NC Municipal Green Building Policy Incentives

Transcription

1 USGBC NC LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESOURCE CENTER NC Municipal Green Building Policy Incentives A Comprehensive Summary August 2013

2 Forward: This report provides a comprehensive overview of municipal green building incentive policies across the State of North Carolina. It is intended as an educational tool for local government staff and elected officials to learn about the various strategies NC municipalities have implemented to promote green building and LEED in their communities. To complement this overview, the report explores the motivation behind the development of these policies and the impact that these policies have had in their respective communities. The information presented in this report was gathered through research and through conducting interviews of staff members of the listed municipalities. Table of Contents Asheville, NC.. pg. 2 Catawba County, NC..pg. 4 Chapel Hill, NC....pg. 6 Charlotte, NC..pg. 8 Chatham County, NC...pg. 11 Durham County, NC..pg. 13 Lincoln County, NC.pg. 15 Mecklenburg County, NC...pg. 17 Montreat, NC pg. 20 Wilmington, NC pg. 22 Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, NC pg P a g e

3 Asheville, NC Policy: Public Sector The City Council of Asheville passed Resolution on April 24, Resolution requires all new, occupied, city-owned buildings greater than or equal to 5,000 square feet to achieve the minimum rating of LEED Gold, and to strive to attain a rating of LEED Platinum whenever project resources and conditions permit. Such projects must be designed to achieve an energy savings payback on the incremental cost of construction within 10 years. New, occupied, city owned buildings with a projected energy savings payback period beyond 10 years, or those that are less than 5,000 square feet in size, must achieve a minimum rating of LEED Silver. Residential As of July 1, 2009, the City of Asheville waives building permit and plan review fees for residents and mixed use commercial buildings (who have designated residential space) if certain renewable energy technologies and green building certifications are utilized. For both waivers and rebates, all fees must be initially paid in full; rebates and waivers apply only after certification is reached. Waivers for building permit fees may apply to residences with the following designations (the regular fee is in parentheses): Healthy Built Home Certification ($100) Energy Star Rating ($100) Geothermal heat pumps ($50) Wind turbines ($50) Solar-energy systems ($50) 3 P a g e

4 Storm water (gray water) collection device for reuse in yard sprinkler or elsewhere ($50) The city will also reduce plan review fees by 50% for any building that is seeking LEED certification. Motivation: Resolution was passed in concert with Asheville s 2007 sustainability resolution. It was seen both as a way for the City to lead by example and as a tool to help the city meet carbon reduction goal found within the sustainability resolution. Impact: To date, the City of Asheville has constructed one municipal building since the implementation of Resolution 07-91: The Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center. This LEED Platinum community center is considered the crown jewel of Asheville s municipal buildings and a benchmark for future projects to follow, offering auditorium space for community group meetings, outdoor meeting space, geothermal temperature regulation, and an extensive roof garden shaped to channel rainwater into sediment reducing ponds and cisterns. Other Sustainability Measures In 2007, Asheville s City Council passed a sustainability resolution to reduce Asheville s municipal carbon footprint by 80% by A Sustainability Master Plan was developed to facilitate this task. Ongoing efforts include: Upgrading city streetlights in Asheville to LED lighting Expanding the size and scope of Asheville s municipal recycling program, and launching a Zero Waste Asheville campaign Incorporating solar thermal energy technologies to select fire stations. Upgrading the lighting and HVAC systems in City owned buildings. Training and certifying Asheville s residential experts in HERS (Home Energy Rating System) 4 P a g e

