Encouraging Green Building
[ Excerpt from SBN-P article, 11/25/05, By JOSHUA MOLINA ]
In an attempt to promote environmentally friendly building principles, the city of Santa Barbara is going to offer swifter plan checks to builders who meet higher green standards...
The program goes into effect Jan. 1...
Here's how the program works:
Builders use a checklist that includes categories of environmentally friendly techniques for energy efficiency, health and air quality, site and water protection and other factors.
The Contractors Association developed a three-star rating to determine the level of environmental efficiency. After the construction is completed, the association will determine whether the project gets one, two or three stars, according to the Built Green Program.
City officials said projects that receive at least two stars from Contractors Association will get rewarded with a speedier plan check, which essentially confirms whether projects comply with safety, engineering and planning and other legal codes...
The city plans the same incentive program for larger commercial projects, using the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards created by the U.S. Green Building Council. Projects that meet the silver standard will receive the expedited plan check.
In addition to the voluntary program, the city of Santa Barbara plans in December to take a look at its own green-building efforts.
The incentive program has been wholeheartedly embraced by the City Council and the Contractors Association.
The council voted 6-0 this week to support the incentive program.
Proponents say that green building techniques may cost more money on the front end, but that over time, they save the homeowner money. Solar panels, for example, pay themselves off eventually and cut electricity costs.
"Because building things in the most responsible fashion sometimes has a short-term gain, government providing some incentive is really the way to help encourage people to be looking at that long-term gain," said Councilman Das Williams...
Program encourages green building
In an attempt to promote environmentally friendly building principles, the city of Santa Barbara is going to offer swifter plan checks to builders who meet higher green standards...
The program goes into effect Jan. 1...
Here's how the program works:
Builders use a checklist that includes categories of environmentally friendly techniques for energy efficiency, health and air quality, site and water protection and other factors.
The Contractors Association developed a three-star rating to determine the level of environmental efficiency. After the construction is completed, the association will determine whether the project gets one, two or three stars, according to the Built Green Program.
City officials said projects that receive at least two stars from Contractors Association will get rewarded with a speedier plan check, which essentially confirms whether projects comply with safety, engineering and planning and other legal codes...
The city plans the same incentive program for larger commercial projects, using the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards created by the U.S. Green Building Council. Projects that meet the silver standard will receive the expedited plan check.
In addition to the voluntary program, the city of Santa Barbara plans in December to take a look at its own green-building efforts.
The incentive program has been wholeheartedly embraced by the City Council and the Contractors Association.
The council voted 6-0 this week to support the incentive program.
Proponents say that green building techniques may cost more money on the front end, but that over time, they save the homeowner money. Solar panels, for example, pay themselves off eventually and cut electricity costs.
"Because building things in the most responsible fashion sometimes has a short-term gain, government providing some incentive is really the way to help encourage people to be looking at that long-term gain," said Councilman Das Williams...
Program encourages green building
Posted by Malcolm on
11/28/2005
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