OSD NEWS: Portland City Council will consider major green building policies to cut global warming pollution and create local jobs

Home

What We Do

News and Events

Library

About Us

BPS News BPS Calendar

POL

Government

Bureaus & Offices

Planning & Sustainability

News and Events

BPS News

BPS News Releases

OSD NEWS: Portland City Council will consider major green building policies to cut global warming pollution and create local jobs - Printable Version - November 7, 2007

OSD NEWS

November 6, 2007

Contact: Brendan Finn, Chief of Staff to Commissioner Dan Saltzman

503-313-0246

Cynthia Fuhrman, Office of Sustainable Development

503-823-0229

Portland City Council will consider major green building policies to cut global warming pollution and create local jobs

Chicago, IL—Commissioner Dan Saltzman will ask City Council to establish an innovative new policy framework to help all buildings address their environmental impacts, and especially those related to global warming. Joined by Mayor Tom Potter at the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Exposition, which started today in Chicago, Illinois, Commissioner Saltzman introduced the policy proposal to nearly 200 business and community leaders from Portland and Chicago.

“Over the past eight years,Portland's green building program has accomplished a great deal. We are right at the top of every list when it comes to green building in cities: number of green buildings and design professionals, and the highest standard for city-owned buildings,” said Saltzman, pointing out that

Green building has been good for business as well, a point highlighted by PDX Lounge, a public-private exhibit and marketing partnership for over 50 businesses across Oregon that are involved in green design and construction.

Even in Portland, however, green building holds only a modest share of a large market. Said Saltzman, “The goal of the next chapter inPortland's green building story is to extend green building throughout the entire building sector, while significantly reducing carbon emissions and strengthening the local economy.”

Developed by the Office of Sustainable Development, the policy proposal that Saltzman will bring to City Council early next year is expected to include significant incentives to help motivate the building industry to embrace high-performance buildings. If adopted, the City will provide substantial financial incentives to buildings that are very energy efficient and meet the very highest green building standards. These incentives will be financed by a carbon fee that would be charged to buildings that meet existing minimum code. Buildings that achieve moderate performance, such as 30 percent less energy use than required by code, will not have to pay the carbon fee.

A second key component of the green building proposal is intended to provide better information to building owners, managers, tenants, and prospective buyers about building performance, improving the information available to the real estate marketplace. A building performance rating would be required for all commercial and residential buildings, either at time of sale or lease, or else by a specific future date. “We are seeing more and more people looking to buy green buildings, not only because they have fewer negative impacts on the environment, but also because they are better spaces for people to live and work in, and provide long-term financial benefits,” said Saltzman.

The City will also be gearing up to provide more assistance, training and outreach to help the building community respond to the new policy, using some of the carbon fee revenues to provide greater level of resources where they are needed. “I am very aware of the significance of this policy, and we are absolutely committed to bringing help to people so they can obtain the waiver and avoid having to pay a fee,” Saltzman noted. “This policy is about performance. Green buildings are good business and better spaces for people. I believe these incentives will make it compelling and easier for everyone.”

In mid-November the City will release details of these proposed policies and will ask for public and stakeholder input to ensure that they are effective, efficient, and fair. The resulting policy proposals will be considered by Portland City Council in early 2008, asPortland seeks to make green building standard practice, reducing carbon emissions and building a thriving local economy.

The City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development (OSD) brings together community partners to promote a healthy and prosperous future for Portland. OSD advances improvements and innovation in energy use and technologies, waste disposal, recycling, food policy, sustainable purchasing, environmental education and high-performance green building practices. OSD programs, policies and partnerships are key to community health, economic and environmental opportunities forortland, its businesses and residents. OSD’s green building program provides technical assistance, innovation grants and training on green building practices to developers, builders, homeowners, and design professionals. www.portlandonline.com/osd.

# # # #