5 Catawba County, NC Policy: On February 16, 2009, the Catawba County Board of Commissioners adopted a Green Construction Permitting Incentives Plan. This plan provides: A 25% rebate of blanket permit fees (not to exceed $500.00) for new buildings that achieve LEED, Energy Star, or NC Healthy Built Homes certification. A 50% rebate of plan review or expedited plan review for new commercial buildings that achieve LEED certification. A 50% rebate on the permitting fees associated with the installation of solar water heating systems, photovoltaic (PV) systems, geothermal heat pumps, and gray/rain water collection for flushing fixtures in existing one and two family homes, and commercial buildings. The regular fee(s) must be paid in full at the time of permit issuance or plan review, with rebates pending upon project completion and certification (by third party inspection agency). Motivation: Catawba County s Board of Commissioners and the Building Inspection Department passed the Green Construction Permitting Incentives Plan in order to encourage builders to use energy efficient products, promote green development, and is a part of the Catawba County s overall commitment to positively impact the environment. Impact: Three rebates were issued during the fiscal year, totaling $ There were no rebates issued in the fiscal year. Two Catawba County schools are LEED certified, including the recently completed Newton-Conover Middle School which obtained a LEED Platinum certification. 5 P a g e

6 Other Sustainability Measures: In light of the county s non-attainment status under EPA s National Air Quality Standards, Catawba County launched a countywide initiative to reduce their carbon footprint. The county will track their progress towards this goal through the use of a climate registry. Strategies for Catawba County s carbon reduction initiative include: Assessing and continually tracking energy consumption for all County facilities (electrical consumption and natural gas consumption) Conducting systematic energy audits for County owned buildings to produce a prioritized list of possible energy efficiency improvements. Five buildings have been completed so far. Implementing a range of energy efficiency efforts in County owned buildings, including: Installing remote temperature controls, Installing occupancy sensors for stairwells, bathrooms and conference rooms in city buildings Increasing the percentage of County owned buildings retrofitted to T8 lighting (or better). About 63% of County owned buildings were retrofitted to date Vending machines light shut off sensors Implementing water conservation strategies, including: Installing low flow plumbing fixtures in three buildings (sinks with aerators, low flow toilets) Installing rain harvesting systems at three buildings for use in landscape irrigation Utilizing drought resistant plants in landscaping activities Investing in computer automation technologies to reduce paper waste Implementing a green purchasing policy (15% of eligible county purchases) 6 P a g e

7 . Chapel Hill, NC Policy: The Chapel Hill Town Council adopted Ordinance O-3 on May 9, Ordinance O-3 requires all new municipal buildings (or newly constructed additions) encompassing a gross occupied area equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet to achieve a minimum of LEED Silver certification. The Town Council reserves the right to require new municipal buildings (or newly constructed additions) encompassing a gross occupied area of less than 5,000 square feet to achieve LEED Silver certification. The Ordinance does not apply to new public housing projects and retrofits or renovations to current Town buildings; however the City encourages such projects to follow LEED guidelines and principles. Ordinance O-3 requires that the design and project management teams for applicable projects requiring LEED Silver certification to include a LEED AP on staff. If at any time the LEED AP determines that a given project cannot obtain LEED Silver certification without adding more than 7% to the project s cost, the Town Council can waive this requirement. Lastly, the lead architect or engineer for the project must also continually monitor the building for the first year after construction and assist staff in optimizing the buildings performance. Motivation: Ordinance O-3 was passed to ensure that the buildings constructed or significantly renovated by the Town of Chapel Hill are built in the most environmentally sound way. Other motivations include providing the citizens and employees of the Town of Chapel Hill with new and renovated buildings that will reduce the energy requirements of town buildings, provide optimal comfort, ensure the durability of investments for the taxpayer, consider the health of building occupants and provide the greatest awareness possible of the environmental impacts of the towns built environment. 7 P a g e

8 Impact: To date, one building has fallen under the scope of Ordinance O-3: the expansion of the Chapel Hill Public Library. Completed in 2013, the 62,500 square foot facility is certified as LEED silver. Although this policy has only been used once, it is having a significant impact in Chapel Hill, and is seen as a tool for Chapel Hill to walk the talk. Other Sustainability Measures The Town of Chapel Hill has qualified as a Sierra Club Cool City and has set a goal of reducing carbon emissions 60% below 2005 levels by Chapel Hill also joined ICLEI s Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, working with Carrboro, Hillsborough, and Orange County to reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions. The Town of Chapel Hill s comprehensive plan promotes policies that encourage compact and mixed-use development, alternative transportation, greenway development, and environmental protection A town sustainability committee was formed in 2007 and is comprised of citizens committed to developing a sustainability plan for the community The Town s Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (SEE) Committee is comprised of Council members who develop and support sustainability measures and policies. 8 P a g e

