Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012

Evaluation of Existing Bldg Codes & Permitting Procedures

FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT

June 12, 2012

Presented to:

Memphis and Shelby County

Office of Sustainability Paul A. Young, Administrator 125 N. Main Suite 468 Memphis, TN 38103 Mark H. Luttrell, Jr. Mayor
Shelby County

Presented by:

Self + Tucker Architects Simon & Associates, Inc. Watson Consulting Engineers, LLC

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012

Green Building Task Force Committee

Chair Ray Brown President Ray Brown Urban Design

Members 1. Ron Belz President Belz Enterprises 2. Josh Somes Principal Sustain Studio 3. Ralph Smith President ETI Corporation 4. Lissa Thompson, ASLA, LEED AP Principal Ritchie Smith Associates 5. Jon Ruch, CGP, CGB Owner Ruch Builders, LLC 6. Michael Chisamore, RA, ASAI, LEED Professor of Sustainability University of Memphis 7. Kevin Scott, LEED AP B D + C Senior Project Manager Linkous Construction 8. Bob Land, AIA, LEED AP Architect ANF Architects 9. Susan Golden, AIA, LEED AP Partner brg3s architects 10. James Rasberry Developer Rasberry CRE 11. Les Binkley Director of Sustainable Development Boyle Investments 12. Earl McKinney, AIA, LEED GA, NCARB Senior Director, Franchise Design Hilton Worldwide, Inc

Office of Sustainability Staff Members

Paul A. Young Administrator Office of Sustainability for Memphis and Shelby County Christine Donhardt, ASLA Senior Planner Office of Sustainability for Memphis and Shelby County

ii

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012

Consulting Team
Self + Tucker Architects Architecture, Planning, Interior Design Jimmie Tucker, AIA, LEED AP Juan Self, AIA James Murray, AIA Linda uhajdov Simon & Associates, Inc. Green Building Consultants Lynn Simon, FAIA, LEED AP Raphael Sperry, AIA, LEED AP Watson Consulting Engineers, LLC Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Engineering Jeremiah Watson, PE, LEED AP Michael LaMountain, PE Ryan Hertter, PE

Special Acknowledgements
The Green Building Task Force and the Consulting Team would like to extend their gratitude to the following individuals who have contributed their time and expertise to the process of green building code evaluation and recommendations: Nancy Jane Baker Landmarks Commission Ron Bethea Memphis & Shelby County Code Enforcement David Bodkin Memphis & Shelby County Code Enforcement Bill Bullock MLGW, Manager Economic Development Tom Chamberlain MLGW, Strategic Marketing Coordinator Jack Cowan Cowanhouse Jim Crook Shelby County Engineering Carter Gray Shelby County Attorneys Office Ted Illsley Memphis & Shelby County Code Enforcement Kieth Kulow MLGW, EcoBUILD Inspector Allen Medlock Memphis & Shelby County Code Enforcement Walter Nelms Engineered Comfort, Inc. Nick Newman MLGW, Vice President of Construction Clint Richardson MLGW, Manager Customer. Relations Alonzo Weaver MLGW, Vice President of Engineering and Operations Becky Williamson MLGW, Strategic Marketing Coordinator

iii

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................... 1 1 2 3 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 2 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................ 3 FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................................................................... 3 Recommendation 1. Local Government ................................................................................... 4 Recommendation 2. Residential ................................................................................................ 7 Recommendation 3. Commercial ............................................................................................... 9 Recommendation 4. Education and Outreach ....................................................................... 10
Recommendation 5. Streamlining Paperwork 11

4 5

CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................... 11 APPENDIX ..................................................................................................................................... 11

iv

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Shelby County Mayor Mark H. Luttrell, Jr. convened the Green Building Task Force (GBTF) to evaluate the Existing Building Codes & Permitting Procedures with the aim to provide recommendations for policies that encourage sustainable design and building construction. This summary highlights the final recommendations of the GBTF found in this Report. Recommendation 1. Local Government lead by example:

A. Adopt the International Energy Conservation Code, 2009 Edition (IECC 2009). B. Commit to green building for new construction, and continue energy audits of existing buildings. Recommendation 2. Residential Expand MLGWs green building certification program,

