AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE VII. CHAPTER 5 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ESTABLISH A LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN SILVER CERTIFICATION STANDARD FOR NEW AND EXPANDED TOWN FACILITIES (______ / O-)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:
Section 1. Amend Article VII., Chapter 5 Energy Conservation in Design and Construction of New and Renovated Town Buildings is hereby added to the Town Code to read as follows:
“ARTICLE VII. ENERGY CONSERVATION IN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW AND RENOVATED TOWN BUILDINGS
Sec. 5-121. Intent.
The Council’s intent is to take steps so that buildings built or substantially renovated by the Town of Chapel Hill are constructed in the most environmentally sound way.
The Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Chapel Hill says that, "The Town shall encourage site planning, landscaping, and structure design which maximizes the potential for energy conservation by reducing the demand for artificial heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting, and facilitating the use of solar and other energy resources."
The Council’s intent is to provide the citizens and employees of the Town of Chapel Hill with new and renovated buildings that will give the optimum comfort, ensure the durability of investments for the taxpayer, consider the health of building occupants and provide the greatest awareness possible of the environmental impacts of what we do.
Sec. 5-122. Energy conservation goals in building design.
Any new building with 5,000 square feet or more of gross occupied area constructed by the Town of Chapel Hill shall employ the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System throughout their design, construction, and operation. The LEED Green Building Rating System refers to the most recent version of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Commercial Green Building Rating System, or other related LEED Rating System, approved by the U. S. Green Building Council.
Each qualified new Town building must achieve at least the LEED silver level of certification. No building project shall be deemed complete until LEED certification, or equivalent, has been confirmed, unless the town makes the finding that such certification is not in keeping with the use or purpose of the building or is otherwise inappropriate.
The Town shall refer to the most current applicable version of the LEED certification system in existence. After registering with the U.S. Green Building Council at the design stage of the project as is required, the Town may adhere to that existing version until completion of the project, regardless of any new LEED version that may be released at a later time.
This ordinance applies to new construction and additions to existing buildings and facilities whenever the gross occupied area of the new construction is over 5,000 square feet. New structures of less than 5,000 square feet of gross occupied area are required to be built to the LEED silver certification unless the Town Council grants a waiver.
The Town strongly encourages the application of LEED principles during retrofit and renovation projects of its current standing structures.
Sec. 5-123. Qualification of architects.
Design and project management teams for buildings and facilities meeting the criteria of this ordinance should include a LEED certified architect or engineer who is involved directly in the day-to-day management of the project.
The Town will carry out its commitment on this policy by assuring that Town personnel who administer projects are fully understanding of green building principles and will encourage the selected design teams to maintain and employ these principles through every phase. Criteria for choosing designers, architects, construction managers, and consulting teams shall include demonstrated knowledge of green building practices in their specific fields, and as applicable, a familiarity and experience with life cycle cost analysis and LEED ratings
Sec. 5-124. Energy performance monitoring and reporting.
For construction projects addressed in this ordinance the Town shall require either the architect or the staff project manager to monitor the energy performance of the building and assist the staff in optimizing energy use of the building during the first year.
Upon completion of the project, the contract shall be require the architect or staff project manager to submit a continuous commissioning plan whereby the systems within a building (such as the HVAC system) are tested to ensure that they perform as they were designed to perform. The contract shall require the Town to enter into a contract so that the commissioning requirement is reflected in the equipment warranties. The architect or staff project manager shall conduct a commissioning evaluation of the completed building before occupancy, as well as six (6) months and twelve (12) months after construction is completed. The Town Manager may either require these services of the architect or assign similar responsibilities to the staff project manager.
The Town Manager's annual report to Council will include a section reporting the energy consumption performance of each Town building.
Sec. 5-125. Definitions
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Commercial Green Building Rating System. "LEED Green Building Rating System" means the most recent version of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Commercial Green Building Rating System, or other related LEED Rating System, approved by the U.S. Green Building Council.
LEED Silver Level of Certification. One of five possible LEED ratings: Certified, Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum. The project must earn a predetermined number of points from a detailed checklist of environmental features to achieve a certain LEED rating as set by the U.S. Green Building Council.”
Section 2. This ordinance shall become effective __________, 2005.
This the _____ day of _________, 2005.