9 Charlotte, NC Policy: The Charlotte City Council adopted the Policy for Sustainable City Facilities on September 28, This policy applies to all new municipal buildings or buildings undergoing renovations of at least 5,000 feet. The policy directs City staff to align decisions about facility design, construction, operation, and renovation with the specified sustainability priority areas of Preserving Land and Trees; Conserving Clean Water Resources; Maximizing Transportation Resources; Reducing Energy and Carbon Footprints; Leading by Example and Encouraging Local Sustainable Energy; and, Protect Occupant Health, Maximize Productivity and Encourage Sustainable Employee Behaviors. The policy does not prescribe the use of a specific tool, rating system, or information source to aid in decision making. The policy provides staff the option to pursue external recognition or certification on a case by case basis; however, such recognition or certification is not required. The policy encourages staff to use a variety of tools, systems, and sources to aid in decision making, including but not limited to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Green Globes, Energy Star, Whole Building Design Guidelines, energy modeling, and cost analysis tools. This Policy directs each Key Business Unit (KBU) responsible for the design, construction, and/or operation of City facilities to report annually on: Their achievements in sustainable design and construction, and The performance of their Facility Portfolio against standardized benchmarks To enable this comparison, all applicable construction or renovation project must be scored using one or more point based tools (such as LEED and Energy Star). In addition, the policy requires any staff with facility construction or renovation project management responsibilities to be a LEED Green Associate or demonstrate an equivalent level of training. The policy will be reviewed annually to determine the need for revision due to 9 P a g e

10 changes in Council s Sustainability Priorities or Goals, the availability of tools for designing sustainable facilities, the roles prescribed by the policy, etc. Motivation: The foundation for this policy can be found in the Charlotte City Council s Environmental Focus Area Plan which states Council s intent to: Promote environmental best practices and protect our natural resources Recognize interrelationships among air, water, land, energy and resource conservation Make sound land use decisions regarding our future growth and development supporting sustainability Achieve our goals of becoming a national leader in the successful stewardship of our environment by maintaining a cooperative and open agenda with Mecklenburg County, our regional neighbors, and the business community Lead by example and promote sound, cost effective environmental and energy conservation practices in City operations Incorporate environmentally responsible elements in the design, construction and operations of City facilities. The Policy for Sustainable City Facilities was created as a compromise between City Council members whom wanted Charlotte to have a sustainable facilities policy based on the LEED rating system, and those whom did not. The Council member s decent centered on concerns of additional costs and a perception that LEED certification was merely buying a plaque. The City s Engineering Department, responsible for building and overseeing the majority of city buildings, insisted on having a value base program as opposed to one that was points based (for achieving different levels of LEED. 10 P a g e

11 Impact: At the time of this publication, twenty-one projects are completed with additional five projects are pending. Notable projects include Charlotte s Fire Station #42 - (LEED Gold) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) Steele Creek Division The City of Charlotte s Street Maintenance Facility Charlotte s Fire Department Headquarters on (Statesville Avenue) Charlotte s Emergency Control Center (for handling of 911 and 311 calls). Other Sustainability Measures: The City of Charlotte is a founding member of Envision Charlotte: A unique publicprivate collaboration to make commercial buildings in Charlotte s urban core reduce their energy consumption, conserve water, reducing office waste, and its air quality. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the City of Charlotte a $6.78 million Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). Out of this total, $250,000 has been allocated towards the development of the DOE required Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategies. Other sustainability initiatives include: Implementing Solar project with utilities department Upgrading lighting Working with Duke Energy on an LED street light project Developing an Uptown green walking tour Developing a Citywide energy management strategy which includes energy management software to be used for all buildings. It is an electricity, gas, water, and greenhouse gas emission calculator. 11 P a g e