EcoBUILD, with a broader set of green measures, and adopt a timeline for converting it from a voluntary program to a mandatory program. Recommendation 3. Commercial EcoBUILD, for commercial buildings. Recommendation 4. Education and Outreach Develop education and outreach programs for Develop a voluntary green certification program, similar to

local government staff and building industry professionals, in both the residential and commercial sectors, to build capacity for green building and stimulate market demand for measures beyond the minimum requirements. Recommendation 5. Electronic Plan Review (or Streamlining Paperwork) Establish electronic

tracking tools that will display, like a flow chart, where customers of Codes, Planning, and other departments are in the application process such that any staff member can report to the customer where they are in the process and the next steps.

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012

1. INTRODUCTION Memphis and Shelby County continue to rank among the highest energy users per capita in the United States. With energy prices rising over the long term, it is imperative that this trend be reversed. Having to allocate a disproportionate amount of income to cover the cost of energy consumption can have a detrimental financial impact on our economic prosperity and the resources of individuals and families within our community.

Our City and County must also be vigilant about balancing its natural assets against environmental and sustainability concerns. This region has some of the best quality and abundant quantity of potable water in the United States. However, long term conservation is imperative to sustaining the resources. Our government officials have recognized the need for stronger policies to encourage sustainable practices for the improvement of the life of the community, as well as the protection of regional environmental assets. The changes in policy can prescribe the local codes to enforce sustainable practices in the public and private sectors of the building industry, engaging both the professional and the consumer.

The task of the Green Building Task Force (GBTF) and the Consulting Team was to evaluate the Memphis & Shelby County Existing Building Codes and Permitting Procedures with the aim to provide policy recommendations. The evaluation and recommendations analysis, summed up in this Final Recommendations Report, will serve as a tool to maximize the inclusion of a variety of sustainable development parameters that could directly (e.g. through building design and operation) or indirectly (e.g. through site management, landscaping, water use, material selection) impact energy use, water consumption, and other environmental concerns in building and construction.

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012

Our research and analysis began in September 2011 and was carried out through April 2012. During this period, the consulting team presented monthly recommendations to the Green Building Task Force for consideration. The Green Building Task Force in turn refined and expanded the topics to achieve the final recommendations reflected in this report.

2. METHODOLOGY The Consulting Team together with the Green Building Task Force committee evaluated the existing building codes and permitting procedures under four major monthly topics: x x x x Energy Conservation (November 2011) Sustainable Sites/ Water Conservation (December 2011) Commercial Construction New/Existing ( January 2012) Residential Construction New/Existing (February 2012)

The goal of each topical meeting was to recommend ways to remove barriers that inhibit Sustainable Development and to reward Sustainable Design and Construction. With this focus in mind, the task for each topic was to identify the existing barriers as they relate to Code and Process and recommend the possible rewards as means of incentivizing the sustainable development. The total list of potential green building policies and measures discussed includes approximately 75 items. One key directive was to prioritize recommendations that have a clear and practical path for implementation. Accordingly, the goal was to select recommendations that would balance the desire for a significant green building impact with the practicalities of implementation.

3. FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the compiled research and teams expertise, the following recommendations were proposed:

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012 Recommendation 1. Local government lead by example: Adopt the International Energy Conservation Code, 2009 Edition (IECC 2009), commit to green building for new construction, and continue energy audits of existing buildings. Recommendation 2. Expand MLGWs EcoBUILD program with a broader set of green measures, and adopt a timeline for converting it from a voluntary program to a mandatory program. Recommendation 3. Develop a voluntary green certification program, similar to EcoBUILD, for commercial buildings. Recommendation 4.Develop education and outreach programs for local government staff and building industry professionals, in both the residential and commercial sectors, to build capacity for green building and stimulate market demand for measures beyond the minimum requirements. Recommendation 5. Establish electronic tracking tools that will display, like a flow chart, where customers of Codes, Planning, and other departments are in the application process such that any staff member can report to the customer where they are in the process and the next steps.

