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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07272010 - SD.8RECOMMENDATION(S): APPROVE a Sustainable Building Policy and DIRECT the County Administrator to incorporate the policy into an Administrative Bulletin. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no direct fiscal impact resulting from approval of the proposed Sustainable Building Policy. The cost to develop and implement the policy are covered within existing budgeted staff appropriations. Any direct costs resulting from implementation of the policy associated with future building projects will be appropriately evaluated and included in applicable project budgets consistent with available funding. BACKGROUND: The need for a sustainable building policy for the County’s facilities arises from a number of concurrent issues and events. The State of California passed Assembly Bill 32 requiring reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. As a result, local governments have begun instituting GHG emission reduction plans affecting municipal operations. The County has conducted a GHG emissions inventory to establish benchmarks for municipal and countywide emissions and has completed its Municipal Climate Action APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 07/27/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Gayle B. Uilkema, District II Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Susan A. Bonilla, District IV Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor Contact: Mike Lango, (925) 313-7120 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: July 27, 2010 David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: June McHuen, Deputy cc: GSD Admin, GSD Purchasing, CAO SD. 8 To:Board of Supervisors From:Michael J. Lango, General Services Director Date:July 27, 2010 Contra Costa County Subject:Approve a Sustainable Building Policy to Establish LEED Certification Guidelines in the Design, Construction and Maintenance of County Buildings Plan (MCAP) detailing measures to reduce GHG emissions. In addition, the County formally initiated its Strategic Energy Plan (SEP) in 2004, which is administered by the General Services Department. The SEP was developed in response to increasing energy costs by making energy efficiency improvements to existing buildings to reduce energy consumption and lower building energy costs. Because energy consumption is a major contributor to GHG emissions, the SEP plays a major role in supporting the MCAP. In April 2008, the Board of Supervisors adopted an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) policy that includes direction to consider Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDTM) guidelines in building construction, remodeling, and renovation projects. The logical progression of the SEP, MCAP and EPP necessitates a Countywide policy for building construction projects to ensure that buildings will have minimal negative impact on the environment and will be operated and maintained in the most cost effective manner possible. The proposed sustainable building policy demonstrates a “lead by example” approach by the County to realistically promote responsible stewardship of environmental and economic resources. It will generate long term savings to taxpayers by reducing energy use and serve as an important complement to meet the goals of the County’s Strategic Energy Plan and MCAP. BACKGROUND: (CONT'D) Sustainable Building Concept The sustainable building concept integrates building materials and methods that promote environmental quality and efficiency through the design, construction and operation of the building. Sustainable building philosophy merges sound, environmentally responsible practices into one discipline that looks at the environmental, economic, and social effects of a building as a whole. Sustainable building design encompasses the following broad topics: efficient management of energy and water resources, management of material resources and waste, protection of environmental quality, protection of health and indoor environmental quality, reinforcement of natural systems, and an integrated design approach. The sustainable building concept also involves “Life Cycle” cost analysis, which is an inclusive approach to costing a building project that encompasses planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance over the useful life of the facility. Life cycle cost analysis looks at the net present value of design options as investments. The goal is to achieve the highest, most cost-effective environmental performance possible over the life of the facility. Purpose of Sustainable Building Policy The proposed Sustainable Building Policy provides specific guidance for the design, construction and maintenance of building improvements administered by the General Services Department. County facilities should be financially viable to operate, easy to maintain, and contribute to the productivity and well-being of those who work in and visit these facilities. The Sustainable Building Policy would reflect the Board of Supervisors commitment to responsible environmental stewardship through sustainable building practices. In addition, implementation of the sustainable building policy can yield long term cost savings to County taxpayers through reduced operating costs and improved work environments. The policy will also contribute to the realization of the Board of Supervisors' goal of protecting, conserving, and enhancing environmental resources and enable the County to require that its facilities serve as models of responsible use of natural and financial resources and establish a community standard of sustainable buildings for Contra Costa County. Benefits of Sustainable Building Policy In 2003, a study was completed to assess the cost and benefits of sustainable public buildings using LEEDTM criteria