1. (a)

   1. (1) The life cycle cost of operating a building, including energy cost and labor cost, can often exceed the cost of the building construction by eight (8) to ten (10) times.
   2. (2) Efforts to reduce energy consumption or improve employee efficiency by as little as ten percent (10%) can often result in lifetime cost savings equaling the cost of new construction.
   3. (3) It is therefore incumbent upon each building operator, manager, and designer to be aware of the issue regarding energy consumption in the building and to plan construction and operations as wisely as possible to minimize the energy consumption while meeting the operational needs of the facility and while promoting a healthy indoor environment.

2. (b)

   1. (1) Energy conservation for only the sake of avoiding energy consumption can often lead to indoor environmental problems that can have a potential cost far greater than the value of the energy saved.
   2. (2) All energy plans should consider not only the energy reduction but also the impact upon the building materials, systems, and upon the occupants’ health and productivity.
   3. (3) Pursuant to the Arkansas Code for New Building Construction Suppleents and Amendments, 15 CAR pt. 233, and the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, 12 CAR pt. 15, all new construction projects and renovations shall comply with these codes.
   4. (4) Departments should give careful consideration to the principles of the standards and codes for incorporation into the project design to allow a stable base from which the building operator can begin to manage the building’s energy consumption.

   5. (5)

      1. (A) All occupied buildings shall be designed to maintain the indoor environment within the parameters of the “comfort envelope” as defined in the ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook.
      2. (B) This envelope defines a range of temperatures and humidity levels that are deemed to be acceptable to most occupants under normal activity levels.

Codification Notes: "ASHRAE" means American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers.