As used in this subchapter:

(1) “Agency” means any state agency, authority, or any political subdivision of state or local government, including, but not limited to, county, city, township, village or municipal government, local school districts, and institutions of higher education, any state-supported institution, or a joint action agency composed of political subdivisions.

(2) “Energy and operational cost savings” means a measured reduction in the cost of fuel, energy consumption, and stipulated operation and maintenance created from the implementation of 1 or more energy conservation measures when compared with an established baseline for the previous cost of fuel, energy consumption, and stipulated operation and maintenance.

(3) “Energy conservation measure” means a training program, facility alteration, facility improvement, or equipment purchase to be added or used in any facility that is designed to reduce energy or operating costs and includes, but is not limited to:

a. Insulation of the facility structure and systems within the facility;

b. Storm windows and doors, caulking and weather-stripping, multi-glazed windows and doors, heat-absorbing, or heat-reflective, glazed and coated window and door systems, additional glazing, reductions in glass area, and other window and door system modifications that reduce energy consumption;

c. Automatic energy control systems;

d. Heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning system modifications or replacements;

e. Replacement or modifications of lighting fixtures to increase the energy efficiency of the lighting system;

f. Day-lighting systems;

g. Energy recovery systems;

h. Cogeneration systems that produce steam or forms of energy such as heat, as well as electricity, for use primarily within a facility or complex of facilities;

i. Renewable energy systems, such as solar, biomass or wind systems;

j. Devices that reduce water consumption or sewer charges;

k. Storage systems, such as fuel cells and thermal storage;

l. Generating technologies, such as micro turbines; and

m. Any other repair, replacement or upgrade of existing equipment that produces energy and operational cost savings, improves safety, significantly reduces energy consumption or increases the operating efficiency of the facilities and which must conform to the applicable state or local building code.

(4) “Guaranteed energy performance contract” means a contract between the agency and a qualified provider for the evaluation, recommendation, and implementation of energy conservation measures, which, at minimum, shall include:

a. The design and installation of equipment to implement 1 or more of such measures and, if applicable, operation and maintenance of such measures;

b. That the amount of guaranteed actual savings must meet or exceed the total annual contract payments made by the contracting agency for the guaranteed performance contract; and

c. The finance charges incurred by the agency over the life of the contract.

(5) “Qualified provider” means a person or business with a record of established projects that is experienced in the analysis, design, implementation, or installation of energy conservation measures through guaranteed energy performance contracts.

75 Del. Laws, c. 67, § ?2; 77 Del. Laws, c. 222, § ?1;