Policy Glossary
Region:
Government Body:
Year:

Background

As people look for different ways to improve their health and decrease their impact on the environment, the idea of green building is gaining momentum. In the United States, buildings account for 39% of total energy use, 12% of total water consumption, 68% of total electricity consumption and 38% of carbon dioxide emissions. Green building designs improve these statistics and can be applied to both residential and commercial building.  The aspects most often considered in green building are indoor air quality, water efficiency, weatherization and energy efficiency, reusable or recyclable building materials, renewable energy sources and site sustainability.  

Architects and planners design buildings to be more efficient by installing efficient lighting sources and appliances, high performance insulation, and even adjusting the way a building is situated to catch sunlight. Whether it is geothermal heat pumps or solar panel roofs, renewable energy sources are now being incorporated into many new buildings. As buildings are increasingly assembled tighter to reduce heating and cooling costs, indoor air quality issues have become even more important. Green building designs incorporate fresh airflow and often use plants to improve inside air quality. Moreover, careful material selection is important for good air quality and can provide other benefits.  When recycled materials are used, waste disposal is reduced and precious natural resources, such as certain types of wood, are conserved. In addition to conserving energy and materials, green buildings are designed to be water efficient, using automatic faucets and toilets as well as other devices to reduce water waste.  The outside of a green building can be designed to minimize the building's impact on the local environment.  Dispersal of storm water and chemical runoff are carefully planned and the sites are designed to minimize habitat and wetlands destruction.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System^TM, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is a certification program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings.  The LEED system assigns points for various aspects of green building, and builders who aggregate enough points can achieve certification. Recognizing that different types of buildings should have different environmental benchmarks, LEED rating systems are in place for new construction, existing buildings, schools, various commercial establishments, homes and healthcare facilities, among others. Some new buildings will incorporate multiple green characteristics in their design, and some, just one or two. 

In recent years, there has been some debate surrounding the LEED system. Some critics claim that the system is too costly and furthermore question the value of its point rating system. There are, however, alternatives to the LEED system, which also promote green building. Indeed, programs like Green Globes and BR Environmental Assessment Method maintain their own guidelines for the certification of green buildings. and

United States

For builders and consumers who follow the LEED guidelines, there are government funding opportunities and tax credits.  The U.S. government offers tax credits for homeowners and businesses that improve the energy efficiency of their buildings or invest in alternative energy sources such as wind or solar power.  

New York

In New York, the Green Building Tax Credit provides tax credits to owners and tenants of large commercial buildings that meet certain green standards.  New York State has its own certification program called the Energy Star program, which offers incentives to "Energy Star Home Builders."  The state also offers various tax incentives for solar installations for both commercial and residential building owners.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is an organization that was established to help New York meet its energy goals - namely, reducing energy consumption, promoting the use of renewable energy sources and protecting the environment. Under NYSERDA's New York Energy $mart^SM Program, NYSERDA has created education and financing programs to promote energy efficiency, including consumer education and outreach programs, low-income energy affordability programs and research and development projects with a focus on promoting renewable resources, distributed electric generation and combined heat and power installations.

NYLCVEF

In 2009, NYLCVEF played an active roll in promoting the NYC Green Buildings Legislation. The plan sought to significantly reduce carbon emissions from the city's buildings through steps such as upgrading the lighting systems and creating an energy code for environmental standards. The passage of this bill put New York at the forefront of green building.  In the 2010 Policy Agenda, NYLCVEF continues to encourage local governments to follow green building standards though the purchase of Energy Star-rated equipment and the adherence to green building standards for new construction projects.

Through NYLCVEF's Eco-Partners program, corporations can partner with our organization to demonstrate their commitment to the environment and connect with conservation-minded consumers and decision makers. We work in partnership with our Eco-Partners to help deliver results. This includes working with Eco-Partners around an environmental business issue and also raising our Eco-Partners visibility in NYLCVEF's efforts to educate the general public, candidates for public office and elected officials on environmental issues confronting New York State.  Our education and engagement efforts cover a wide range of topics - from green building and energy to land conservation and transportation - while advancing an agenda that promotes both environmental conservation and economic development.

References/Resources:

> Community Preservation Corporation's Green Financing Initiative

> Enterprise Green Communities  

> LISC Green Development Center

> NY DEC Green Building

> NYSERDA Green Building Services

> NYC Green Buildings

> U.S. EPA Green Building

> U.S. Green Building Council