HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-08-24 - AGENDA REPORTS - GREEN BUILDING PGM GOALS (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
NEW BUSINESS
City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by: Amelia Rietzel
DATE: August 24, 1999
SUBJECT: CITY OF SANTA CLARITA GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM GOALS
DEPARTMENT: Planning & Building Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council receive report, approve recommended goals for the City's green building
program and direct staff to develop a set of green building guidelines for use in City
construction projects.
BACKGROUND
The City Council requested that staff pursue development of a green building program for
City facilities and projects. Support for a City green building program is consistent with
the City's Sustainability Action Plan. Buildings are the major cause of consumption and
waste of natural resources in the United States. Buildings consume 40% of our nation's
energy use each year. Construction of an average home creates 2.5 tons of waste. Green
building design and construction result in buildings that consume fewer resources and
produce less waste.
The City has implemented several "green" improvements at City Hall over the past several
years. All have reduced the use of resources and saved the City money in ongoing energy
and waste handling costs. The first improvement was retrofitting the air conditioning
system with economizers and electronic controls. These two changes allow for use of
outside air during the winter to assist with cooling and dividing the building into six
independently controlled sections. The second improvement was retrofitting the light
fixtures. All interior lights were fitted with new equipment, including low watt light tubes,
to reduce energy usage, provide brighter and more natural light and to eliminate the use of
standard light tubes that contain hazardous materials (mercury). The new light tubes will
be recycled when they are replaced. The third improvement was the installation of window
tinting throughout the building. The tinting reduces solar heat transmittal into the
building, reduces ultra violet fading of furniture and carpet and enhances the safety of the
glass through providing additional support should a window break.
The City will be implementing green building design and construction principles and
practices in the remodel of Building #1 at the Santa Clarita Sports Complex. The design
process will result in specific recommendations and design components that contribute to
the following green building goals:
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• Reduce human exposure to noxious materials
• Conserve non-renewable energy and scarce materials
• Minimize life -cycle ecological impact of energy and materials used
• Use renewable energy and materials that are sustainably harvested, including
use of recycled content products
• Protect and restore local air, water, soils, flora, fauna and night sky viewing
• Support pedestrians, bicycles, mass transit and other alternatives to fossil -fueled
vehicles
• Maximize the usability, cost effectiveness and aesthetics of the green building in
order to promote its principles and feasibility for future private construction
The design process for a green building project tends to be longer and more expensive than
for traditional buildings. Additional time is needed to analyze opportunities and coordinate
among various disciplines to integrate green building goals, technologies and practices into
construction plans. The benefits of the additional time and expense in the design process
are experienced through the superior ongoing performance of the building and possible
lower maintenance costs. Staff will return to the City Council with the specific green
strategies to be implemented in Building #1 along with the associated costs for the project
when the City Council is asked to approve bidding the construction phase of the project.
Building #1 at the Sports Complex will be the City's first experience with green building.
The knowledge and experience that result from the process of completing this project will
prepare staff to develop a draft green building policy for City Council consideration.
Development of this policy will be one of the work items taken on by the City's new staff
level Green Building Team. The team is composed of representatives from Environmental
Services, Facilities Maintenance, Building & Safety and Capital Projects. The set of goals
listed above will guide work at the Sports Complex and development of the draft green
building policy.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
1. Other actions as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
The green building program will result in higher design costs for construction projects and
lower ongoing operational costs for these "green" facilities. Exact costs and savings are not
known at this time and will vary based on the specific project.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
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