DC Green Building Act

[katie s.]

Here is recap of the USGBC meeting on the DC Green Building Act on Wed. March 14th as provided by my co-worker Tina Roach-

Attached is a copy of the DC Green Building Act and amendment, as approved by the DC City Council on December 5, 2006. Congressional approval was scheduled for March 12, 2007. This was a passive approval; status was not yet known, as of the USGBC-NCR panel discussion last night.

Some highlights of the legislation:

- Starts with public buildings (publicly-owned, private leasing of public property, publicly financed buildings, and tenant improvments) that are initially funded in FY2008. Shall achieve 75 points on Energy Star, for projects 10,000 GSF or greater. Shall meet or exceed LEED-NC2.2 or LEED-CS2.0 silver level.

- When LEED for Schools is released - Mayor will review and the requirement will be certified level or equivalent rating system with full-building commissioning. [LEED for Schools ballot period is currently open -- and will close April 4, 2007. More info at http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1586]

- All new construction or substantial renovation privately owned projects 50,000 GSF or greater will be required to submit a green building checklist with their building permit application, starting January 1, 2009. Starting January 1, 2010,

- By January 1, 2012, these projects must be verified as having fulfilled or exceeded a LEED-NC 2.2 or LEED-CS 2.0 Certified rating.

- Expedited permit review is a key incentive. Additional reviewers are being hired to make this happen -- and it is being funded by a green building fee.

- Legislation creates a Green Building Advisory Council to monitor compliance and make policy recommendations (to deal with LEED changes, etc.)

- Construction codes are to be revised to incorporate green building practices. DCRA is already working to makes these changes in a year, rather than the typical three years. January 1, 2008, is the first anticipated code modification, to adopt International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) 2006. DCRA will be working to adopt IECC 2009 by January 1, 2010.