that there are cost variables within those zones. SENATOR COGHILL agreed that economic and transportation costs also vary. MS. HUTCHISON noted that the bill establishes the maximum cost per square foot, which is subject to change based on many variables. CHAIR HUGHES asked if AHFC is the best one to address that issue. MS. HUTCHISON said yes. 8:19:02 AM JOHN ANDERSON, Director, Research and Rural Development, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC), answered questions related to SB 87. He responded first to the question about climate zones by relating AHFC's building energy efficient standards in reference to residential housing. They apply the same climate zone standards through all programs, including commercial application or public facilities. Their process follows a national model the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency put out. AHFC uses modeling software called AkWarm to determine climate regions using the number of heating degree days. It is specific to the energy characteristics in Alaska's regions and includes Climate Zone 9. Other characteristics such as transportation costs can be addressed through the working group. 8:21:01 AM SENATOR BEGICH stated that the bill is written to address the climate zones. He suggested having other language to address other factors, such as cost and transportation factors, to get to a square-footage cost. He asked if AHFC sets those costs based only on climate data. MR. ANDERSON said yes. 8:21:51 AM CHAIR HUGHES inquired about the 30-year life of a building on page 10. She wondered if that length could be extended to 50 years. MS. HUTCHISON recommended asking Cold Climate Housing Research Center, AHFC, or DOTPF. CHAIR HUGHES asked Mr. Hodgin to answer. 8:22:55 AM CHRISTOPHER HODGIN, Engineer, Statewide Public Facilities, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF), answered questions related to SB 87. He addressed the life of a building. If it is extended past 30 years, increased cost factors must be considered. Regarding energy efficient upgrades, some of the technologies have less than a 30-year life. 8:23:51 AM JACK HEBERT, CEO, Cold Climate Housing Research Center, answered questions related to SB 87. He said the durability of a building is based on a number of factors related to the mechanical systems. However, the structure itself is dependent on the building science incorporated in it. There is no reason why a building cannot be designed to last 50 to 75 years. CHAIR HUGHES asked how much that might affect the cost. MR. HEBERT opined that it does not necessarily have to cost more with proper selection of materials. 8:25:25 AM SENATOR BEGICH asked about page 6, Section 8, where it says the Commissioner of DEED shall consult with AEA. He questioned whether DOTPF could also be consulted and if that was ok with AEA. 8:26:00 AM KATIE CONWAY, Manager, Government Relations, Alaska Energy Authority (AEA), Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), answered questions related to SB 87. She suggested that while AEA could manage this task if the legislature requests it, DOTPF could also. She thought it would make sense to ask DOTPF. 8:26:52 AM MR. HODGIN agreed that DOTPF could assist with the task. SENATOR BEGICH said it didn't matter to him who does it; the one best suited to is fine with him. CHAIR HUGHES offered a question directed to DEED regarding when the reports mentioned on page 8 are required. It says the maintenance and support team will report and the school district will also report. She asked if one or two reports are required and what is to be reported. She requested that DEED address those issues at a later meeting. CHAIR HUGHES held SB 87 in committee.