Recommendation 1 Local Government lead by example:

A. Adopt the International Energy Conservation Code, 2009 Edition (IECC 2009) The code adoption process for IECC 2009 is already well advanced and should be complete by mid 2012. Code Enforcement officials have indicated that they support the adoption process and are preparing training and associated activities to prepare for enforcement of IECC 2009. This code contains requirements for a wide variety of energy efficient building strategies for both residential and commercial buildings including wall and roof insulation, windows and skylights, lighting, and HVAC
4

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012 equipment. It contains prescriptive requirements and offers a simulated performance alternative.

GBTF does not recommend adding additional requirements beyond those of IECC 2009 at this time. This code already represents a major improvement. The U.S. Department of Energys Building Energy Codes Program estimates that 2009 IECC will result in residential energy cost savings of 16% beyond current (IECC 2003) practice in Memphis (see http://www.energycodes.gov/publications/techassist/ IECC2009_Residential_Nationwide_Analysis.pdf p.169). According to the 2010 report Incremental Construction Cost Analysis for New Homes by The Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP), the estimated incremental construction cost for upgrading the current residential energy code to the 2009 IECC would result in a weighted average incremental cost of $840.77 per house. According to the same report, the annual average energy savings per residence are estimated to be $243.37 (see
http://www.aikencolon.com/assets/images/pdfs/IECC/texas/Cost%20Increment%20Project FINAL_0.pdf).

B. Commit to green building for new construction, and continue energy audits of existing buildings

Leading by example is an important strategy to adopt in the area of green buildings: if local governments expect local homeowners and businesses to invest in green buildings, local governments should first demonstrate the feasibility, practicality, affordability, and benefits of green building with their own properties. This will help develop a body of knowledge about the costs, benefits and strategies for our area. Collecting the body of knowledge would involve a way to track the benefits of sustainable practices in relation to both initial and life cycle cost. This will also have the added benefit of developing local market expertise in delivering green buildings in sectors from engineering and

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012 architecture to general contracting, subcontracting, and material suppliers (as long as local businesses are used for these projects).

There are several national and regional green building programs recognized by the construction industry and local jurisdictions that the local code enforcement can adopt: the U.S. Green Building Councils Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Enterprise Green Communities Criteria, Green Globe, Energy Star, EcoBUILD and others. These programs provide a strong framework for sustainable development in residential and commercial applications, as well as neighborhood revitalization. Each program has some implication on the overall cost of construction. However, these vary by a number of factors: local climate, local economy, levels of engagement and green certification, site conditions, etc.

According to the 2009 analysis Incremental Cost, Measurable Savings: Enterprise Green Communities Criteria, the average cost of meeting the Green Communities Criteria increases the construction cost by 2.1% (see http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cms/groups/ pan/@pan/@sustainableblding/documents/web_informational/dpdp018267.pdf p. 4). The 2003 report to Californias Sustainable Building Task Force, The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings, shows a range of building cost increase for LEED certified buildings ranging from 0.6 % for Level 1 basic certification to 6.5% for Level 4 Platinum certification (see http://www.usgbc.org/Docs/News/News477.pdf p.15).

The U.S. Green Building Councils LEED rating system has the benefit of nationwide recognition and is known for incorporating a broad range of environmental issues (i.e. water conservation, waste reduction, indoor air quality, energy efficiency, etc.). However, pursuing actual LEED certification, as opposed to using LEED as a guide can add soft cost (design and documentation fees, LEED application fees) to the overall project cost. According to the 2003 LEED Cost Analysis by Northbridge Environmental

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012 Management Consultants, the soft cost is estimated to vary from 1% to 5% of the total construction cost (see http://www.cleanaircoolplanet.org/for_communities/LEED_links/ AnalyzingtheCostofLEED.pdf p.4).

Besides applying green practices to new construction, it is recommended by GBTF that the existing Memphis and Shelby County government buildings receive green retrofits, such as energy efficient mechanical and electrical systems, water efficient plumbing fixtures, environmental friendly finishes and furnishings, upgrades of building envelope, increasing of natural day lighting, etc. This would demonstrate that local government is conscious of the need for conservation of energy, water and other natural resources as well as a proper waste management. Retrofitting of existing buildings would also help the public understand that sustainability can be achieved in a variety of ways. The green retrofit policy would promote the development of local expertise in auditing, accompanied by public awareness campaigns to maximize the educational benefits of the investments. Recommendation 2 Residential Expand the EcoBUILD program with a broader set of green measures,

and adopt a timeline for converting it from a voluntary program to a mandatory program.

