Model Policies

Landlords and sellers must disclose the energy performance of buildings to renters/buyers. Commercial buildings must also disclose energy usage data to the EPA and State Department of Energy. Violations are subject to civil penalties. Additionally, buildings and homes meeting energy efficiency criteria may be eligible for property tax exemption.

This program focuses on whole community, including modification of building and zoning codes, creation of green building standards, incentives for green building certification, and city commitments. Changes to the general plan and zoning, requirements for LEED municipal buildings, and adoption of the 2006 IECC will result in mandatory changes, while incentives to promote LEED in private commercial developments encourage voluntary changes.

With the 2010 Ordinance 1331, the city of Telluride adopted a green building program that applies to all new construction, additions, and remodels of commercial, residential, and multi-family homes and requires compliance with energy and green building codes. The city has created the Telluride Energy Mitigation Program (TEMP) that requires all excessive exterior energy use, larger homes, and heated garages mitigate or offset the impacts of the additional energy requirements by either using an on-site renewable energy source or making a payment in lieu. This includes outdoor pools, heated garages, and spas/ hot tubs. An energy code review fee equal to 20% of the project's building permit fee must be paid to cover the costs associated with verifying compliance. Funds from the energy code review and TEMP program will be used on town projects. Violating any portion of the ordinance will result in a misdemeanor, punishable upon conviction by a penalty as set in...

The Tampa Fast Track Review Checklist is not a rating system. It is a means whereby city staff can determine if a project meets certain sustainability criteria as to warrant a faster plan review. Some requirements include:

New and renovated municipal buildings 5,000 ft² or larger must achieve LEED Silver.

Commercial buildings 5,000 ft² or larger are required to comply with a third-party rating system, LEED or FGBC.

Residential and commercial buildings less than 5,000 ft² must meet six requirements.

Other systems are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Grants are available to help with permitting costs.

The Green Building Tax Credit provides a 25% tax credit for new buildings that achieve LEED Silver certification or equivalent, a 50% tax credit for new buildings that achieve LEED Gold certification or equivalent, and a 75% tax credit for new buildings that achieve LEED Platinum certification or equivalent, for a period of 5 consecutive years. This tax credit only applies to property that is principally used for business, commercial, or industrial purposes.

Green buildings achieving LEED-NC certification in the city of Columbus, Ohio are eligible for LEED reimbursement ranging from a minimum of the certification fee to a maximum of three times the certification fee. All eligible projects must receive certification from the USGBC and credit for at least 8 of 12 essential LEED-NC credits designated by the city. The funds for certification reimbursement are available through the Green Columbus Fund, a $1 million grant program to encourage green building and brownfield redevelopment.

All state agencies and institutions constructing state-owned facilities over 5,000 gross feet squared in size, and renovations of such buildings valued at 50% of the assessed building value, shall be required to design and construct consistent with energy performance standards at least as energy efficient as LEED Silver or earn two green globes in the Green Globes rating system. Agencies and institutions are instructed to purchase or lease ENERGY STAR-rated appliances and equipment if ENERGY STAR is available for the category of equipment/appliance. In addition, the order instructs the Commonwealth to encourage the private sector to adopt energy-efficient building standards by giving preference when leasing facilities for state use to facilities meeting LEED Silver standards or earning at least two Green Globes in the Green Globes standard

In a broad partnership of city resources (Washington State Department of Energy, Puget Sound Electric and others), Seattle provides customized green building education, early design guidance, technical assistance, incentives, and recognition of sustainable building. They recognize and support a variety of third party verification programs including Built Green and LEED. They have published a series of green guides for various project types and resource lists. The city not only provides extensive information on external incentives, it also provides incentives such as FAR bonuses in certain areas, expedited review service, etc.

Ordinance 04411 adds the Green Building Program to county building regulations. It also establishes program goals, outlines rating requirements, and expedites permit processing for GreenPoint Rated or LEED homes.

Technical assistance and financial incentives must be established to encourage compliance with a variety of established third party programs. Commercial projects receive rebates based on level of LEED certification, while residential projects receive rebates based on the number of units certified. All new municipal buildings over 10,000 ft² must be LEED Certified

Any county, city, or town in Montana that has enacted an energy efficiency program may include voluntary standards for new commercial construction that promote energy conservation and provide incentives for following the standards. Incentives can be greater than those offered by the state building code.

The Arlington County Green Building Density Incentive Policy applies to special exception site plan requests for bonus density and/or height. The program uses the LEED rating system as a standard for measuring each project. The floor area ratio (FAR) bonus depends on the level of LEED Certification and building type (commercial, high-rise residential). The County established a Green Building Fund; builders that do not commit to a LEED rating contribute to the Fund. The contribution is calculated at a rate of $0.045 per square foot. (This calculation is based on the fees assessed by the U.S. Green Building Council for registration and evaluation of a formal LEED application.) The Green Building Fund is used to provide education and outreach to developers and the community on green building issues. Developers must post a bond or letter of credit before a certificate of occupancy is issued. If a project receives LEED certification from the USGBC, the Fund contribution is...

Public Resources Code Section 25402.1(h)2 and Section 10-106 of the Building Energy Efficiency Standards establish a process which allows local adoption of energy standards that are more energy efficient than the statewide Standards. This process allows local governments to adopt and enforce energy standards before the statewide Standards effective date, require additional energy conservation measures, and/or set stricter energy budgets. Local governments are required to apply to the Energy Commission for approval, documenting the supporting analysis for how the local government has determined that their proposed Standards will save more energy than the current statewide Standards and the basis of the local government's determination that the local standards are cost-effective. Once the Energy Commission staff has verified that the local standards will require buildings to use no more energy than the current statewide Standards and that the documentation requirements...