The Commissioner of Administrative Services or his designee may classify the requirements of the state government for supplies, materials and equipment which may be purchased by the state and may adopt as standards the minimum number of qualities, sizes and varieties of such supplies, materials and equipment consistent with the successful operation of the state government. If the commissioner adopts any such standards, the commissioner shall prepare, adopt and promulgate written specifications describing such standards, provided specifications shall not be required for any supplies, materials or equipment for which the commissioner determines that the cost of preparing specifications would outweigh the benefits. In the preparation and revision of any such standard specification, the commissioner or his designee may seek the advice, assistance and cooperation of the state agencies concerned in order to ascertain their precise requirements. Each specification adopted for any commodity shall satisfy the requirements of the state departments, agencies and institutions which are to make use of the same, unless the commissioner approves a waiver of the specification and states the reason for the waiver in writing. In developing specifications for the purchase of motor vehicles, the commissioner or his designee shall consider motor vehicles using alternative fuels. The commissioner may adopt energy performance standards.