{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-157.455","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 157.455","heading":"Definitions -- Legislative findings -- Efficient school design -- Development","body":"of guidelines -- Assistance to school districts.\n(1) As used in this section:\n(a) \"Life-cycle cost analysis\" means to calculate and compare different building\ndesigns to identify which is the best investment over the long term. Life -cycle\ncosts include design and construction costs, operating costs, maintenance\ncosts, and repair and replacement costs, adjusted for the time value of money;\n(b) \"Net zero building\" means a building in which the amount of energy provided\nby on-site renewable energy sources is equal to the amount of energy used by\nthe building; and\n(c) \"Efficient school design\" means a school building design:\n1. That meets, at a minimum, the requirements  of the United States Green\nBuilding Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design\n(LEED) for schools at the \"Certified\" level or certification under a\ncomparable system with equivalent requirements or other building\nperformance certification systems, such as the United States Department\nof Energy's Energy Star program;\n2. That ensures energy savings from a building design that equates to or\nexceeds ten percent (10%) over the American Society of Heating,\nRefrigerating, and Air Conditioning Enginee rs energy standard 90.1 -\n2007; and\n3. For which whole building life -cycle cost analysis illustrates that the\ndesign is cost-effective.\n(2) The General Assembly hereby finds that schools that are constructed or renovated\nusing efficient school design are pro ven effective vehicles for accomplishing some\nor all of the following beneficial public purposes:\n(a) Lower operating costs and increased asset value;\n(b) Reduced waste sent to landfills;\n(c) Conservation of energy and water;\n(d) Reduced storm drainage runoff;\n(e) Healthier, safer environments for occupants;\n(f) Reduced emissions of greenhouse gases; and\n(g) Improved student attendance and performance by:\n1. Using the building as a teaching tool;\n2. Using the local environment as a context for curriculum integration;\n3. Providing rigorous, highly relevant, and applied learning; and\n4. Improving productivity by making buildings healthier for occupants,\nespecially through the increased use of natural light.\n(3) The Kentucky Department of Education and all school districts undertaking the\nconstruction of new school buildings or the major renovation of existing school\nbuildings are strongly encouraged to:\n(a) Meet or exceed efficient school design standards in planning and designing all\nnew buildings and major renovation projects;\n(b) Use life-cycle cost analysis to evaluate different design proposals; and\n(c) Consider the possibility that each new school building or major renovation of\na building could be a net zero building, either during the construction or\nrenovation, or at a later date as resources become available.\n(4) The Department of Education shall develop and adopt guidelines for efficient\nschool design, net zero buildings, and life -cycle cost ana lysis, including the\nidentification of appropriate computer -based simulation programs for use in\nundertaking life-cycle cost analysis.\n(5) The Department of Education and the Office of Energy Policy shall assist school\ndistricts in:\n(a) Developing methods for measuring ongoing operating savings resulting from\nthe use of efficient school design;\n(b) Identifying sources for training for school staff and students to ensure that\nefficient school design features and components are fully utilized; and\n(c) Identifying ways that efficient school design and its energy -saving\ncomponents can be integrated into the school curriculum.","path":["KRS Chapter 157"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=52658","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:51:02Z","sha256":"02d594baebb20f3508e043b57cedff9f3a903eef66a1cacbef8bc157ed22f712","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-157.450","next":"us-ky/krs-157.510"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}