A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A GOAL OF LEED SILVER CERTIFICATION FOR NEW AND EXPANDED TOWN FACILITIES (______/R-)

WHEREAS, the Town’s Comprehensive Plan states 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.”; and

WHEREAS, on October 26, 2004, the Council Committee on Sustainability, Energy and Environment recommended replacing the Town’s Energy Conservation in Design and Construction of New and Renovated Town Buildings ordinance with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental (LEED) “Silver” certification standard for new Town facilities; and

WHEREAS, the LEED process would achieve the Comprehensive Plan goal by promoting energy-saving features such as solar panel and other renewable energy systems, daylighting, and energy-efficient equipment; and

WHEREAS, adopting a LEED standard would have several advantages over the Energy Conservation ordinance, including the establishment of a clearly spelled out procedure, the involvement of a third party to make an independent assessment, and the use of nationally recognized standards; and

WHEREAS, the costs and benefits associated with achieving the LEED certification would vary depending on the type of facility to be constructed;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council establishes the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver certification as a goal for the design of new and expanded Town facilities and strongly encourages the application of LEED principles during retrofit and renovation projects of its current standing structures.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that:

· The Council will consider no new Town facility construction or expansion project complete until the LEED Silver level of certification is confirmed;

· The Council may have the flexibility to determine for specific projects that pursuing the LEED Silver certification level is too difficult and expensive to achieve, is not in keeping with the use or purpose of the building, or is otherwise inappropriate;

· The Council requires that design and project management teams for Town buildings and facilities designated to achieve the Silver level of certification shall include a LEED certified architect or engineer who is involved directly in the day-to-day management of the project.

· The Council requires the architect or staff project manager on Town construction projects which achieve the LEED Silver certification to 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 Council requires that the Town Manager report annually on the energy consumption performance of each Town building.

This the _____ day of _________, 2005.