12 Chatham County, NC Policy: On December 7, 2009, Chatham County passed a bill establishing a rebate program on permitting fees for green building certifications and techniques. Rebates were set in three distinct tiers: Tier 1: $100 Rebate Eligible Projects: Energy Star for Homes Tier 2: $250 Rebate Eligible Projects: NC Healthy Built Home Green Home Builders of the Triangle Program Earthcraft House Program LEED for Homes Program NAHB National Green Building Program Tier 3: Green Building Techniques: $100 Rebate Eligible Projects: Geo- thermal installation Solar electric and/or solar hot water Passive solar For both owners and builders, rebates were capped at $450 per home and $1,000 per year. To participate in the program, owners and builders had to first submit a rebate application form in conjunction with the building permit application. Specific technology requirements, application requirements, and an application were available on the program web site. The Chatham County Green Building Rebate Policy was repealed on June 30 th, P a g e

13 Motivation: Chatham County s Green Building Task Force advocated for this policy and was part of a larger environmental effort at the time. Impact: During the year and a half that the program was active, $1,720 in rebates were distributed, with most rebates falling under the Tier I or Tier II categories. An obstacle to the success of this program was the large amount of paper work required to obtain a rebate. Other Sustainability Measures: Chatham County contracted with a company to conduct an energy audit on several of their municipal buildings. From this data, a number of energy efficiency recommendations have been enacted. Chatham County has also implemented a construction and demolition recycling program. 13 P a g e

14 Durham County, NC Policy: The Durham Board of County Commissioners adopted a High Performance Building Policy on October 27, This policy requires all new County owned buildings larger than 10,000 square feet to achieve a minimum rating of LEED Gold, or a comparable standard. New County owned buildings between 4,000 and 10,000 square feet must achieve a minimum rating of LEED Silver, or a comparable standard. The policy also requires all County owned buildings undergoing renovations in excess of 25% of the building, and comprising upgrades or replacements of two of the three major systems (HVAC, lighting, and plumbing), to achieve a minimum rating of LEED Certified, or a comparable standard. In all three circumstances, the policy directs the designer/builder to strive for the highest rating possible. Motivation: Durham County s Comprehensive Plan (Objective 4.2.5) encourages the construction of high performance buildings in both the public and private sectors. The County sees high performance buildings as a way to protect natural resources; provide safe and healthy indoor environments for its employees and the public, a way to minimize ecological footprints; reduce operating and maintenance costs over the life of their buildings; and as a way to serve as a model to others. Impact: The High Performance Building Policy has had a significant impact in Durham County. To date, 10 County facilities have been constructed, with several more under design/construction. Durham County has closely followed the policy s directive to strive to achieve the highest rating ; constructing four facilities to a higher LEED rating than required by the policy. 14 P a g e

15 Other Sustainability Measures: Durham County is a member of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and ICLEI s Climate Protection Campaign. In 2007, Durham County adopted the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan which set a goal of reducing the City/County s greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from 2005 levels by To help implement this plan, Durham County created a Sustainability Office whose mission is to provide guidance and resources to City and County employees, businesses, and citizens. Durham County s Electric Vehicle and Charging Stations Plan was passed as a way to reduce air pollution and green house gas emissions by encouraging the use of electric vehicles. To date, the County owns four electric vehicles and has established five public charging stations for electric vehicles. The County also has a green purchasing policy and a green cleaning policy. 15 P a g e

16 Lincoln County, NC Policy: On April 2, 2012 Lincoln County adopted a Resolution which provides an incentive for the construction of certified green buildings in the commercial and industrial sector. Only newly constructed buildings with a minimum tax assessed value of $2,000,000 are eligible for this incentive program. Although LEED was selected as the preferred green building certification standard for this incentive program, projects certified through a functionally equivalent certification standard may be admitted on a case-by-case basis. Approved projects are eligible to receive the following fee exemptions: Up to 95% of the building permit fees Up to 95% of the sewer capacity development fees Up to 95% of the sewer tap fees Up to 95% of the water capacity development fees Up to 95% of the water tap fees The incentives cap is the lesser of $200,000 or the following values which are based on the building s tax value and the level of LEED certification attained by the building: LEED Certified: 0.1% of the building's tax assessed value LEED Silver: 0.2% of the building's tax assessed value LEED Gold: 0.5% of the building's tax assessed value LEED Platinum: 1.0% of the building's tax assessed value Motivation: This policy was passed in an effort to make Lincoln County more attractive to industry. Specifically, it was thought that by incentivizing commercial LEED buildings, companies operating under internal directives to build high performance buildings would be more willing to set up shop in Lincoln County. An additional goal of adopting this policy was to help protect 16 P a g e

