| What You Should Know About Green Building
What is Green Building?
Green building cuts down on buildings’ environmental, economic, and social impacts – by making them cost-effective, energy efficient, sustainable, safe, healthy, and productive. It’s an integrated approach to planning, designing, building, and maintaining buildings and their landscapes.
Why Build Green?
In the US, buildings are responsible for 36 percent of total energy use, 30 percent of greenhouse gases, and 30 percent of raw material use.
Building green can:
-
Enhance your profits and your assets’ value
-
Improve air and water quality
-
Improve employee productivity and satisfaction
-
Protect ecosystems and biodiversity
-
Reduce operating costs and solid waste
-
Improve health and reduce health problems, like asthma
-
Conserve natural resources
-
Contribute to our overall quality of life
What is the DC Green Building Act?
The Green Building Act of 2006 phases in green building in DC. It requires:
-
Commercial buildings to be certified, using the Leadership in Energy and Environmental DesignTM (LEED) Green Building Rating System. LEED is a nationally-acclaimed benchmark for green building design, construction, and operation; it’s a whole-building approach to sustainability.
-
Residential buildings to meet Green Communities standards.
-
The Green Communities checklist provides a clear, cost effective way to green multi- and single-family buildings. To learn more, visit GreenCommunitiesOnline.org -
The Act also launches a green building incentive program, a Green Building Fund and a Green Building Advisory Council.
Where does the Green Building Fund go?
Revenue from the green building fee goes to the Green Building Fund to:
- Expedite permit processing and offer other incentives to builders and renovators who LEED the way - use the LEED standards in their projects
- Educate builders, renovators, businesses, and residents who want to learn how to build green
- Expand DCRA’s capacity to conduct green building plan reviews and inspections
Who does the Green Building Act apply to?
From October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008, only DC-owned or funded building projects over 10,000 sq ft must meet green building standards – if they involve new construction or substantial
improvement, commercial or residential.
Each year between now and 2012, more types of construction will be required to meet Green Building Standards.
What Standard Do I Need To Meet?
|
New Construction |
|
|
Commercial
Residential |
LEED-New Construction 2.2 Silver 75
Residential Green Communities |
75 |
|
Renovation |
|
|
Commercial
Residential |
LEED-New Construction 2.0 Silver 75
Residential Green Communities |
75 |
What do I need for a green building permit?
The documents you’ll need, depend on the type of construction you’re planning.
|
New Building |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
Core & Shell |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
Residential |
|
|
|
|
X |
X |
How do I get my project LEED-Certified?
First, register your project. To learn how, go to usgbc.org. To earn certification, your project must meet 5 performance benchmarks:
Your project will be awarded a level (Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) based on the number of credits.
How long will it take to get my permits?
If you’re required to have your project LEED-certified, you’re eligible for the Green Building Expedited Construction Documents Review Program. Once you bring all documents required for the permit application, DCRA will process your application within 30 business days, after all other agencies have reviewed and approved your plans.
How much is the green building fee?
All major construction requires green building fees:
| New Construction |
$.002 per square foot of construction |
|
Additions, Alterations
or Repairs |
.13 percent of project value for construction valued at $1,001 to $1 million, or
.065 percent of project value for construction valued over $1 million |
|