For residential buildings, the GBTF recommends building on the success of MLGWs EcoBUILD program to advance green building in Memphis and Shelby County. The research shows, that the most successful regional green building programs have begun with local utility based green incentive programs similar to EcoBUILD (e.g. Austin Energy Green Building of Austin, TX or The Colorado Green Building Guild of Boulder, CO). EcoBUILD is a successful local program with a clear implementation path that has engaged dozens of local home builders and has certified hundreds of local homes since its initiation in 2004. The statistics show that EcoBUILD houses are 30% more energy efficient than those built to existing IECC 2003 standards (see http://www.mlgw.com/
7

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012 residential/ecobuildresidential). The program is financially supported by MLGW and its implementation lessens the stress on the local Code Enforcement division.

While EcoBUILD is focused largely on energy efficiency measures, it includes a few green items such as use of recycled materials for roof decking, trim board or insulation, use of interior finishes such as paints and stains with low volatile organic compounds (VOC), and use of native or adapted plants to reduce landscape watering. The GBTF proposes adding the following items, subject to approval by MLGW: x x x Requiring WaterSense label of applicable plumbing fixtures Requiring EnergyStar Appliances, such as washer, refrigerator, etc. Requiring use of irrigation controls for water conservation

MLGW evaluates and upgrades the EcoBUILD program each time new codes are adopted or changes are appropriate due to new technology and other factors. The Green Building Task Force recommends continuing this trend in the future to keep the EcoBUILD program current and on the leading edge of energy conservation and sustainability. The GBTF recommends transitioning EcoBUILD from a voluntary to a mandatory program over time. The statistics indicate, that while the average increase of construction cost associated with building to EcoBUILD standards range from 1.5% to 3%, the average annual energy savings equal to 30% (see http://www.mlgw.com/ residential/ ecobuildresidential). It takes time for the marketplace to become familiar with the criteria of a green building program. By providing a timeframe within which the requirement will become active gives the local building industry substantial incentive to learn the program in advance. The following is a sample timeline: x x x May 2012 Fall 2012 Early 2013 GBTF Recommendations Presented GBTF Recommendations adopted Add measures to EcoBUILD Residential, (staff training, etc.)

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012 x Mid 2013 EcoBUILD Residential new measures fully incorporated, Outreach

and education on future mandatory requirements (12 18 months before effective date) x Mid late 2014 EcoBUILD Residential required Recommendation 3 Commercial Develop a voluntary green building certification program for

commercial buildings.

The GBTF recommends developing a list of select green building measures in non energy fields that are low hanging fruit: no cost or very low cost measures to implement with clearly understood savings. This program could be implemented by Code Enforcement, as EcoBUILD Commercial, or in a partnership with MLGW.

We learned from EcoBUILD program staff that developing a commercial program is very complicated given the need to test energy efficiency measures for an acceptable payback period in the wide diversity of commercial building types. Also, performance verification of energy measures is much more complicated for commercial buildings given the varied types and sizes of HVAC systems used in commercial buildings. In addition, adopting 2009 IECC will begin to improve the efficiency of Shelby County commercial buildings.

Where feasible, the GBTF proposes selecting measures from the International Green Construction Code ( IgCC) in order to build familiarity with this national code in the local marketplace. Note that IgCC applies to commercial buildings only. Recommended no cost measures from the IgCC include: x x Enhanced plumbing fixture and fitting flow rates (IgCC 702.1 matches WaterSense label) Requiring EnergyStar labels for applicable appliances (IgCC 610.3.1)

