Lake County, FL Green Building Standards

Type: Ordinance
Status: Adopted on 8/5/08
Source File: http://www.lakecountyfl.gov/pdfs/CountyAttorney/Ordinance_2008-52.pdf
Text:
Summary of Ordinance
The purpose of this ordinance is to establish a mandatory green building standards program for Lake County building projects and to establish a voluntary program for citizen building projects. The voluntary citizen program includes incentives to encourage Lake County residents to comply with the green building initiative.
ORDINANCE NO. 2008-52
AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA; CREATING ARTICLE VIII, CHAPTER 6, LAKE COUNTY CODE, ENTITLED GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS; CREATING SECTIONS 6-106 THROUGH 6-117, LAKE COUNTY CODE; PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS; PROVIDING FOR A TITLE; PROVIDING FOR PURPOSE AND INTENT; PROVIDING FOR GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP; DESIGNATING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINSTRTATION AND IMPLEMENTATION; PROVIDING FOR PROGRAM APPLICABILITY; PROVIDING FOR GREEN BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT COVERAGE; PROVIDING FOR GREEN BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS; PROVIDING FOR INCENTIVES; PROVIDING FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING; PROVIDING FOR INDEX AND REPORTS; PROVIDING FOR PROGRAM REVIEW; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE CODE AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, on or about February 2008, the County Manager did put together a group of employees from thirteen County department with expertise in environmental issues for the purpose of identifying area in which the County could improve environmental quality; and
WHEREAS, the employees have developed the Green Building Standards; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners now desire to adopt such standards and have found that they are in the best interests of the citizens of Lake County, Florida.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida that:
Section 1. Recitals. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by reference.
Section 2. Creation. Article VIII, Chapter 6, Lake County Code, entitled Green Building Standards, is hereby created to read as follows:
ARTICLE VIII. GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS
Sec. 6-106. Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.
ASHRAE: Acronym for the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers.ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G: Standard developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to provide specific guidance on the rules and procedures used to simulate building energy use when the objective is to substantially exceed the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004, “Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Structures.”
Commission: The Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida.
Conserve Florida: Name of a statewide water conservation effort by water management districts and Florida Department of Environmental Protection to develop and implement an accountable and measurable program to allow public water supply utilities to tailor cost-effective conservation programs to reflect their individual circumstances to achieve greater water-use efficiency.
Construction: Any project associated with the creation, development or erection of any building eligible for the program.
Current: The standard in place at the time a program participant submits a project application form with the jurisdiction.
FBC: Acronym for the Florida Building Commission.
FGBC: Acronym for the Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc., a Florida 501(c) 3 not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to establish and maintain a Florida system of statewide green building standards and third-party certification programs with environmental and economic benefits.
FGBC Local Government designation: A designation given by FGBC to a city or county that achieves the requirement of their local government rating system that examines environmental best practices for all local government functions. Levels of platinum, gold, silver and certified can be achieved.
Federal tax credit for energy efficient homes: Refers to the tax credit recognized by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service for the construction of a home.
Federal tax credit for solar energy systems: Refers to the tax credit recognized by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service for the installation of qualified residential solar water heating or photovoltaic systems.
Florida Green Lodging: A program by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to designate lodging establishments as “green” for following environmentally sensitive operating procedures.
FSEC: Acronym for Florida Solar Energy Center. As the State of Florida’s energy research institute, FSEC conducts research in building science, photovoltaics, solar thermal, hydrogen and alternative fuels, fuel cells and other advanced energy technologies.
Florida Solar Energy System Incentives Program: A program of state law providing for rebates for the installation of qualified solar energy systems, codified at section 377.806, Florida Statutes.
Florida Water Star Program: A third-party certification program offered by water management districts to encourage water efficiency in household appliances, plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems and landscapes.
Florida Yard and Neighborhoods: A University of Florida Extension Service program that encourages homeowners and professionals to create and maintain Florida-friendly landscapes that protect the natural environment for future generations. The program consists of nine principles indicating how to locate the right plant in the right place, water efficiently, fertilize appropriately, mulch, attract wildlife, manage pests responsibly, recycle, reduce stormwater runoff and protect the waterfront.
GBI: Acronym for the Green Building Initiative, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to accelerate the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings by promoting credible and practical green building approaches for residential and commercial construction.
GHDS: Acronym for the Green Home Designation Standard of the Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc.
GHG: Acronym for Greenhouse Gases
Green Building: A designation given to buildings that meet and are maintained to the requirements of the green building rating system defined in this green building program.
