• Green Buildings
  • Learn
  • Plan
    • Commit to Action
    • Start Fast
    • Assess the Situation
    • Set Goals
    • Plan
    • Implement
    • Measure Success
  • Act
  • Leading Actions
Commit to Action
Governments play an active role in spurring the market and building the skills and knowledge necessary to advance innovations community-wide by adopting new practices themselves.
The Jack Evans Police Headquarters in Dallas, Texas incorporates 60 sustainable features of the USGBC LEED ratings system. In addition, it is located on a brownfield near downtown Dallas, is within walking distance of transit and features bike racks and showers for bicyclers. Courtesy of: City of Dallas.

As building owners and developers, local governments can “lead by example.”  Local officials and their staffs gain a better understanding of the challenges and benefits. They can then speak from experience when advocating green building to the private sector. Local governments also benefit by saving on operation costs, and they create a healthy work environment for employees.

Commit to Action

Local governments:  often begin a green building program by adopting a policy, resolution or ordinance that calls for green building standards in municipal facilities. This action demonstrates leadership, highlights the importance of green building toward achieving greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and serves as an opportunity to educate local government staff and industry stakeholders.

Elected officials:  sometimes don’t recognize how much they can accomplish just by making it clear that they support action on climate change. John Bucholz, Building Code Consultant for Albuquerque, New Mexico, says the mayor’s commitment and the council’s support went a long way toward “creating momentum” within city government there.
 
A recent survey conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors revealed that of the 134 respondents:

  • Nearly 9 in 10 cities surveyed will require city capital projects, both new construction and major remodels, to achieve green building standards.
  • 56 percent already have a policy in place, and 31 percent anticipate adopting a policy within the next year.

A clear example of policy leadership for green buildings was shown by the California Governor’s Executive order S-20-04 in December 2004, which committed the state to an active climate-protection plan. Near the top of the list of action items:

  • Follow through on a green building plan for the state.
  • Design, build and operate all new or remodelled buildings funded by the state so that they qualify for LEED Silver or certification.

Green Building Rating and Certification Programs

LEED and ENERGY STAR are the standards that local governments most often use to help guide development of green municipal facilities.

  • LEED
    LEED, which stands for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System™, was developed by the US Green Building Council. This non-profit formed in 1993 and now has 70 chapters across the country.
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