17 Lincoln County s natural resources by reducing water usage, electricity consumption, and carbon emissions. Impact: To date, no one has applied for this green incentive program. It is thought that the lack of participation the result of the current economic climate. Other Sustainability Measures: Lincoln County requires all parking lot space exceeding 105% of the required number of parking spaces to be permeable. Lincoln County has also established low impact development standards in the UDO storm water mitigation. 17 P a g e

18 Mecklenburg County, NC Policy: Mecklenburg County s Green Permit Rebate Program was approved by Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners on December 18, This program was passed as an amendment to the County Fee Ordinance and offered permit fee rebates for LEED certified projects. Rebates were set on incremental levels which increased proportionately to the level of certification achieved: 10% reductions for LEED Certified, 15% for LEED Silver, 20% for LEED Gold and 25% for LEED Platinum. Projects with proof of other nationally-recognized green building rating standards were also eligible. The Green Permit Rebate Program was funded by setting aside a percentage of the revenue generated from the previous year s building permits fees. This amounted to an annual budget of over $1,000,000. Due to economic conditions, Mecklenburg County s Board of County Commissioners voted to suspend the Mecklenburg County Green Permit Rebate Program on April 20, Motivation: At the time of this policy s passage, the population of Mecklenburg County was projected to increase by 50% by the year Facing such a large increment of growth, Mecklenburg County adopted the 2015 Community Vision to help protect the County s natural resources. County officials felt that working with the development community to encourage building practices that minimized negative impacts on the County s natural resources was a logical step to achieving the goals set out in the 2015 Community Vision. The County established the Building Development Commission to study and remove barriers to green building and other sustainable practices. The Mecklenburg County Green Permit Rebate Program was implemented as one strategy to remove some of the barriers identified by that commission. 18 P a g e

19 Impact: In order to enact this rebate program, Mecklenburg County had to first obtain legal authority to do so. On August 2, 2007, the State of North Carolina enacted Senate Bill 581, formally granting permission to Cities and Counties in North Carolina to encourage green building practices in their jurisdictions through the use of reduced permitting fees, partial rebates for construction projects that achieve LEED certification, or certification from other rating systems. At the time of the programs suspension, Mecklenburg County Green Permit Rebate Program had received 36 projects applications. Of these, 32 projects were approved and received rebates totaling over $300,000 (in spite of the program being suspended indefinitely). Funds that were not issued as a part of the Green Permit Rebate Program were returned to the Code Enforcement Department budget in order to retain staff during the economic downturn. Other Sustainability Measures: Mecklenburg County s Sustainable Facilities and Development Policy was implemented in Founded on principles outlined in Mecklenburg County s Environmental Leadership Policy, it requires that all County initiated construction activities, County funded construction activities, and land disturbing activities on County property to be conducted utilizing environmental best practices. It also requires that the operation of County facilities be conducted in an environmentally sustainable fashion. Specific requirements Include: Large Project ($2 Million or more): County buildings must strive to obtain a minimum of LEED Silver Certification Small Projects or Renovations: Projects must use Mecklenburg County s Small Projects Checklist which incorporates LEED principles, but does not require certification to allow for greater flexibility. Verification of environmentally friendly construction shall be provided by the project consultant under direction of a County project manager 19 P a g e

