Adopt a sustainable building policy for private buildings; include the SB 2030 energy standard; adopt language governing new development projects that:
Best Practice of this action
Rating Guideline
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Adopted policy for projects receiving financial support; list negotiation points or required green building elements/framework (e.g., minimum energy efficiency performance above state energy code; electric vehicle charging facilities). |
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Adopted policy for projects requiring regulatory approval; adopted Solar Ready Home program. List required green building elements/framework (e.g., energy standard, C&D waste, design elements that facilitate access by non-motorized means). |
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Adopted policy includes the SB 2030 energy standard; policy is for projects receiving both financial support and regulatory approval. List required green building elements/framework (e.g., affordable/inclusionary housing units, natural cooling). |
Resources
- See also resources for action 3.4
- The Minnesota Municipal Sustainable Building Policies Guide (CEE, 2021) provides a policy framework and implementation recommendations for cities considering a sustainable or green building policy.
- The St. Paul sustainable building policy, adopted in 2010, was developed to serve as a model for other cities, which are allowed under state law to mandate new building construction that exceeds the state energy code when a city is a financial or regulatory participant with a private development. St. Paul's policy includes the B3 Sustainable Building 2030 (SB 2030) Energy Standard. The 2030 Palette is a newer green building framework, with principles, information, and resources for planning and building at the scales of region, city, district, site and building.
- 2009 Minnesota Model Ordinances for Sustainable Development: Energy Efficiency Ordinance.
- La Crescent was the first MN city to adopt a Solar Ready Home Certification in 2021 to encourage home developers to include checklist items throughout the build process to allow for easy solar installation in the future.
- See the US DOE's Zero Energy Ready Home specifications that a city can require so as to outfit a home (with reasonable solar potential) with the necessary minimum structural and system components needed to support a complete renewable energy system in the future. Also see zero net energy building ordinances and solar-ready construction ordinances.
- Use the International Dark-Sky Association Lighting for Policy Makers guide to promote reduced/smarter outdoor lighting. See the GreenStep Dark Skies best practices for more.
- Inclusionary housing policies vary, giving cities options in crafting this affordable housing tool so as to help develop the kind of economically mixed community desired. See an inclusionary zoning calculator to help determine how many units a developer can afford to make "affordable" (without upping the rental rates for non-affordable housing and while making a reasonable profit so as to stay in business). A related policy choice would be the use of a non-profit corporation to hold 2nd mortgages on all affordable units. Purchasers agree to share equity increases with the corporation when selling, and the corporation has the right of first refusal when owners sell so as to ensure low-income households purchase open units.
- Providing Well-Placed Affordable Housing in Rural Communities (Smart Growth America: 2017) examines how local governments can provide affordable housing and locate it within a short walk to jobs and essential services with little or no upfront cost by changing zoning restrictions, protecting existing Section 515 housing, and taking advantage of federal assistance.
- See also the Green Garage Certification program, which assesses 50 elements of parking facility sustainability, including management practices; encouraging alternate modes of transportation and community engagement; and efficient and sustainable technology structure design and designed so they could be reused as warehouses, offices or other uses due to having flat floors and high ceilings.
Sublist
a. Receive city financial support, and/or
b. Require city regulatory approval (planned unit development, conditional use permit, rezoning, variance).
Order Number
3
Action Type
Finite