Chatham's Green Building Task Force is ready to go

Posted Monday, June 18, 2007

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Pittsboro, NC - The Green Building Task Force (GBTF) has been appointed by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners to review and advise the BOC on economically feasible and technically viable green building strategies for all new and renovated County owned facilities (including schools, libraries, etc.). The GBTF will also provide advice to the BOC to develop residential green guidelines to be used by the appropriate departments regarding proposed new residential developments.

One of the first tasks for the GBTF will be to assess challenges and opportunities and provide a full report no later than January 31, 2008.

By promoting green buildings and development, as well as “greening” county owned and publicly financed buildings, new and existing, the County will stimulate new business growth and job creation in Chatham County and be an example for others to follow.

Green buildings generate substantial cost savings for building owners and tenants, reduce our dependency on imported energy, and enhance worker health and productivity.

The GBTF recommends that the Chatham BOC establish the following:

1. All new or remodeled county owned and publicly financed buildings of 20,000 or more square feet, comply with the appropriate
· USGBC-LEED certification, at a minimum level of Silver;
· the GBI-GreenGlobes or
· similar third party certification and verification beginning immediately

2. These buildings shall also be designed to comply with the EPA national Energy Star performance rating system.

3. Information relative to green buildings shall be posted on the county website.

Additional costs shall be taken into account by the County, including:
1. USGBC-LEED or Green Globes registration and certification fees
2. Cost of construction above typical construction (typical range can be 2-3%)
3. Basic Building Commissioning (and possible enhanced commissioning) 1-3%
4. Life Cycle Cost Assessment can minimize if not eliminate the additional costs

The GBTF suggests some ways that the County can pay for the additional costs:
· Low interest loans from the NC Government
· Creating a loan program with the savings in energy cost of existing buildings
· Grants available to the county
· Supporting the REEPS legislation HB77 and SB3
· Encourage the General Contractors to show experience with the LEED process