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Today's Air Quality...
“Green” Is New Building Standard In Dallas
City Council passes new construction requirement to reduce environmental impact; Dallas becomes one of the first major U.S. cities to pass comprehensive building standard for both residential and commercial construction.
On April 9th, the Dallas City Council unanimously adopted a green construction ordinance aimed at reducing energy and water consumption in all new houses and commercial buildings. This step adds to the City’s record of being an environmental leader.
“We’re at the lead of the major cities in this country. We had industry come in and really embrace it. We crafted it to make sense for everybody,” said Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert.
While a Green Building standard for city-owned buildings exists, requiring those over 10,000 square feet be built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standards, a standard did not exist for private development. A Green Building Task Force, comprised of members of the development sector, was created to develop recommendations for all new private development in Dallas.
“We support efforts to create a better-built environment and accept the responsibility that every industry, and now every home, must share to help the region reach its air quality goals,” said Donny Mack, president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas.
The ordinance will be implemented in two phases beginning in 2009.
Read full details of the new ordinance: Green Building Program: Summary of Task Force Recommendations and Ordinance Requirements
(Adobe PDF, Presented to the Dallas City Council - April 9, 2008)
Ordinance #081070 (Adobe pdf; passed by the Dallas City Council April 9,2008)
The City’s Green Dallas initiative is aimed at environmental responsibility and encourages public and private sector involvement. Dallas is the number one municipal purchaser of renewable power in the nation, boasts the largest clean vehicle fleet of any city in Texas, and is the only pilot city chosen for the EPA’s Sustainable Skylines Initiative aimed at improving air quality.