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012 x x Requiring irrigation controls for water conservation (not addressed in IgCC but recommended by GBTF) Encouraging use of low water demand and low maintenance plants in landscaping (not addressed in IgCC but already part of EcoBUILD residential) with an emphasis on appropriate native plants x Requiring low VOC (healthy) materials for interior pressed wood, adhesives and sealants, architectural paints and coatings, flooring, acoustical ceiling tiles and wall systems, and insulation (IgCC 806, or alternately as currently done in EcoBUILD residential) x Encouraging planting of shade trees and other vegetation as surface cover to mitigate heat and glare and to reduce stormwater runoff. Recommendation 4 Education and Outreach Develop education and outreach programs for local government staff and building industry professionals, in both the residential and commercial sectors, to build capacity for green building and stimulate market demand for measures beyond the minimum requirements. Education and public outreach would be an essential component of developing both the local industry expertise in and the local market demand for green building. An effective education program should include the discussion of new and existing construction, and should show the diverse nature of sustainable construction. EcoBUILD is a good place to start as it already has a marketing team, materials, and a proven track record. Outreach could be structured along a number of lines, including: x x x x
10

Design professionals (e.g. AIA, ASHRAE, USGBC local chapters, Landscape Architects) Property developers (e.g. ULI) Construction industry (e.g. Minority Contractors Association, via Code Enforcement division) General public (e.g. home improvement stores, local government offices)

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012 Recommendation 5 Electronic Plan Review (or Streamlining Paperwork) Establish electronic tracking tools that will display, like a flow chart, where customers of Codes, Planning, and other departments are in the application process such that any staff member can report to the customer where they are in the process and the next steps. Some peer cities in Tennessee have electronic tracking tools in their planning and codes departments. Nashville uses Accela Kiva software and Franklin is migrating from an in house system to IDT Plans. Knoxville uses Permits Plus and knoxplans/project dox to track all reviews. In one specific city, any department issuing a permit or signing off on a permit can do so in the system; this includes their Health Department, Public Works, Assessor, Historic, and Water Services. The system also generates public hearing notices, letters, and council legislation as an added benefit. A tracking system is one way to streamline and clarify the review process so developers and designers know where their documents are in the review process. This could make doing business in Memphis and Shelby County easier.

4 CONCLUSION The Green Building Task Force together with the Consulting Team would like to thank the Memphis and Shelby County Government leaders for the opportunity to be part of this action plan for green building in Memphis and Shelby County. We recognized the need for advancing our region in sustainable building practices and we hope that the above discussed recommendations will help achieve these goals.

5 APPENDIX The following existing barriers to sustainable design and proposed recommendations were discussed by the GBTF committee members during the monthly topical meetings: Energy Conservation A. Identified Existing Barriers: x Lack of energy modeling services for IECC compliance x Lack of technical expertise in related building trades x Shortage of skilled building commissioning agents
11

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012 x x Shortage of skilled building operating engineers Shortage of residential inspectors trained in EcoBuild

B. Proposed Recommendations: x Make MLGW EcoBUILD Criteria a Requirement for all Single Family Residential Construction. x A third party should inspect and certify the code compliance. x Support Adoption of the 2009 IECC in June 2012. x IgCC should be encouraged by code. x Make building envelope construction as prescriptive as possible. x Prevent the use of electric resistance heat as the primary heat source for homes. x Require Energy Assessment at the transfer of all residential property with the exception of that to be demolished. x RESNET or BPI or other certified company should be testing for HERS. x Promote the use of Vertical geothermal. x Focus on education regarding Energy Conservation as the top priority for local Design and Code Professionals. x Develop web page, brochure, or other outreach & educational material to increase public awareness. Sustainable Sites/ Water Conservation A. Identified Existing Barriers: x Low cost of potable water/ Abundant source x Lack of water regulations x Higher initial cost of Water conserving improvements x Longer Return on Investment B. Proposed Recommendations: x Provide commercial water audits. x Assess and reduce water system leakage. x Require rain sensor shut off switches on new irrigation systems. x Require unit meters or sub metering in new multi family buildings. x Require new car washes to recycle water. x Require private fire lines to be metered. x Encourage on site stormwater management through soft engineering practices, such as bioswales, infiltration basins, permeable paving, green roof installations. x Educating designers and engineers on best stormwater management practices. x Code officials to be knowledgeable about the new technologies so designer doesnt have to prove it works each time. x Code Enforcement Process needs improvement: electronic submission, expedited review, etc. x Examine existing programs to identify and reduce both real and apparent water losses.
12

