Feb. 5, 2010
New York City and the Urban Green Council have made a tall case for building codes as a key driver of urban environmental goals. The NYC Green Codes Task Force Report, presented earlier this week to Mayor Bloomberg and City Council speaker Christine C. Quinn, included 111 recommendations – some innovative, some common sense – to amend and update existing building codes in the City to incorporate environmental protection as a fundamental principle. If implemented, the code changes would drastically slash energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, reduce costs for building owners, and make buildings safer and healthier places in which to live and work. And one more: begin building-by-building adaptations for unavoidable climate impacts like sea-level rise and stifling summers.

The report brims with ideas and insight for other local government staff to consider. Take for example, the environmental strategy of manipulating building codes, rather than mandating LEED certification, as many other local governments have done.

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Source: Local Action Blog