Require by city policy that new city-owned buildings be built using the SB 2030 energy standard and/or a green building framework.
Best Practice of this action
Rating Guideline
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Require use of a green building standard or certification or code or city-determined list of sustainability features for some but not all city buildings; third-party verification not necessary. Note solar orientation requirements. Report under BPA 1.5 new/existing city buildings with green features that were NOT built under a green building policy; report school buildings under BPA 3.2, park buildings under BPA 18.7, and private buildings under BPA 2.4; report construction recycling/reuse under BPA 22.8. |
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Require either all buildings to use a green building framework, or that some buildings be certified/rated under a green building framework. |
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Require either the SB 2030 energy standard or that all buildings be certified/rated under a 3rd-party green building framework. |
Resources
- The St. Paul sustainable building policy was developed to serve as a model for other cities. It governs both buildings the city builds itself and private construction when a city is a financial participant. See also a list of green building frameworks, which include codes, standards, rating systems with certification and guidelines with verification. For green garage certification see Parksmart, which assesses 50 elements of parking facility sustainability, including management practices, encouraging alternate modes of transportation and community engagement, and efficient and sustainable technology and structure design (so garages can be reused as warehouses, offices or other uses due to having flat floors and high ceilings).
- One of the frameworks - the State of Minnesota B3 Guidelines - is for new construction and substantial renovation of government buildings. These Guidelines have been developed for and are required on State-funded projects in Minnesota, and they are easily applied to any project to meet sustainability goals for site, water, energy, indoor environment, materials and waste. The SB 2030 Energy Standard is automatically included, as are detailed sustainability standards such as bird-safe buildings.
- The WELL Building Standard is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. Fitwel, created by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a related standard designed for commercial interiors and multi-tenant and single-tenant buildings. Fitwel has twelve sections: location, building access, outdoor spaces, entrances and ground floor, stairwells, indoor environment, workspaces, shared spaces, water supply, cafeterias and prepared food retail, vending machines and snack bars, and emergency procedures.
- 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.
Order Number
1
Action Type
Finite