INSIDE TUCSON BUSINESS:  Mon., Aug. 10, 2009

Regional Green Building Could Be The Next Step

By Joe Pangburn

 

The Tucson region is one step closer to a green building program.  Last week, the Tucson City Council adopted a residential Green Building Program rating system. It is essentially the same rating system and guidelines Pima County developed and approved 18 months ago.

“This is an important step forward,” said Councilwoman Nina Trasoff before the measure was passed. “Continuity and consistency across the board is important moving forward. We need the seamless transitions between jurisdictions and other governments have shown their interest in adopting this plan as well.”

For the private sector, the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA) favored the measure but said it was important for it to be voluntary.

“The Southern Arizona Home Builders Association has a long history of supporting green and sustainable building,” said David Godlewski, government liaison for SAHBA.

Last fall, the SAHBA Green Build Council and Pima County Development Services won a Common Ground award from the Metropolitan Pima Alliance for the joint efforts to create a voluntary residential Green Building program and rating system.

“We believe that a uniform, voluntary Green Building program across the region, complemented with a public education campaign, will help builders and spark consumer demand for green homes,” Godlewski said. “We are pleased that the City of Tucson has taken the next step towards a truly regional program.”

The rating system will provide homeowners with a certification by the City of Tucson that a participating home is constructed with principles of energy efficiency, water conservation and environmental planning. There is a checklist where homes will earn points for everything from location, lot design, resource efficiency, energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, operation, maintenance and owner education, and innovation points.

The certification levels include bronze (75-100 points), silver (101-130 points), gold (131-160 points) and emerald (more than 160 points).

The city says it will absorb the costs for implementing the rating system within the current budget for development services.