Ordinance 2995-07 - Laserfiche WebLink

Ee • Ordinance No. 2995-07 AN ORDINANCE adopting a sustainable building and infrastructure policy. WHEREAS the City Council finds the following: A. The use of green building design in City capital improvement projects reduces pollution, use of natural resources, energy and other operating costs, enhances asset value, optimizes building performance and creates healthier workplaces for City employees; and B. Green building design has the potential to reduce operating costs associated with HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), lighting systems, municipal water consumption, storm water management, solid waste and recycling management; and C. Buildings designed to use as little energy as possible and minimal or no fossil fuels are low-energy and high-performance buildings. With such buildings, the City utility costs will be demonstrably lower, since the largest building operating costs are incurred for artificial lighting and air conditioning, for both heating and cooling cycles. Within a building's total life span, the operations and maintenance costs are generally three times the initial building costs; and D. Green building supports broad sustainability goals of the City including growth management, economic development, environmental protection, access to public transportation, stewardship of resource lands and wildlife habitat and creating resources from wastes; and E. The LEED rating system is a nationally recognized standard used to rate the performance of buildings and guide project design. The LEED rating system components include: sustainable site design; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; indoor environmental quality; and materials and resources. The use of LEED criteria reduces operating costs, enhances asset value, optimizes building performance and creates healthier workplaces for City employees and visitors; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF EVERETT DOES ORDAIN: Section 1. Intent. The City hereby declares its intent to promote green building practices and low impact development in the design, construction and management of all City-owned capital facilities. The City also encourages the use of such building and development practices in private development in the City where appropriate.