[Ord. No. 6956 §§1 — 5, 5-12-2014]
A. 
This Article constitutes the Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Policy of the City of University City for new municipal construction and major remodels of municipal buildings.
B. 
As used in this Article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
MAJOR REMODELS
1. 
Projects in buildings with over five thousand (5,000) square feet of building floor plan, which projects have a reasonable potential for energy efficiency upgrades, for example: replacing twenty-five percent (25%) or more of a building heating or cooling system; replacing twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the building lighting; involving removal of over twenty-five percent (25%) of a building roof; or involving work on over twenty-five percent (25%) of a building's exterior walls and/or windows.
2. 
The term "major remodels" does not include cosmetic remodels, emergency repairs or regular maintenance. When regular maintenance includes HVAC or lighting equipment replacement, new equipment to be installed shall conform to Subsection (C)(2) below.
RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION FACILITIES
Any and all equipment, systems or techniques put in service, within or outside the boundaries of University City, to generate energy from sources that are not depletable and which effectively reduce or eliminate carbon dioxide emissions in the energy production process.
C. 
The Department of Community Development is hereby directed to implement the following energy efficiency, renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction measures for new municipal buildings, major remodels of municipal buildings and cost-effective opportunities for renewable energy production:
1. 
Requests for proposals for services or bid documents issued for construction of new municipal buildings and major remodels shall state the high priority of energy efficiency, overall sustainability and greenhouse gas reduction based on a twenty-year life cycle of building operation. The City shall specify the utility rates for natural gas, electricity, water, sewer and the environmental cost of carbon dioxide emissions to be used in the cost estimates required in Subsection (C)(2) below.
2. 
All projects, prior to approval for construction, will be required to demonstrate that the following analyses support the final project delivered:
a. 
Estimate the energy consumption and long-term operating costs of the building built to minimum code requirements;
b. 
Propose energy efficiency measures based on current technology and site location that exceed current City energy code requirements by a minimum of thirty percent (30%);
c. 
Estimate the energy consumption and long-term operating costs from the measures proposed in Subsection (C)(2)(b);
d. 
Estimate the reduction in carbon dioxide produced between Subsection (C)(2)(a) and (C)(2)(b) and value this reduction at not less than twenty dollars ($20) per ton per year;
e. 
Provide a life cycle analysis of the costs and benefits of proposed measures, including the value of Subsection (C)(2)(d) based on a twenty-year analysis period for measures proposed in Subsection (C)(2)(b); and
f. 
Include all measures proposed in Subsection (C)(2)(b) that provide the project a fifteen-year payback or provide a yield equal to or better than that earned on the reserve fund.
3. 
Licensed design professionals providing services for a project and providing energy analyses pursuant to Subsection (C)(2) will be required to demonstrate capability and experience with energy analyses, or to hire consultants with the necessary expertise.
4. 
The City shall commission all building projects in accordance with the United States Green Building Council's enhanced commissioning guidelines for leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) certification.
D. 
For the purpose of educating the public on the benefits of energy efficiency, renewable energy production and greenhouse gas reduction:
1. 
Results of energy analyses submitted pursuant to this Article shall be documented and available via the City website.
2. 
The results of Subsection (D)(1) shall be compared to the adopted minimum code requirements of St. Louis County and the State of Missouri.
3. 
The energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction features incorporated into any project shall be publicized through educational displays during construction and in the completed building project.
4. 
Documentation of greenhouse gas reduction shall be consistent with audit practices necessary for trading carbon credits.
E. 
For the purpose of developing renewable energy production facilities within or beyond the City limits for the benefit of the City and its residents:
1. 
The City will embark on renewable energy projects that demonstrate an ability to pay for themselves over a fifteen-year period or provide the City with a yield that is equal to or better than the yield on the reserve fund.
2. 
To maximize the economic benefit to the City, the City will endeavor to develop partnerships with the private sector, where and when reasonable, in the development of renewable energy projects with the intent of monetizing tax benefits available to the private sector.
3. 
For purposes of public education, the City will document and display for public information the amount of energy produced with renewable energy projects, the economic benefit of this production to the City and the effective reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.