The Greenburgh Town Board unanimously approved a local law on Wednesday, June 24th amending the town code requiring commercial and multifamily buildings to incorporate LEED green building measures in new construction. The goal of the new law is to create a more sustainable community by incorporating green building measures into the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings that minimize the short-term and long-term negative impacts on the environment. Greenburgh is one of a handful of communities in the nation that has adopted this kind of green initiative.
In recent years, green building design, construction and operational techniques have become increasingly widespread. Many homeowners, businesses, and building professionals have voluntarily sought to incorporate green building techniques into their projects. A number of local and national systems have been developed to serve as guides to green building practices. At the national level, the U.S. Green Building Council, developer of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) Commercial Green Building Rating System and LEED™ Reference Guide, has become a leader in promoting and guiding green building. The Town finds that by requiring certain commercial and Town-sponsored projects to incorporate LEED™ green building measures is necessary and appropriate to achieve the benefits of green building.
The intent of this new law is to provide for green building practices designed to achieve the following goals: to encourage resource conservation; to reduce the waste generated by construction projects; to encourage a reduction in the use of energy in both the initial construction of a project, as well as its daily operation; to increase energy efficiency; to promote the health and productivity of residents, workers, and visitors to the Town; to encourage the construction of environmentally sustainable municipal and privately-owned buildings and to encourage the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Building Sector to lessen the effects of climate change. A further intent of this law is to benefit the owners and occupants of new commercial buildings, offices, industrial buildings, mixed use building, multiple family residences and senior citizen multiple family residences with the economic benefits of energy and water savings, good indoor air quality and healthy, pleasant and productive surroundings. The legislation was introduced by Councilman Francis Sheehan. In 2002 Greenburgh became the 2nd municipality in the nation to mandate energy star in residential development. Since 2002 the town has been looking for ways to incorporate green standards in commercial construction as well as residential construction. The town has been actively promoting green initiatives –Allegra Dengler is the energy conservation coordinator and Deann Cartwright is our energy conservation outreach coordinator.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
Greenburgh: Named by MONEY MAGAZINE in 2008 as “ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE” IN AMERICA (#80)
JOB E MAIL LIST---I am trying to help unemployed Greenburgh residents find work. If your company/business has any job openings please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com. If you are out of work and want to be advised of job openings please advise.