20 Mecklenburg County is a founding member of Envision Charlotte: A unique publicprivate collaboration to make commercial buildings in Charlotte s urban core reduce their energy consumption, conserve water, reducing office waste, and its air quality. Mecklenburg County has an extensive greenway system. Mecklenburg County has implemented the Mecklenburg County Sustainability Plan with focus areas in: 1) Air Emission Reduction Energy Use Reduction Fleet Emission Reduction 2) Resource Conservation Recycling and Waste Minimization Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Environmentally Sensitive Facilities Land Acquisition and Preservation 3) Stewardship Enhancement New and innovative practices Continuous renewal 4) Commitment Employee Incentives Agency Participation Community Awareness and Enrichment Financing Economic Development Safety and Health 20 P a g e

21 Montreat, NC Policy: Construction and major renovation projects in Montreat pursuing LEED certification are eligible for a partial rebate of associated permit fees. Developments may receive a 10% rebate for LEED Certification, 15% for LEED Silver certification, 20% for LEED Gold certification, and 25% for LEED Platinum certification (Chapter J, Article I of the Montreat Code of General Ordinances). Motivation: This policy was implemented to encourage property owners and builders to choose greener, more sustainable materials and building practices. The Town Council looked at a number of other municipalities and their policies before settling on their own approach. Impact: The recent economic downturn has limited new residential and commercial construction activities in Montreat. During the past five years, Montreat has averaged three new residential homes per year, with no new commercial or multitenant properties constructed. To date, one resident has taken advantage of the incentive-based policy (NC Healthy Built Home - Gold Level v4 in June, 2011). Town officials feel that this policy is continuing to generate public awareness around environmental and sustainability issues. Other Sustainability Measures: In 2009, the Town of Montreat adopted a Hillside Development Ordinance which limits development on steeply-sloping lots, as well as the amount of impervious surface that may be installed in these areas. The Town has adopted stringent storm water management provisions that require developers to retain, treat and infiltrate storm water flows, and that mandate LID 21 P a g e

22 practices when certain impervious surface area or land disturbance thresholds are reached. Green Street provisions were added to allow for innovative storm water management practices and LID techniques in the design of, or improvement to, town roads. (Chapter D, Article IV of Montreat s General Ordinances) The Open Space Conservation Plan develops a framework for managing properties that are dedicated as Open Space and provides a funding mechanism and careful stewardship of these valuable natural areas. The Subdivision Ordinance was amended to incorporate Conservation Design guidance as an alternative path, allowing developers to increase density if generous portions of the property are dedicated as Open Space. 22 P a g e

23 Wilmington, NC Policy: In 2008, the City of Wilmington passed the Ordinance Amending Central Business District Regulations in the Land Development Code (LCD ). Structures in the Central Building District (CBD) achieving LEED certification (or other green building standards such as Energy Star, Green Globes, NC High Performance Building Guidelines, etc.), and that meet minimum baseline requirements [specified in the Ordinance] could obtain unlimited residential density. Projects meeting these minimum requirements and incorporating additional LID and green building measures [specified in the Ordinance] would be eligible to receive building height bonuses. Motivation: Wilmington passed this policy to preserve the cohesive character of the downtown area by encouraging compatible, sympathetic development and provide an enhanced public experience.this approach was part of a non-regulatory strategy to improve the Central Business District by encouraging Low Impact Development and greener building practices Impact: Current economic conditions have led to an almost complete halt of development in their Central Business District. In addition to this policy, the City of Wilmington is now trying to lead by example by using green building techniques in the construction of city buildings. One notable example is Wilmington s new convention center (LEED Silver). 23 P a g e

24 Other Sustainability Measures: Policy Chapter 18 of the Land Development Code; Article 5, Division II, Section : Trees, shrubs, and other vegetation that are a part of a green roof on a LEED certified building are exempt from the height requirement. Additional sustainability measures include: The City of Wilmington participates in the annual Lower Cape Fear Stewardship Development Coalition s Stewardship Development Awards Program. The City recently hired a Sustainability Manager In 2012, the City of Wilmington received a $1.1 million Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant, sponsored by HUD, EPA, and DOT. This 3 year grant will be used to develop a sustainability plan for the region focusing focus on transportation, housing, and environmental sustainability. The City of Wilmington executed a number of energy retro-fits in municipal buildings to reduce energy consumption The City of Wilmington has implemented a Low Impact Development guidance manual 24 P a g e

