Item C: Resolution Adopting Sustainable Buildings Policy

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would have a project budget of nearly ten times that of a 5,000 square foot building and could more readily absorb the costs associated with LEED certification. Building renovation projects should use LEED-NC as a guide. The ability of a renovation project to incorporate sustainable features, even a large scale renovation, can be significantly dependent on the character of the existing building. Each renovation project is a unique situation, and should be evaluated for certification on a case-by-case basis, as the feasibility of incorporating sustainable features within the context of the existing building will vary widely from project to project. Likewise, certification of existing buildings under LEED-EB is desirable and will be evaluated on a case- by-case basis. In terms of the City’s existing building inventory, the primary goal of the sustainable building policy is the overall improvement of the performance of buildings, and secondarily the certification of individual buildings where practicable. Another policy question is what level of certification should be required. LEED has four levels of certifi- cation – Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum – with increasingly stringent criteria and potential impacts on project costs. The few studies that have been done on construction projects within the US indicate that in most cases, a Silver rating can be achieved without significantly increased costs. The increased cost of achieving a Gold rating falls within the range of 0% to 10% of total project costs, with a 4% to 5% increase above a Silver rating being a reasonable expectation. The estimated additional cost of meeting LEED criteria presume that the designer is experienced in sustainable design, and that sustainable build- ing elements are incorporated at the start of the design process. The recommendation is that, for new construction, certification be at the Silver level, with a higher level of certification sought where judged economically advantageous over the life of a building and where funding can be obtained to meet any construction cost increases. For other construction and existing buildings that are to be certified, the level of certification must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to achieve the optimal environmental, social and economic benefits. Major new construction projects will typically require special budgetary action, either through dedication of existing resources, or some form of public financing. In either case, the level of LEED certification can be adopted by Council as part of the budget process. City construction tends to be non-typical of the general commercial construction industry, such as fire stations, parking garages, maintenance buildings, pools and so on. The types of design and construction features to meet LEED criteria will vary widely for these different types of buildings. Addressing the level of LEED performance during the budget process will ensure that any expected additional costs for LEED certification at higher than a Silver level will be included in the project financing. How Will the Policy Be Implemented? The Sustainable Buildings Policy will be implemented by including integrated design, life cycle assessment and commissioning as standard operating practices in the design, construction and operation of City buildings. Integrated Design provides a framework for applying the principles of sustainability to building design. Integrated design considers a building’s design, structure, and systems in a holistic manner in an effort to optimize their interaction for economic and environmental benefits. Integrated design looks beyond the traditional, linear design process and simple questions of system sizing and specification, and sees the building's design, structure, lighting, and HVAC as integral to occupant comfort, satisfaction and operat- ing performance. Effective integrated design considers and solves a variety of relevant issues simultane- ously. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluates the environmental impacts of a given product, process, or activity through all stages of its life cycle. LCA can also include life-cycle cost analysis in which the net present 4