Green Building Ordinance

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), existing buildings are one of the biggest contributors to environmental pollution in the U.S., accounting for about 40 percent of total energy use, 72 percent of electricity consumption, 39 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions, and 13 percent of total water consumption. Buildings and facilities accounted for 65.7% of the emissions from the City’s 2014 government inventory. The greatest source of emissions was grid-supplied electricity, emitting 77% of the emissions from government buildings, facilities and operations. The report finds that buildings and transportation account for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions community-wide and in government operations in 2014.

Green Building Ordinance

This ordinance establishes environmental standards for new development by requiring that all new construction be required to be LEED Gold certified or Living Building Challenge certified. Green building certifications promote efficient design, construction, operation, maintenance and deconstruction of buildings and site development.

Green buildings incorporate resource-efficient design, construction, and operation of buildings by employing environmentally sensible construction practices, systems and materials. The Sustainability and Resiliency Ordinance which was effective as of April 1, 2016, requires LEED Gold certification or Living Building Challenge certification for any new construction over 7,000 square feet or ground floor additions to existing structures that encompass over 10,000 square feet of additional floor area.

2016-3993-Ordinance

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

LEED Certification – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a rating system developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to evaluate the environmental performance of a building and encourage market transformation towards sustainable design.

Living Building Challenge Certification - developed by the International Living Future Institute encouraging the creation of Living Buildings, Landscapes and Communities while inspiring, educating and motivating a global audience about the need for fundamental and transformative change.

Certification Compliance Schedule

Level of Certification Achieved	Sustainability Fee Reimbursement to Participant for meeting certain Green Building certification levels
Failure to obtain Certification	0% refund of bond or payment of Sustainability fee
LEED Certified	50% refund of bond or payment of Sustainability Fee
LEED Silver Certified	66% refund of bond or payment of Sustainability Fee
LEED Gold Certified or International Living Future Institute Petals or Net Zero Energy Certified	100% refund of bond or payment of Sustainability Fee
LEED Platinum Certified or International Living Future Institute Living Building Challenge Certified	100% refund of bond or payment of Sustainability Fee

Sustainability and Resiliency Fund

The fees collected as part of this program will be used to establish a sustainability and resiliency fund. These funds will be used for new resiliency projects such as living shorelines, water quality monitoring, soil remediation and renewable sources of energy, amongst others. Funds can also be used to supplement resiliency elements of existing capital improvement projects including incorporating bioswales and urban trees into existing streetscape projects, water conservation irrigation systems, and enhanced water quality elements into future storm water and greywater projects.

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