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Home My WebLink About2011 10 04 - Other Overview of Programs and Ordinance distributed by Chairperson Alice Bard Date: October 4, 2011 This document was distributed by Chairperson Alice Bard under Reports at the October 4, 2011 Beautification of Winter Springs Board Regular Meeting. Overview of programs and ordinances that promote sustainable development The benefits of achieving high standards (adapted from the Florida Green Building Coalition) to: The City The Developer Property Purchasers Preservation of green space Gain valuable promotion Pride in purchasing in a designated and advertising green community Natural resource conservation Differentiate your development Value of community amenities (e.g., water and energy) from the competition Less water and air pollution Show leadership in your Reduced operating expenses than standard development community Less traffic congestion Potential local incentives Potential financial incentives Potentially quicker application Potentially quicker application Healthier living for employees review process review process and residents Programs: Florida Water Stars' (http: / /www.sirwmd.com /floridawaterstar /index.html) This is a program from the St. Johns River Water Management District with different categories for master - planned residential communities, single family residential construction (and landscapes), and commercial and institutional developments. A checklist is used to determine whether all prerequisites for the program have been met and sufficient points have been achieved to merit Florida Water Star certification. There are two residential tiers - Silver and Gold -with Gold being more water conserving. Both the residential and the commercial and institutional checklists cover three categories - landscape, irrigation, and indoor, and points are given depending on adherence to the checklist. Examples of items from the residential checklist include: • plants are grouped with similar moisture and maintenance requirements • 50% or more of the landscaped area is shaded by existing trees • plant selections are compatible with site - specific conditions such as sunlight, soil types, and salinity • sprinklers rise above turf grass height • irrigation application occurs in spray patterns that minimize overspray on impervious surfaces • leak detection/flow- sensing system is installed by homeowner or utility • all toilets are high - efficiency, 1.28 gallons /flush, with a UNAR MaP rating above 350 grams /flush. WaterSense- labeled toilets may comply • a quarter turn or push -pull valve is used for all toilet and faucet supply lines The checklist and certification for master - planned residential communities combines elements of the residential and the commercial and institutional categories, with additional language that would be required for inclusion in codes, covenants, and restrictions. Florida Green Building Coalition (floridagreenbuilding.org) This program has several different categories of green building and certification standards for each -there are categories for Florida Green Development, Florida Green Commercial Building, and Florida Green Local Government. There are specific standards for each of these categories, with a point scale for each criteria. For example, Category 1 (Protecting Ecosystems and Conserving Natural Resources) in the Green Development Standard has a sliding scale of points for: 1) Redeveloping an already developed site 2) setting aside conservation areas 3) developing a management plan for preserved/conserved, created or restored wetlands /uplands 4) providing a vegetation & tree, topographical, soil, and wildlife/habitat study prior to design 5) preserving the most valuable spaces for biodiversity 6) having an on -site conservation plan for a specific wildlife species 7) maintaining or providing wildlife corridors 8) preserving upland buffers to enhance preserved wetlands 9) preserving or providing groundwater recharge areas 10) reusing or recycling materials on site 11) treating stormwater from neighboring sites or in pre- existing developments 12) utilizing low impact development techniques 13) conserving land via stormwater areas that are dry most of the time after a stormwater event and which can serve as other amenities 14) providing non - listed environmental benefits Category 3 (Green Utility Practices), as another example, has a sliding points scale for each of the following criteria: 1) minimizing disturbance due to utilities 2) delivering green power 3) supplying an irrigation system that uses stormwater or reuse water 4) having an irrigation meter system on each parcel 5) establishing a water irrigation budget 6) sub - metering parcels by end user 7) providing non - listed environmental benefits U.S. Green Building Council (usbgc.org) This program developed the internationally- recognized green building certification system known as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) in 2000. It provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations, and maintenance solutions. LEED promotes sustainable building and development practices through a suite of rating systems that recognize projects that implement strategies for better environmental and health performance. The LEED rating systems are developed through an open, consensus -based process led by LEED committees - diverse groups of volunteers representing a cross - section of the building and construction industry. The LEED rating system can be applied to all building types- commercial as well as residential. According to the USBGC website, the perceived cost benefits of green building according to building owners were that: 1) their operating costs decrease 13.6% for new construction and 8.5% for existing building projects 2) their building value increases 10.9% for new construction and 6.8% for existing building projects 3) their return on investment improves 9.9% for new construction and 19.2% for existing building projects 4) occupancy increases 6.4% for new construction and 2.5% for existing building projects 5) rent increases 6.1% for new construction and 1% for existing building projects In addition, owners of green projects reported a return on investment improvements of 19.2% on average for retrofit /renovation green projects as compared to 9.9% on average for new projects. Sample ordinances: Gainesville Green Building Program Ordinance To provide energy efficient construction, this ordinance provides the following incentives for building new energy - efficient homes: 1) fast -track permitting for building permits and 2) 50% reduction in the building permit fee. To receive these incentives, an independent third party must certify the building; standards for development certification follow the Florida Green Building Coalition and the U.S. Green Building Council standards and can be found at the following websites: http: / /floridagreenbuilding.org /standards /default.htm and http: / /usgbc.org. The city government also provides marketing incentives including erection of building signs at the site, placing participants on the city website, and press releases. A Green Building Award from the City of Gainesville recognizes one participant each year that demonstrates commitment to the program. Original ordinance language can be found at: http://municode.com/resources/gateway.ask?pid+10819&sid=9. Sarasota Green Building Program Resolution This resolution was adopted from the Gainesville Green Building Ordinance (see above); the language in nearly identical with only a few modifications in order to adjust the resolution to meet the needs of the area. For example, item no. 2 (above) was modified such that there would be a 50% reduction in the building permit fee with a maximum of $1,000/building but no person or organization shall receive more than $5,000 in permit fee refunds. This limitation allows for more refunds to be spread across a higher number of different developers. The program has guaranteed that the fast track permitting will be turned around in two days. Also, the building department gives priority to all inspections to any green building.