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012 x x x x x x x Maintain a water conservation program. A written policy for roadways is needed encourage adoption of Green Streets program. The government should lead by example, i.e. street infrastructure projects to manage stormwater both for volume and quality, install high efficiency plumbing fixtures, etc. Provide tangible rewards, such as rebate on the Citys stormwater fee if greywater or other stormwater mitigation are used on the site. Reward reduction of impervious surfaces. Implement Conservation pricing (Higher rates for higher water use), apply in areas where there are no previously negotiated rates between user and MLGW. Increase awareness of the need to protect the aquifers (Memphis and Shelby Countys most valuable natural resource) by promoting water conservation.

Commercial Construction New/Existing A. Identified Existing Barriers: x Higher initial cost of Sustainable Construction x Longer Return on Investment (Low energy cost) x Lack of economic incentives x Lack of a world view for energy conservation needs x Building types not flexible for adaptive reuse x Cheaper to demolish existing and build new than to reuse x Lack of alternative transportation, Low parking fees x High parking requirements for new building construction B. Proposed Recommendations: x Refer to 2009 IECC Standards. x Testing and inspection are required. x Encourage thoughtful Site selection & use of brownfield sites. x Encourage adaptive reuse of existing buildings. x Streamline property acquisition for development in established neighborhoods; provide incentives for reclaiming declining property. x Reward material recycling where demolition needed. x Reward material recycling at demolition. x Require use of low cost impact sustainable features: Low flow fixtures, low VOC paint, LED light fixtures, high R value insulation, high efficiency windows, Energy Star appliances and mechanical equipment. x Reward the use of local materials (within 500 miles) for new construction x Encourage high efficiency HVAC systems. x Encourage installation of solar panels and/or green roofs. x Encourage alternative transportation: carpooling, public transport, bicycles, pedestrian. x Require bicycle racks.
13

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012 x x x x x x x Provide Incentive to encourage new tenants to make improvements for energy conservation. Investigate use of Renewal Zone Money. Implement 3rd party inspection and enforcement. Require Building commissioning and energy modeling. Streamline property acquisition for development in established neighborhoods. Provide incentives for reclaiming declining property. Sustainability requirements for PILOT award.

Residential Construction New/Existing A. Identified Existing Barriers: x Higher initial cost of Sustainable Construction (ICF, SIP, Advanced Framing vs. traditional wood framed) x Longer Return on Investment for the user (in energy saving cost) x Deficiency in inspection of building insulation and energy performance testing x Shortage of residential inspectors trained in EcoBuild and HERS testing x Lack of value recognition and incentive programs for energy efficient homes x Shortage of educational tools for energy efficient and sustainable building practices for new homes and green retrofits for existing homes B. Proposed Recommendations: x Code enforcement to exceed current code. x Refer to 2009 IECC Standards. x Require insulation inspection. x Ensure proper Code enforcement training. x Require High performance perimeter walls and roof. x Require use of low cost impact sustainable features: Low flow fixtures, low VOC paint, LED light fixtures, high R value insulation, high efficiency windows, Energy Star appliances and mechanical equipment. x MLGW & Energy Audits encourage disclosing data to Green Task Force & industry. x Value recognition for energy efficient homes. x Encourage the use of EcoBUILD as a marketing device for educating the public. x Encourage high efficiency HVAC systems. x Legislate HERS Score (Home Energy Rating System) for every house. x Educate consumer to buy Low HERS rated home. x HERS rating tested each time homeowner changes. x Upgrades of systems in existing homes. x Appraiser vs. Assessor understanding the green values. x Geo thermal find ways to protect water when drilling vertical. x Site sustainability issues: protect storm water. x Set up loans for High energy efficient homes.
14

Green Building Task Force Final Recommendations Report 2012 x x Expedite permitting process and rebates for using energy efficient systems and programs (EcoBUILD, Energy Star). Encourage installation of solar panels and/or green roof.

15