25 Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, NC Policy: Chapter B, Article II, Section of Unified Development Ordinances In districts with the special use designation of Mixed Use (comprehensively planned, pedestrian oriented mix of three (3) or more distinct land uses), new buildings with a gross floor area greater than or equal to (50,000) square feet are required to provide usable open space area for public/private use. Buildings with a gross floor area of greater than (100,000) square feet must provide useable open space at the rate of (2) square feet of open space per (100) square feet of gross floor area. New construction projects greater than (100,000) square feet pursuing LEED Silver certification in special mixed-use districts are exempt from this open space requirement Chapter C, Article III, Section of Unified Development Ordinances The Salem Lake Watershed Protection Article addresses lands that drain into Salem Lake, a designated public drinking water reservoir. This article sets strict restrictions on new development and other land disturbing activities in this watershed unless such development falls under 1 of 4 provisions. One such provision is the Special Intense Development Allocation (SIDA) which allows qualifying sites to develop up to 70% of a building site area. Only 5% of a municipalities land area in a Watershed Protection Area can be designated as SIDA, and qualification is based on a point system. Qualifying projects must generate a score of at least 300 points. This score card provides the following point allocations for LEED certified buildings: LEED Certified: 50 Points LEED Silver Certified Buildings: 75 points LEED Gold or Platinum Certified Buildings: 75 points. 25 P a g e

26 Motivation: Chapter B, Article II, Section 2-1.5: This policy was implemented to improve the urban context of these mixed use districts and to encourage future the development of these areas Chapter C, Article III, Section 3-5.4: This policy was added in order to make it easier for uses such as schools, churches, etc., to qualify for the Special Intense Development Allocation. Impact: Current economic conditions have severely limited new development in the City and County. To date, no one has utilized these provisions. Other Sustainability Measures: In 2001, the City and County adopted the first Legacy Comprehensive Plan which included a chapter on Environmental Quality. This chapter identified a number of future initiatives including: Partnerships with non-profits to encourage conservation easements and purchases Improvements to watershed protection regulations Increased protection of streams through stream buffer requirements Improved storm water regulations and controls; improved floodplain protection Improved sedimentation and erosion control measures More compact development patterns and encouragement of downtown; central city and mixed use development Expansion of recycling efforts; and community education and involvement efforts and initiatives. 26 P a g e

27 In 2007, Winston-Salem City Council approved a Resolution supporting the US Conference of Mayor s Climate Protection Agreement in which they committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to conduct a greenhouse gas inventory, and to join the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). As a result of this resolution, Winston-Salem developed a local action plan for emission reduction in Winston-Salem formed the Community Sustainability Program Committee which reviews the City s Local Action Plan and provides periodic reports and recommendations to City Council with regard to greenhouse gas emissions and related sustainability issues. The Winston Salem Sustainability Resource Center is a 501(c)(3) organization operating in collaboration with the City of Winston-Salem and local academic institutions, leveraging the city s unique concentration of higher education assets for the benefit of the community. The Center is a key initiative of the City s Sustainability Program Committee (CSPC) Additional sustainability measures include: The Winston Salem Property Maintenance Department oversees the City s Sustainability Program and has developed relationships with local universities, local utilities, and other entities to collaborate and share information on sustainable practices and issues. Winston Salem has adopted a sustainability strategy and has incorporated sustainability measures into Winston Salem s Legacy 2030 Update An electrical vehicle charging station was installed in Winston-Salem The greenway system is expanding Winston Salem hired an Energy Management Coordinator who conducts energy audits of city facilities, selecting and specifying new HVAC and electrical systems, reviewing rates and reviewing contracts for electrical service, and educational programs. Obtained grant money to conducted weatherization projects in 130 homes, resulting in an estimated reduction of 200 tons of greenhouse gases In the near future, new and existing buildings will be considered for LEED certification. 27 P a g e