Local Governments Increasingly Mandate Green Building
The number of government green building programs has nearly tripled in the last three years to over 113 municipal programs, according to a recently updated Government Green Building Programs Inventory.
The number of government green building programs has nearly tripled in the last three years to over 113 municipal programs, according to a recently updated Government Green Building Programs Inventory.
The report is a national inventory of local government green building programs including the type of policy, whether the policies are mandatory or voluntary and the sectors to which they apply. It also describes the performance standards used and what, if any, incentives are offered.
The report finds that the most commonly used standard is the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED program with 101 programs based on the green building rating system. Of those programs, 28 percent do not require third party certification through USGBC. Seventy-three municipalities require certification through USGBC for at least one of their sectors.
Fifty-five percent of municipalities listed have programs and policies that pertain to private commercial development. Some communities require municipal buildings are certified to LEED but offer voluntary programs with incentives in the private sector.
The report was first compiled in 2004 by the University of Wisconsin-Extension and Flad & Associates. The database was updated this year by UW-Extension.
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