Topical Reports Green Construction

Green Building Initiatives

Commercial High Performance Buildings Project
A part of the US Department of Energy's Commercial Whole Buildings Roadmapping initiative. This team-driven public/private partnership measures and demonstrates the benefits of buildings that are designed, built and operated to be energy efficient, environmentally sustainable, superior quality, and cost effective.
http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/highperformance/

NW Regional Sustainable Building Action Plan
Design assistance available from City of Seattle, Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities. The Northwest Regional Sustainable Building Action Plan has been a year-long effort to identify barriers to sustainable building, and assess practical strategies to overcome the barriers. The plan will be directed toward new construction and major renovation projects in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia.
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/light/conserve/sustainability/cv5_fpln.htm

Also, under this plan, the Seattle Public Utilities partners with other agencies, businesses, institutions, and non-profits to promote sustainable design and construction practices and technology in the building and landscaping industries.
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/util/RESCONS/susbuild/default.htm

Green Building Initiative - City of Portland
An integrated, conservation-based effort to promote resource-efficient building and sustainable site design practices throughout the City. The effort coordinates the expertise and resources of six City bureaus. Includes comprehensive green design guidelines and additional green building web links.
http://www.sustainableportland.org/FSgrated.html

Seattle Sustainable Building Action Plan and Built Smart Program
May provide free technical assistance and rebates. Technical assistance is available to facilitate builder acceptance and compliance. The program operates a voluntary rating and green certification system for multi-family projects. One rebate example is that $0.55-0.65 per square foot is paid for meeting insulation requirements.
Contact: Wayne Knipple, 206-684-4286.
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/light/conserve/resident/cv5_bs.htm

Dade Green Coalition
Coordinates sustainable construction efforts via a broad-based group of local government and administrators, local phone and power, schools, various builder associations and other building industry professionals, Chamber of Commerce, University of Miami, Florida Department of Community Affairs, and the Governor's Commission for a Sustainable South Florida. Published Green Guidelines for Residential and Commercial Construction.
E-mail: billc@txinfinet.com

City of Corvallis, Oregon's Comprehensive Plan
The plan issues a statement of support for green building through two clauses directing that the city:

• incorporate, in the construction of City-owned buildings, appropriate 'green builder' construction methods and materials, and
• consider strategies, such as incentives, to encourage the use of 'green builder' construction methods and materials in private construction.

http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us/cd/pl/compplan.html

Sustainable Development/Affordable Housing Pilot Program
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
The goal is to produce up to 100 affordable housing units that incorporate principles of sound land use planning, consistent with the State Plan, impose minimal impact on the environment, conserve natural resources and enhance the health and well being of the residents. They anticipate that some strategies will be incorporated into their affordable housing funding programs. Successful applicants receive subsidy through DCA's Balanced Housing Program, as well as through the local utility's energy conservation program. Program encourages applicants to "integrate as many of the sustainable design strategies into a cohesive project."
Contact: Peggy Huchet, 609-633-6284.
http://www.state.nj.us/dca/dcahome.htm

The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH)
A federal, multi-agency effort, led by HUD and DOE, PATH CoRP focuses on expediting the development and use of advanced housing technologies which improve the quality, affordability, durability, energy efficiency and environmental performance of a home. PATH is funded at roughly $100 million annually.
Contact: John Blair, 202-708-4277 x106.
http://www.pathnet.org

Resourceful Building Demonstration Project - Alameda County, California
Funding is provided for green construction and green features have been added to several commercial jobs. Education and information is also a part of this program.
Contact: Wendy Sommer, 510-614-1699, e-mail: acwma@stopwaste.org

Maryland’s 1997 Smart Growth Initiative
Directs growth to areas where it can best be accommodated. The mission of Maryland’s Green Building Program is to facilitate change in the way land development occurs throughout the state by increasing the awareness and use of environmentally responsible building practices, materials and site designs that provide comfortable, affordable and healthier buildings.
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/programs/greenbuilding/

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