READ FIRST TIME 02/16/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to maximizing the use of our state's natural resources; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1)(a) The University of Washington, led by the college of built environments, and Washington State University, led by the college of engineering and architecture, shall conduct a review of other states' existing building codes, international standards, peer-reviewed research, and models and tools of life-cycle assessment, embodied energy, and embodied carbon in building materials.
     (b) This review must identify:
     (i) If the standards and models are developed according to a recognized consensus-based process;
     (ii) If the standards and models could be implemented as part of building standards or building codes; and
     (iii) The scope of life-cycle accounting that the standards and models address.
     (2)(a) By September 1, 2012, the University of Washington and Washington State University shall submit a report to the legislature consistent with RCW 43.01.036. In addition to providing the data required in subsection (1) of this section, the report must include recommendations to the legislature for methodologies to:
     (i) Determine if a standard, model, or tool using life-cycle assessment can be sufficiently developed to be incorporated into the state building code;
     (ii) Develop a comprehensive guideline using common and consistent metrics for the embodied energy, carbon, and life-cycle accounting of building materials; and
     (iii) Incorporate into every project the ongoing monitoring, verification, and reporting of a high performance public building's actual performance over its life cycle.
     (b) The report must include a list of any journal articles, study summaries, and other scientific information reviewed by the University of Washington and Washington State University in the development of the report and the information relied upon by the University of Washington and Washington State University in finalizing the report required under (a) of this subsection.
     (c) When developing its recommendations under this section, the University of Washington and Washington State University shall seek input from organizations representing design and construction professionals, academics, building materials industries, and life-cycle assessment experts.
     (3) For the purposes of this section, "life-cycle assessment" means manufacturing, construction, operation, and disposal of products used in the construction of buildings from cradle to grave.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1)(a) By December 1, 2012, the department of general administration shall make recommendations to the legislature, consistent with RCW 43.01.036, for streamlining current statutory requirements for life-cycle cost analysis, energy conservation in design, and high performance of public buildings.
     (b) The department of general administration shall make recommendations on what statutory revisions, if any, are needed to the state's energy life-cycle cost analysis to account for comprehensive life-cycle impacts of carbon emissions.
     (2) In making its recommendations to the legislature under subsection (1) of this section, the department of general administration shall use the report prepared by the University of Washington and Washington State University under section 1 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2011, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.