Telling the Greensburg City Council at last week’s work session he’s been “talking to NREL as to how we implement our vision for a green community” Greensburg GreenTown’s Daniel Wallach presented for the group’s perusal a pair of documents he said are an “attempt to articulate what that means.”
   Stressing the guidelines--set of one for commercial and a second for residential construction--are “purely voluntary, Wallach commented the suggestions are likely candidates for modification and could become “part of the City code down the line.”
   Greensburg City Administrator Steve Hewitt commented later the Council will need time to “go over the recommendations” and that “at least part” of the guidelines could, at some point find their way into the city’s code.
   Following is the GreenTown recommendation for commercial buildings:
Recommendation: The City of Greensburg, Kansas Should Encourage Green Commercial, Non-Profit, and Public Building Design to Align with the Community Master Plan...
   All new commercial, non-profit, and non-city-owned public buildings, of any size, are encouraged to be designed, contracted and built via a "green building" approach to achieve at least 30 percent energy efficiency compared to current building code. Additional green features, as outlined in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED TM) Program, should be incorporated to achieve the Silver certification level or higher.
   The City of Greensburg has set an aggressive goal of LEED Platinum and 42 percent energy savings for all City-owned buildings. The purpose of setting this aggressive goal was to provide leadership and to foster a future sustainable business environment.
   In line with the Master plan, we recommend the City encourage all commercial and non-city public buildings to build "green."
   "Green building" is a whole-systems approach utilizing design and building techniques to minimize environmental impact and reduce the energy consumption and utility costs of a building while contributing to the health of its occupants and building durability.
   This recommendation focuses on a 30 percent energy cost savings compared to a typical building built to code. To meet the recommended level of energy savings, follow the simple, prescriptive energy efficiency recommendations, when life cycle cost effective, available in the Advanced Energy Design Guides, available from www.ashrae.aedg .
   In addition to energy savings, a green building's features include:

• A healthy indoor environment...
• 30 percent reduction in water use compared to a typical building...
• Use of renewable energy generation wherever appropriate...
• Use of locally available and recycled materials while minimizing construction waste ...
• Reducing the overall environmental impact from the site...

   What are the benefits of City leadership setting this requirement?
   By adopting this goal and green building approach, the commercial and public buildings will:

• Reduce utility costs...
• Substantially reduce negative environmental impacts...
• Enhance business marketability and image...
• Increase occupant comfort and worker productivity...
• Align with the City's Sustainable Comprehensive Master Plan...
• Receive extensive media coverage potentially expanding economic growth...
• Cost Impacts Are Understood...
• Recommend 30% energy savings and sustainable design when life cycle cost effective...

   Recommendations for residential housing follow:
Recommendation: Greensburg, Kansas Should Adopt the Best Green Housing Requirements in the Nation...
   Requirement: All new residential construction is encouraged to be designed, contracted and built to achieve whole-house energy savings of at least 40 percent relative to minimum code using a “green building" approach. All existing residences and housing projects are encouraged to target maximum cost-effective energy savings
"Green building" is a whole-systems approach utilizing design and building techniques to minimize environmental impact and reduce the energy consumption and utility costs of a building while contributing to the health of its occupants and building durability. This requirement includes:

• Forty percent energy cost savings compared to a typical building built to code
• A healthy indoor environment
• Reduction in water use compared to a typical building
• Use of renewable energy generation wherever appropriate
• Use of locally available and recycled materials while minimizing construction waste
• Reducing the overall environmental impact from the site

What are the benefits of City leadership setting this requirement?   By adopting this goal and green building approach the city will:

• Reduce homeowner utility costs...
• Reduce peak electric demand and backup power requirements...
• Substantially reduce negative environmental impacts and increase home durability...
• Enhance building value and marketability...
• Increase homeowner comfort...
• Set the example for other housing projects and homeowners in Greensburg...
• Receive extensive media coverage potentially leading to economic growth...
• Cost Impacts Are Understood...
• The best designed larger buildings have been documented to have NO increase in cost.
• Cost increases may be 3 percent to 10 percent for Greensburg's smaller buildings, but will be more than compensated by lower utility bills.