§4–806.

    (a)    So that it can audit and evaluate competing design proposals, the Department shall set standards for energy performance indices.

    (b)    As experience develops on the energy performance achieved in State buildings, the energy performance indices will serve as a measure of building performance with respect to energy consumption.

    (c)    The Department, in cooperation with the Maryland Energy Administration, shall assist State agencies in reducing, by 2029, the average energy consumption in State buildings by 10% from the level in fiscal year 2018.

    (d)    Each year, the Department shall:

        (1)    analyze all State–owned buildings to identify which buildings are the least energy–efficient; and

        (2)    conduct an energy audit of at least 2,000,000 square feet of the least energy–efficient State–owned buildings.

    (e)    The energy audit shall identify low–cost measures for increasing energy efficiency that, over the following 5 years, will result in energy cost savings that meet or exceed the costs of the measures.

    (f)    The Department shall provide a copy of the energy audit to the head of each unit of State government that occupies the spaces audited.

    (g)    Each unit of State government that occupies the space audited shall implement the measures identified in the energy audit to the fullest extent practicable.

    (h)    For 1 year following the implementation of the measures identified in the energy audit, the Department shall:

        (1)    monitor the unit’s energy use;

        (2)    track any changes resulting from the measures; and

        (3)    calculate any savings on energy costs.

    (i)    (1)    In this subsection, “Database” means the Comprehensive Utility Records Management Database.

        (2)    The Department shall establish and maintain the Comprehensive Utility Records Management Database for the purpose of tracking the changes in energy consumption resulting from the implementation of the measures identified in the energy audit.

        (3)    The Department shall collect the data and information necessary to fully populate, update, and maintain the Database.

        (4)    Each month, each unit of State government shall make available to the Department all available data about its facilities and copies of the unit’s utility bills.

    (j)    Each unit of State government shall, in support of the unit’s core missions, implement projects and initiatives to conserve energy and reduce energy consumption.

    (k)    The Department, the Maryland Energy Administration, the Department of Budget and Management, and the Department of Information Technology shall collaborate on designing and implementing other cost–effective and energy–efficient savings initiatives.

    (l)    Beginning July 1, 2020, provisions promoting the State’s energy efficiency goals shall be included in requests for proposals that:

        (1)    are for the leasing of space to the State; and

        (2)    would obligate the State to pay the utility bills for the leased space.

    (m)    Each fiscal year, with the advice and assistance of the Maryland Energy Administration, the Department shall report to the Governor on the State’s progress toward achieving the goal of reducing energy consumption in State buildings by 10%.