for the State of California. Thirty-three public buildings were assessed to determine the additional cost of each building component using sustainable building criteria in comparison to the costs associated with a conventional building of the same design. The results are outlined below: • Sustainable design yielded average life cycle cost savings of ten times the original investment • The earlier sustainable design concepts were introduced into the process, the lower the cost LEED Level Average Cost Premium Energy Savings Certified 0.66%28% Silver 2.11%30% Gold 1.82%48% Under the proposed policy, the General Services Department would be responsible for developing, updating, and distributing specifications and standards for County building projects to ensure that they comply with the Sustainable Building Policy. The policy would not apply to infrastructure projects that are not designed for human occupancy (e.g. street improvements, water or sewer system projects) carried out in the normal course of business by the County Flood Control District, Public Works Department, or the County Redevelopment Agency. These agencies must adhere to specific government statutes for these types of projects. LEED Rating System LEED is a voluntary building rating system developed by the US Green Building Council. It is based on existing, proven technology and evaluates environmental performance from a "whole building" perspective. LEED is a certifying system designed for rating new and existing commercial buildings and contains prerequisites and credits in seven categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation in Design, and Regional Priority. There are four LEED rating levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Proposed Sustainable Building Policy The proposed sustainable building policy is attached. If approved, the policy would apply to County building projects initiated after July 1, 2010. However, the Department of Conservation and Development Project in Martinez and the New West County Health Clinic Project in San Pablo are currently being designed to achieve the highest possible LEED rating level. The policy will establish a goal of LEED Silver rating for new County building projects, with specific building performance targets to achieve maximum energy savings. See attached draft of Sustainable Building Policy. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: ATTACHMENTS Sustainable Building Policy DRAFT SUSTAINABLE BUILDING POLICY I. PURPOSE It is the intention of this policy to establish the use of sustainable building practices in the design of county building improvement projects in order to reduce pollution, protect natural resources, enhance asset value, optimize building performance, and create healthier workplaces for county employees and the public. Sustainable building design (sometimes referred to as "green building design") will help to reduce operating costs associated with heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, lighting systems, municipal water consumption, storm water management, solid waste disposal, and support recyclable materials markets. Sustainable buildings are designed to use as little energy as possible, with minimal or no use of fossil fuels. By providing these types of buildings, the county's utility costs will be demonstrably lower since the largest building operating costs are incurred through the use of artificial lighting systems and HVAC systems (for both heating and cooling cycles). There is no single technique for designing and constructing a sustainable building, but sustainable building projects frequently include environment-friendly features, such as: • Preservation of natural vegetation • Conservation of natural resources • Extensive use of non-toxic and/or recycled-content building materials • Use water and energy efficiently • Use of certified sustainable wood products • Maximized access to natural lighting • Incorporation of recycling facilities • Convenient access to public transportation • Flexible interior design to minimize tenant improvements when reassigning space • Recycling of construction and demolition waste 2 59 • Maintenance of good indoor air quality that minimizes use of volatile organic compounds II. POLICY This policy shall incorporate by reference the latest version of the LEED TM rating system,a nationally recognized standard used to rate the performance of buildings and guide project design and construction, in order to achieve the benefits of sustainable building. The LEED rating system components include sustainable site design, water and energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and materials and resources. The use of LEED criteria reduces operating costs, enhances asset value,optimizes building performance and creates healthier workplaces for county employees and visitors. The county therefore declares its intent to promote sustainable building practices and low impact development in the design, construction and management of all county-owned capital facilities. All county building projects initiated on or after July 1, 2010 shall meet the following criteria under the LEED Rating System or a county-approved equivalent: • For new building projects exceeding 5,000 square feet,LEED Silver rating level shall be sought unless the Board of Supervisors determines it is not practicable or appropriate considering such things as available resources, construction costs, and life-cycle costs. • For new building projects under 5,000 square feet and for remodels and renovations where the scope of the project or type of building limits the ability to achieve LEED Silver or Certified rating level, the General Services Department shall incorporate cost effective green building practices based on estimated life cycle cost analysis and available funding. • Departments affected by these policies are encouraged to budget for and attend sustainable building training and/or training in LEED accreditation. • All county building projects shall have a LEED accredited professional on the development team.LEED accreditation, experience, and abilities related to sustainable building design and low impact development design, engineering, and construction will provide compliance with the intent of this Policy. • For existing buildings, or for integration with existing structures, the use of LEED-EB (Existing Buildings) criteria is encouraged. 