§ 4-116. INSTALLATION OF SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS IN CONSTRUCTION OF NEW CITY-OWNED BUILDINGS.

(a)

The design of any new city-owned building containing at least 7500 square feet shall include an alternative design for installation of a solar energy system.

(b)

The city shall incorporate solar energy systems into the planning (including the siting of the building), design, and into each of its contracts for construction of any new city-owned building containing at least 7500 square feet. The city shall use its best efforts in the design, construction and calibration so that the installed solar energy system will operate as intended; and shall provide for the ongoing accountability and optimization of the installed solar energy system performance over time.

(c)

The report to Council for each award of a contract for a new city-owned building shall include information related to compliance with this section. Thereafter, reports shall be provided Council every other year, giving an accounting of the operations of all solar energy systems installed in connection with the construction of the city-owned building(s).

(d)

[Reserved.]

(e)

Exemptions. Each of the following is exempt from application of this section whenever Council, by resolution, makes findings of fact supporting non-inclusion of a solar energy system in a new city-owned building, but city shall implement the requirements of this section to the maximum extent practical:

(1)

A building for which the design is 30% or more complete on or before the effective date of this section.

(2)

A building for which another renewable energy source(s) is available which Council finds is an alternative system of comparable cost, efficiency and energy conservation benefits.

(3)

An award of state or federal funding would be jeopardized.

(4)

There is a lack of available funding.

(5)

Any building specified by Council as exempt from the application of this section.

(f)

For purposes of this section, certain words and terms used are defined as follows:

(1)

"Building" means any structure used for support or shelter of any use or occupancy, as defined in the California Building Standards Code.

(2)

"Solar energy system" means either of the following:

(i)

Any solar collector or other energy device whose primary purpose is to provide for the collection, storage and distribution of solar energy for space heating, space cooling, elect generation or water heating.

(ii)

Any structural design feature for a building, whose primary purpose is to provide for the collection, storage and distribution of solar energy for electric generation, space heating or cooling, or for water heating.

(Added Ord. 2008-23, § 1, eff. 5-4-08).