Green Building Law Update

Environmental Law and Sustainability for Business

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Saint Paul Green With Envy

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in City, Green Building, Green Globes
When the Saint Paul City Council votes this Wednesday on Ordinance 17-60 it should amend the legislation to not delete, from the existing law, Green Globes as one of the approved green building standards. The work product of an advisory committee of experts, Ord 17-60 Sustainable Building Regulation Ordinance, alters and amends the 2009 Resolution … Continue Reading

Deadline to Propose Changes to National Green Building Standard

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in City, Green Building, Sustainability
Development of the 2018 version of the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) is now underway. The NGBS is a collaborative effort between the National Association of Home Builders and International Code Council, the NGBS also known as the ICC 700 provides “green” practices that can be incorporated into new homes, including high rise multifamily buildings, … Continue Reading

PACE Bill Due in Baltimore City

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in City, Energy, Green Building, Sustainability
A public hearing is scheduled tomorrow on a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loan program ordinance in Baltimore City. I have been quoted saying that PACE “could be bigger than anything in U.S. real estate since the invention of the glass window.” PACE loan programs, where payments for energy efficiency, water conservation and renewable energy … Continue Reading

Vancouver Leaving LEED for Zero Emission Building Mandate, But ..

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in City, Energy, Green Building, LEED
On July 13, 2016, the Vancouver City Council approved a Zero Emissions Building Plan that is among the most aggressive by any government with the stated purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While much of the media attention has described that Vancouver is the first major city in North America to establish specific actions to achieve … Continue Reading

Solar Panels Mandated for Muscle Beach and ..

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in City, Codes and Regulations, Environmental, Green Building
This coming Wednesday the City of Santa Monica will begin mandating the installation of a solar electric photovoltaic system on all new building. Santa Monica joins the California cities of Lancaster and Sebastopol which started requiring rooftop solar installations in 2013, and San Francisco which similar law, for building under 10 stories tall, takes effect … Continue Reading

International Green Construction Code Now Mandatory For All Building in Baltimore

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in City
Last evening the Baltimore City Council adopted the International Green Construction Code 2012 as an overlay to the City's building, fire and related codes. .. As progressive as this bill is, it should not be lost that Baltimore is representative of a very limited number of jurisdictions mandating new construction and renovation of both private and public buildings must be green.… Continue Reading

LEED “Pledge” to Replace LEED Bond

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in City
One of the very first green building legal conundrums may be resolved.  The Washington Business Journal reported on October 31 that legislation will be introduced in Washington D.C. that will create an alternative to the much maligned LEED bond requirement in the D.C. Green Building Act of 2006.  Under the Act, as currently written, as … Continue Reading

Greener Cities: How Cities Across the U.S. are Incentivizing Sustainable Development

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in City, Codes and Regulations
This guest post is by Joe Stampone of A Student of the Real Estate Game. Joe is in his final semester at the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate with a concentration in sustainable development.
 The behavioral shift towards sustainable development that we’re experiencing has changed the real estate landscape, however the marketing benefits, performance … Continue Reading

Series Introduction: Discussing the IGCC

By Kirk Dryer on Posted in City, Codes and Regulations, State
If the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) is successful, green buildings will soon become the rule instead of the exception.  By codifying green building standards, the IGCC has the potential to make major strides to advance green building practices on a scale that has been unattainable through LEED and other similar voluntary green building standards. … Continue Reading

Free Webinar: The Reality of Implementing Green Building Codes

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in City, Codes and Regulations, State
I have been amazed at the immediate interest generated by the International Green Construction Code (IGCC).   Despite the fact that the IGCC is still in its infancy, there are a number of states and municipalities closely studying it for adoption.  We have already discussed Rhode Island’s adoption of IGCC for public buildings.  More significantly, … Continue Reading

IGCC a “Step in the Right Direction”

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in City, Codes and Regulations, State
I continue to ponder the importance of the release of the International Green Construction Code public version 2.0 (IGCC).  I recently asked Bob Kobet, LEED Faculty member, to provide his thoughts on IGCC.  It’s good to see that I am not the only one who thinks the new code is a big step for green building. … Continue Reading

Is the Only Solution Public-Private Partnerships?

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in City, Federal, State
Many months ago, I promised a two-part series on public-private partnerships.  Part one was previously published and today I wrap up the series with post two.  As we head in to 2011, public-private partnerships will play a vital role in replacing the non-existent state funds for necessary public works projects.  Here is part two on … Continue Reading

Public-Private Partnerships Are a Bi-Paristan Issue?

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in City, Federal, State
I just finished up a presentation to the Construction User’s Roundtable (i.e. users of construction services) regarding public private partnerships (P3s). P3s are defined by the National Council of Public Private Partnerships as: "a contractual agreement between a public agency (federal, state or local) and a private sector entity. Through this agreement, the skills and … Continue Reading

Do Davis-Bacon Wage Issues Affect Your Stimulus Project?

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in City, Codes and Regulations, Federal, State
Across the country, government officials are scrambling to award and spend American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding before upcoming deadlines.  If you are a contractor or subcontractor lucky enough to work on one of these projects, congratulations!  Now comes the tough part.  Working on a federal or state-funded project brings a myriad of regulatory … Continue Reading

LEED Building Vacated Due to Structural Issues

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in City, Codes and Regulations
Construction defects often take a long time to develop.  Take, for example, the Courthouse Square building in Salem, Oregon, which is used for county offices and retail stores.  It was constructed in 2000 and received its LEED certification in 2002.  As early as 2002, problems were identified at the project, including cracked grouting and loose … Continue Reading

Are You Prepared to Report Your Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in City, Codes and Regulations, Federal, State
It’s an understatement to say environmentalists were disheartened by Senator Reid’s announcement last week that a comprehensive cap-and-trade bill would be tabled for the year.  But, fear not, environmentalists – and, be fearful, unprepared federal contractors – because the federal government will be regulating greenhouse gas emissions in other ways.   Back in October 2009, … Continue Reading

Public-Private Partnerships Support Green Building

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in City, Codes and Regulations, State
States are facing significant budget gaps.  These budget gaps are going to negatively affect the green building industry.  States looking to shore up budgets will cut new construction and maintenance of existing buildings in the coming years.   But there is a solution: public-private partnerships.    Just prior to the economic downturn, the phrase "public-private … Continue Reading
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