There are many ways for local government to encourage sustainable infrastructure by adopting enabling regulations.
- Assess the flexibility of current engineering standards, building codes, and land use regulations to accommodate desired new technologies and systems.
- Consider how to adapt regulations for pilot programs to enable testing of new, beneficial infrastructure. Balance risk against innovation.
- Once new technologies, systems and approaches are well established, regulatory measures can support these more strongly.
- Regulations change the cost-structure and can provide financial incentives. For example, fee structures such as for solid waste collection and water use are well developed in many cities.
Regulatory Tool Examples
- Design specifications that favor materials with low energy intensity.
- Flexible engineering design standards that encourage energy conservation.
- Zoning and development guidelines that encourage energy conservation.
- Model ordinances and bylaws, template language for zoning amendments, etc.
- Template documents for “greening” contracts, requests for qualifications, proposals, expressions of interest, purchasing agreements, sales applications, etc.
- Engineering guidelines and zoning that support or at least allow district energy systems.
- Water conservation regulations.
- Regulations prohibiting disposal of recyclable materials in landfills, combined with programs to increase use of recycled material (processing facilities, private partnerships and market development).
- The 'Merton Rule' is a groundbreaking planning policy, pioneered by the London Borough of Merton in the United Kingdom. The rule requires the use of renewable energy onsite to reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions in the built environment.
