Regulating energy efficient new residential construction - Cyburbia Forums

cch · 2009-11-04, 05:01 PM

I'm updating a zoning ordinance for a rural township. And even though they maybe issue two new residential building permits a year, they asked if there could be a requirement in the zoning ordinance that new construction has to be energy efficient.

Seems to me this would purely be a building code issue. But, I wanted to run it past the mighty cyburbia brain, to see if any of you have ever heard of or seen regulations like this in a zoning ordinance.

Thanks.

mendelman · 2009-11-04, 05:14 PM

When I was on the Plan Commission for the Village of Oak Park, IL we were revising the submission and review requirements for Planned Developments. One of the requirements is mandatory that each planned development shall at a minimum achieve LEED Certification as defined by the USGBC (U. S. Green Building Council). I personally disagreed with it, but it got approved anyways.

You're right that this is building code issue.

CPSURaf · 2009-11-04, 05:27 PM

Agreed with MM. This is a building code issue. California's Title 24 in the UBC has some great energy efficiency ideas.

der Bebauungsplan · 2009-11-04, 05:27 PM

I believe that the best and more appropriate way would be to address it in the Building Code

southsideamy · 2009-11-04, 06:05 PM

I do think that most of the LEED standards relate to the building code, but LEED-Neighborhood does not. You could either change your zoning code, or create a floating zone, to require LEED- Neighborhood -- most of those requirements have to do with site planning and transportation issues.

transguy · 2009-11-04, 06:42 PM

I've never understood why anyone would require LEED certification as part of the subdivision/zoning approval process. LEED (ignoring neighborhoods) can only be granted after the project is built. If LEED certification is required as part of the approval process, are you really going to tell them they can't occupy a brand new building? My municipality certainly doesn't have the political will to accomplish this. I'm a firm believer that if you want energy efficiency, incorporate it into your building code. While there are some really good parts of LEED, there are also some issues (like the fact that the latest results show that LEED certified projects are simply not performing as they were originally designed for).

While not nearly as far along as LEED, or as notable, I would recommend looking at http://www.icleiusa.org/star for a potential on how local government regulation will be shaped in the future.

mendelman · 2009-11-05, 10:54 AM

I agree with you transguy. I felt it was putting the cart before the horse, but since LEED is the new buzz word in Planning, some people believe it must be incorporated now or their little fiefdom will not be cool enough.

Plus, I don't see the logical land use nexus - What does a building's level of energy use have to do with use of land and interaction with neighbors?

ColoGI · 2009-11-05, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by southsideamy

I do think that most of the LEED standards relate to the building code, but LEED-Neighborhood does not. You could either change your zoning code, or create a floating zone, to require LEED- Neighborhood -- most of those requirements have to do with site planning and transportation issues.

Certainly following the IBC will get you a long way to getting your building code where it needs to be, esp if you are in a rural area. That is: scary faddish buzzwords are harder to get in the code than the IBC standards.

And IMHO -ND has a long way to go to make it simple and a good compliment to the building envelope. I am all for the -ND concept, but in a rural area? Come now. How many rural areas are going to accept this in the next 5-10 years?? 10% Write some code that will get accepted now.

transguy · 2009-11-05, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ColoGI

And IMHO -ND has a long way to go to make it simple and a good compliment to the building envelope. I am all for the -ND concept, but in a rural area? Come now. How many rural areas are going to accept this in the next 5-10 years?? 10% Write some code that will get accepted now.

I would agree. Also, what I have seen (limited amount) from LEED ND is that it is very heavily weighted to urban infill locations. I've even heard some discussion wondering if a rural location would be able to meet the pre-requisites.

http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=2845

(see pre-req 1 under smart locations)

2009-11-04, 05:01 PM	#1
cch Cyburbian Registered: Mar 2006 Location: N IL & S WI Posts: 1,392	Regulating energy efficient new residential construction I'm updating a zoning ordinance for a rural township. And even though they maybe issue two new residential building permits a year, they asked if there could be a requirement in the zoning ordinance that new construction has to be energy efficient. Seems to me this would purely be a building code issue. But, I wanted to run it past the mighty cyburbia brain, to see if any of you have ever heard of or seen regulations like this in a zoning ordinance. Thanks.

2009-11-04, 05:14 PM	#2
mendelman Unfrozen Caveman Planner Registered: May 2003 Location: Encino Posts: 6,610	When I was on the Plan Commission for the Village of Oak Park, IL we were revising the submission and review requirements for Planned Developments. One of the requirements is mandatory that each planned development shall at a minimum achieve LEED Certification as defined by the USGBC (U. S. Green Building Council). I personally disagreed with it, but it got approved anyways. You're right that this is building code issue. __________________ I'm sorry. Is my bias showing? Last edited by mendelman; 2009-11-04 at 05:25 PM.

2009-11-04, 05:27 PM	#3
CPSURaf Cyburbian Registered: Feb 2007 Location: The "Greater" Bay Area! Posts: 1,498	Agreed with MM. This is a building code issue. California's Title 24 in the UBC has some great energy efficiency ideas. __________________ "there's the right way, the wrong way, & the max power way!" -"isn't the the wrong way" "yess, but faster!"

2009-11-04, 06:42 PM	#6
transguy Cyburbian Registered: Jan 2006 Location: Midwest-ish Posts: 167	I've never understood why anyone would require LEED certification as part of the subdivision/zoning approval process. LEED (ignoring neighborhoods) can only be granted after the project is built. If LEED certification is required as part of the approval process, are you really going to tell them they can't occupy a brand new building? My municipality certainly doesn't have the political will to accomplish this. I'm a firm believer that if you want energy efficiency, incorporate it into your building code. While there are some really good parts of LEED, there are also some issues (like the fact that the latest results show that LEED certified projects are simply not performing as they were originally designed for). While not nearly as far along as LEED, or as notable, I would recommend looking at http://www.icleiusa.org/star for a potential on how local government regulation will be shaped in the future. __________________ Much work remains to be done before we can announce our total failure to make any progress.

2009-11-05, 10:54 AM	#7
mendelman Unfrozen Caveman Planner Registered: May 2003 Location: Encino Posts: 6,610	I agree with you transguy. I felt it was putting the cart before the horse, but since LEED is the new buzz word in Planning, some people believe it must be incorporated now or their little fiefdom will not be cool enough. Plus, I don't see the logical land use nexus - What does a building's level of energy use have to do with use of land and interaction with neighbors? __________________ I'm sorry. Is my bias showing?

2009-11-04, 05:27 PM	#4
der Bebauungsplan Member Registered: Jun 2009 Location: Chicago Region Posts: 9	I believe that the best and more appropriate way would be to address it in the Building Code

2009-11-04, 06:05 PM	#5
southsideamy Cyburbian Registered: Jul 2006 Location: Suburban Chicago Posts: 354	I do think that most of the LEED standards relate to the building code, but LEED-Neighborhood does not. You could either change your zoning code, or create a floating zone, to require LEED- Neighborhood -- most of those requirements have to do with site planning and transportation issues.

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