17650-17653
EDUCATION CODE
SECTION 17650-17653
17650. The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the interest of the state and of the people thereof for the state to aid school districts in finding cost-effective methods of conserving energy in school buildings maintained by the districts. The Legislature also finds that while many districts may desire to participate in energy conservation programs designed to reduce the steadily rising costs of meeting the energy needs of school buildings, that the costs involved in improving existing school facilities to become more energy efficient are often prohibitive. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to encourage school districts to retrofit school buildings so as to conserve energy and reduce the costs of supplying energy. 17651. (a) School districts may borrow funds from federal or state regulated financial institutions for the purposes of design and construction costs associated with retrofitting school buildings to become more energy efficient. School districts shall only be authorized to borrow an amount which does not exceed that which can be repaid from energy cost avoidance savings accumulated from the improvement of school facilities. (b) Any savings and loan association may make loans or advances of credit pursuant to subdivision (a) in an amount not in excess of 5 percent of its total assets. This investment may be in addition to any other investment savings and loan associations are permitted to undertake under Section 6705.7 of the Financial Code. 17652. To the extent that these services are available, school districts shall arrange for the preaudit and postaudit of school buildings by investor-owned or municipal utility companies or by independent energy audit companies or organizations which are recognized by federal or state regulated financial institutions. The preaudit shall identify the type and amount of work necessary to retrofit the buildings and shall include an estimate of projected energy savings. The postaudit shall be conducted upon completion of the retrofitting of the school buildings to ensure that the project satisfies the recommendations of the preaudit. 17653. School districts taking action under this chapter shall contract with qualified businesses capable of retrofitting school buildings. To the extent that lists of qualified businesses are made available to school districts by investor-owned or municipal utility companies or federal or state regulated financial institutions, school districts may utilize the services of these businesses.