Building design and construction have a tremendous impact on the natural environment, our economy, and the health and productivity of occupants. The built environment is effecting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and ultimately contributing to global warming. The energy used to heat, cool and light buildings, as well as the energy used in their construction, generates more greenhouse emissions than either transportation or industry. Buildings contribute anywhere from more than a third to nearly half of all green house gas emission in the United States.

LEED for County Buildings

As part of the Energy & Environmental Policy, all new County buildings (>10,000 square feet) under the County’s Capital Project Program shall be Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Certified at the Silver Level. LEED is the certification standard of the U.S. Green Building Council; buildings are certified for performance under these design and construction categories:

• Sustainable Sites (site development, alternative transportation accommodations, site development storm water design);

• Water Efficiency (water conservation)

• Energy and Atmosphere (efficient energy performance, renewable energy technology)

• Material and Resources (construction waste management, recycled content materials, regional material use)

• Indoor Environmental Quality (increased ventilation, low emitting materials and finishes, day lighting)

• Innovation in Design (education and awareness, exceptional performance above the LEED requirements)

Two LEED studies for existing buildings (LEED EB) have been completed; one for the Public Works Headquarters Tower and one for the ISD Administrative Headquarters. ISD is developing an existing building, best practices operation and maintenance guideline that will be based on LEED EB that can be initially adopted for use by County facility operators. The following link is provided:

• USGBC LEED

Green Building Ordinance

The County has developed a Green Building Ordinance to establish green building techniques into the construction of new projects. Green building techniques are intended to conserve energy, protect natural resources, conserve water, divert waste from landfills, minimize impacts to existing infrastructure, and promote a healthier environment.

The following table was derived from the draft Green Building Ordinance.


GREEN BUILDING REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW PROJECTS
	Project Description	Building Permit Application Filed on or after January 1, 2009 and before January 1, 2010	Building Permit Application Filed on or After January 1, 2010
1	Residential projects containing < 5 dwelling units	County Green Building Standards	County. Green Building Standards
2	Residential projects containing > 5 dwelling units	County Green Building Standards	County Green Building Standards & (GPR or CGB or LEED)
3	Hotels/motels, lodging houses, nonresidential and mixed-use building with a gross floor area of < 10,000 square feet	County Green Building Standards	County Green Building Standards
4	Hotels/motels, lodging houses, nonresidential and mixed-use buildings and first-time tenant improvements with a gross floor area of > 10, 000 square feet and < 25, 000 square feet	County Green Building Standards	County Green Building Standards - & LEED^TM Certified
5	Hotels/motels, lodging houses, non-residential and mixed-use buildings and first-time tenant improvements with a gross floor area of > 25, 000 square feet	County Green Building Standards	County Green Building Standards - & LEED^TM –Silver
6	New high-rise building > 75 feet in height	County Green Building Standards	County Green Building Standards - & LEED^TM –Silver

Low Impact Development Ordinance

The Low Impact Development (LID) o rdinance requires major projects to incorporate LID Standards (LIDS). LID is a land planning and engineering design approach to managing storm water runoff. LID emphasizes conservation and use of on-site natural features to protect water quality. The LID design is supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is being promoted as a method to help meet goals of the Clean Water Act. This approach implements engineered small-scale hydrologic controls to replicate the pre-development hydrologic regime of watershed through infiltrating, filtering, storing, evaporating and detaining runoff close to its source.

Drought-Tolerant Landscaping Ordinance

The Drought-Tolerant Landscaping Ord inance establishes minimum standards for the design and installation of landscaping using drought-tolerant and native plants that require minimal use of water.

The ordinances will become effective on January 1, 2009 and will apply to the construction of all new projects. For more information regarding the County’s Green Building Program go to: DRP | County Green Building Program