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EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Work Session: Sustainable Design and Construction for City Buildings Meeting Date: April 27, 2005 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Mike Penwell www. cl. eugene, or. us Contact Telephone Number: 682-5547 ISSUE STATEMENT This work session provides the council with an overview of how the Facility Management Division is using the principles of sustainability to guide the development of City of Eugene buildings. Although this work session item is informational only, the council is asked to provide input on policy issues that should be considered in the development of a sustainable building policy. A future work session will be scheduled to consider adoption of a formal Sustainable Building Policy for City-owned buildings. BACKGROUND The classic definition of"sustainable development" was developed in 1987 by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development and is still widely used today: "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Key objectives included: "reviving economic growth, but in a new form (less material and energy intensive...); meeting essential needs for jobs, food, water, energy and sanitation; conserving and enhancing the natural resource base; and merging ecological and economic considerations in decision making." On February 28, 2000, the Eugene City Council adopted Council Resolution No. 4618 providing a definition and statement of intent regarding the application of sustainability principles to the City of Eugene. In adopting the resolution, the council committed City elected officials and City staff to upholding the following principles in carrying out their duties: 1. The concept of sustainability guides city policy and actions. 2. The City will lead by example. 3. The quality of the environment and the health of the economy are interdependent. 4. Community awareness and education are fundamentally important to successful implementation of sustainability policies and programs. 5. Local actions have regional, national and global implications. Buildings--both through their construction and operation--contribute directly and indirectly to most of the world's environmental problems. Under traditional development practices, buildings consume a tremendous amount of resources and generate an enormous amount of waste. The industrial processes used to manufacture building materials and equipment contribute to waste and pollution as well. According to the Worldwatch Institute, buildings in the United States use 17 percent of the total freshwater flows and 25 percent of harvested wood; they are responsible for 50 percent of CFC production, use 40 percent of the total energy flows, generate 33 percent of CO2 emissions, and generate 40 percent of landfill material as a result of construction waste. L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M050427\S050427B.doc