Supervisors hope building projects embrace 'green'

Supervisors hope building projects embrace 'green'
By Reporter Staff
Article Launched: 06/13/2008

Solano County became the first local agency this week to adopt a Voluntary Green Builder Program designed to reduce greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide emissions from residential building projects.

"Everyone has a role to play in reducing our carbon footprint," said Supervisor Barbara Kondylis in a press release. "The Voluntary Green Builder Program lays out a framework to make a difference here in Solano County."

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave tentative approval to the Voluntary Green Building Program for residential building and changes to the associated county ordinance. A second reading of the ordinance will be done June 24, with the ordinance taking effect 30 days later.

Solano County, along with other governmental agencies, is required to develop and implement programs that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with guidelines established in recent legislation (AB 32 and SB97).

The adopted ordinance will help the county meet the proposed goals outlined in the 2008 County General Plan that the board will review in July.

The Voluntary Green Builder Program exceeds the existing state energy efficiency standards by at least 15 percent.

Among other steps, the program requires builders to divert at least 50 percent of construction and deconstruction debris from landfills, reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer in buildings and use water conservation methods for landscaping and household use.

As an incentive to participate in the program, residential builders will receive expedited plan review at no additional cost. The expeditious process reduces the review and approval time by half.