Panel OK’s Green Buildings Act

Photo by Flickr/epsos/3384297473/

By Laura Peters
Capital News Service
 
Richmond, VA. - Future state buildings would be designed to meet strict environmental standards under a bill unanimously endorsed by a Senate committee.  
 
The Senate General Laws and Technology Committee on Jan. 27 voted 15-0 in favor of Senate Bill 109, called the Green Public Buildings Act.
 
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax, would require all new state buildings of more than 5,000 square feet to meet the LEED Silver or Green Globes “two globes” standard. (LEED refers to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system.)
 
The requirement also would apply to major renovations of state buildings. “The bill’s goal is to significantly reduce utility usage, preserve the environment and save taxpayer dollars,” Petersen told the Senate committee. He is a member of the panel.
 
Conservation groups – including the League of Conservation Voters and Virginia Interfaith Power & Light – supported the measure.  
 
“This bill allows the commonwealth to be good stewards of the environment and taxpayers’ dollars,” Joe Stanley, director of Virginia Interfaith Power & Light.  
 
Sue Rowland of the Green Building Council said the private sector already has embraced the benefits of high-performance buildings. SB 109 would raise state buildings to the same standards, she said.  
 
Under SB 109, the director of the state’s Department of General Services could exempt a construction or renovation project from the LEED standards if there are special circumstances.  The bill now goes to the Senate Finance Committee for review.