Green Building Program: The program outlined in this ordinance for obtaining incentives for green buildings and developments.
Green Development: A land use planning concept that includes consideration of community-wide or regional environmental implications of development, as well as site-specific green building concepts. This includes city planning, environmental planning, architecture and community building. Green development is about constructing buildings and landscapes in a more environmentally friendly manner. It is development that helps to improve air and water quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the neutral environment.
Green Globes: The U.S. commercial/institutional building rating system of the Green Building Initiative.
HERS® Index: The Home Energy Rating System Index used as part of Florida’s Home Energy Rating system in which a home with a HERS Index of 100 represents the energy use of the “American Standard Home” and an Index of zero (0) indicates that the rated home uses no net purchased energy.
Independent or Independent of Lake County: not employed by, or acting as agents of, Lake County.
IBHS: Acronym for the Institute for Business and Home Safety. An insurance and reinsurance organization whose mission is to reduce the social and economic affects of natural disasters and other property losses by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices.
LEED: The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Rating System of the U.S. Green Building Council.
NAHB: Acronym for the National Association of Home Builders, a Washington-based trade association whose mission is to enhance the climate for housing and the building industry.
Positively Green Project: A building project that generates more energy on-site through renewable sources than it uses on an annual basis while providing for its water needs through typical annual rainfall, and meets all of the requirements of this jurisdiction’s green building program. To meet energy qualifications, residential applicants shall achieve a HERS index of 0 or less, and non-residential shall achieve 100% energy reduction from non-renewables using procedures in ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G. rating procedure.
Program: Lake County’s Green Building and Development Program.
Program Certification: The final designation awarded to a program participant for satisfying all requirements associated with the program for a particular project.
Program Participant: Any person or entity seeking program certification for a particular project.
Project: Any construction associated with the creation, development or erection of any building or development eligible for the program.
Project Application Form: The form submitted to Lake County indicating that a program participant is interested in participating in the program for a particular project.
Sub-program: Means any area of construction covered by the program.
Sustainable Construction: The process of environmentally sensitive, resource efficient site selection, preparation, design, construction and operation of buildings.
Unit: A residence permitted according to the Florida Building Code (FBC).
USGBC: Acronym for the United States Green Building Council, a non-profit organization whose mission is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.
Sec. 6-107. Title.
The provisions of this Article shall be known as the “Lake County Green Building and Development” Code.
Sec. 6-108. Purpose and Intent.
The purpose is to establish goals, programs and procedures that will help Lake County become a more sustainable community. This program shall establish new environmental goals for Lake County, define a certification-based green-building and development program with incentives, and define new measurement parameters and reporting criteria to track Lake County’s performance toward its environmental goals. This program will promote economic and environmental health in Lake County, through the design, construction, operations and deconstruction of its own facilities and provide leadership to both the private and public sectors in the arena of green building and development practices including resource efficiency and disaster mitigation. Specific practices are outlined below.
1) Promote a sustainable future that meets today’s needs of a stable, diverse and equitable economy without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs by:
:a. Protecting the quality of the air, water, land and other natural resources;
:b. Conserving native vegetation, wildlife and habitat;
:c. Minimizing human impacts on local ecosystems and ecosystems worldwide; and
:d. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
2) Become a leader in setting policies and practicing service delivery innovations that promote environmental sustainability.
3) Create a sustainable jurisdiction by delivering renewable energy and energy-2 efficient projects, developing green buildings and water-thrifty landscapes, resource education, and utilizing recycling and environmentally sound solid-waste services.
4) Establish a green building program to:
:a. Improve the economic and environmental health of Lake County through measurable objectives;
:b. Track and analyze key indices to measure performance;
:c. Commit Lake County to achieve green designations;
:d. Provide incentives for voluntary compliance;
:e. Provide green building educational opportunities for the Community; and
:f. Execute a green building and development program to help local government. meet its overall goals of reducing emissions, reducing energy needs, and water consumption consistent with the states’ initiative.
Sec 6-109. Government Leadership.
To demonstrate Lake County’s commitment to a green-building program, Lake County shall comply with the green building programs established herein for all government buildings, and shall:
:1) Become and maintain an FGBC Local Government designation;
:2) Track the government’s monthly water and energy use; and
:3) Produce an annual report that outlines Lake County’s energy and water use and greenhouse gas emission performance for the prior year and outlines a plan to reduce it for the coming year.
Refer to the source file for the rest of the document.
Category:Building Standards
Category:County Governments
Category:Florida
Category:Ordinances