(a) Definitions. In this Section, the following words have the meanings indicated:
Department means the Department of General Services.
Director means the Director of the Department or the Director’s designee.
Energy Project means an energy efficiency or renewable energy improvement to a building or facility that is expected to reduce the onsite consumption of electricity, natural gas, or other fuels.
Return on Investment means a performance measure used to evaluate the financial return of an energy project, including reasonable forecasts of energy costs and other factors.
Social cost of carbon means an estimate of the economic damages or damages avoided associated with the increase or reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide emissions.
(b) When evaluating a building to determine whether to improve the building’s energy efficiency, the Department must include the social cost of carbon as a factor in determining the return on investment of the proposed energy efficiency improvements.
(c) In performing its analysis, the Department must use the standard developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or a standard the Director finds equivalent.
(d) In performing its analysis, the Department should consult the Department of Environmental Protection and any other County department or agency with expertise in environmental sustainability. (2014 L.M.C., ch. 8, § 1.)