3 60 III. PERFORMANCE TARGETS The following performance targets and goals should be met or exceeded: • Design to the highest LEED rating practicable, but no less than LEED Silver designation. • Determine early in the project planning process if a LEED application will be made. • Design the site respecting all living systems. • Search for opportunities to restore biodiversity. • Minimize the use of water. • Establish energy performance goals prior to design to achieve a minimum of 30% more energy efficiency than a base building designed for current energy building codes using LEED building energy modeling protocol as a basis for comparison. • Establish a goal for renewable energy where practicable prior to design (e.g. 5%). • Select building materials that balance energy efficiency in the building, environmental health and safety, durability, maintenance, and performance. • Create indoor environments that promote health and well-being by optimizing day lighting, effective ventilation, and the use of non-toxic materials. IV. COMMISSIONING In order for building systems to perform to their intended performance goals, it is imperative that building commissioning be performed. Commissioning is the process for achieving, verifying, and documenting the performance of a facility, and is used in part to determine whether the systems within the facility meet the design intent, and to ensure that it meets the functional and operational needs. A successful commissioning plan creates a procedure for documenting performance of a building's systems, strengthens communication between all parties throughout the project, and confirms the performance of building systems. When the project is seeking official LEED certification, the commissioning prerequisite is to be completed as outlined in the LEED Reference Guide. The commissioning agent shall be involved throughout all phases of the building process, from the programming phase to the post occupancy phase. The following systems shall be commissioned at a minimum: • HVAC systems and controls 4 61 • Lighting systems and controls • Life safety systems • Energy generation systems • Renewable energy systems • Day lighting systems • Emergency power systems • Water recycling systems V. DEFINITIONS • "Green building practices," as defined by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEEDTM Program, are practices that conserve resources, use recycled content materials, maximize energy efficiency, and otherwise consider environmental economic and social benefits in the design and construction of a building project. • "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" or "LEED" is a voluntary, consensus based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. • LEED rating system means the most recent version of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or other related LEED Rating System such as for Commercial Buildings and Existing Buildings) approved by the USGBC. • "Life-cycle cost" represents the full costs, including financing, for designing, constructing, operating, and decommissioning a facility based upon the useful life of the facility and its components. • “Remodel" is to add on to or modify the structure of an existing building or structure. • "Renovate" is to improve, repair, or upgrade the condition of a building or structure. • "U.S. Green Building Council" (USGBC) is a coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. • "Sustainability" means looking at solutions that simultaneously improve social, economic, and environmental vitality. 5 62 6 REFERENCES The following sources were used in the development of the proposed Sustainable Building Policy: 1. A Guide to Sustainability for New and Renovated Facilities, Johnson County, Kansas" [From Ralph Linnet, Director of County Facilities, 1000 Main Street B-95, Cincinnati, OH; 45202; (513) 946-5015] 2. "An Ordinance Adding Chapter 4.38 to Title 4 of the Administrative Code of the County of Alameda Relating to Construction and Demolition Debris Management and Green Building Practices for Certain County Projects" [From Debbie Bender, Alameda County Facilities Manager (925) 551-6572] 3. Riverside County Sustainable Building Policy as adopted by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors on February 10, 2009. 4. “Sustainable Design and Construction Standard for Regional Facilities" Board of Supervisor Policy "Report No. 4 of the Finance and Administration Committee, Regional Council Meeting of April 27, 2006" [From Subhash Bhatia, Program Manager, and Barry Crowe, York, Canada; (905) 834-4444] 5. "Energy Resource Conservation Policy Draft 3.doc" [From Dustin Knutson, Energy Resource Conservation Manager Arapahoe County Government, Arapahoe, CO (303) 795- 4557] 6. “What is 'Green Building'?" Arlington County, Virginia, Green Building Policy [From John Morrill, Energy Manager, Arlington County, VA Department of Environmental Services (703) 228- 4426] 7. “Managing the Costs of Green Buildings: K-12 Public Schools, Research Laboratories, Public Libraries, Multi- family Affordable Housing”, October 2003, KEMA 8. Greg Kats et al, “The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings” prepared for California’s Sustainable Building Task Force, October 2003. 9. Lisa Fay Matthiessen and Peter Morris, “Costing Green: A Comprehensive Cost Database and Budgeting Methodology”, July 2004. 63