Little Rock, AR Sustainable Practices for City-Owned Buildings

Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted on 4/19/05

Source File: http://web.littlerock.state.ar.us/weblink7/DocView.aspx?id=1358

Text:

RESOLUTION NO. 11,978
A RESOLUTION PROMOTING THE CONSERVATION OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF CITY-OWNED BUILDINGS AND PROPERTIES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, buildings consume 37% of the total energy, 68% of the electricity and 12% of the potable water used in the United States, and

WHEREAS, overall construction of buildings and related infrastructure consumes 60% of all raw materials used in the United States and produces 40% of the non-industrial waste stream in the United States, and

WHEREAS, the planning, design, construction and operation of Little Rock's city-owned buildings and facilities and leaseholds should have a significant positive effect on Little Rock's air quality, water quality, and quality of life, while contributing to the environmental and economic sustainability of our City, and

WHEREAS, Little Rock should take a leadership role by promoting resource- efficient design and operations of City buildings and facilities to increase efficiency, save financial resources and reduce negative outdoor and indoor environmental impact of demolition, design, construction and operations of buildings, and

WHEREAS, Little Rock's design and building decisions impact the prudent use of energy and water supplies; the health and productivity of its employees; transportation choices of employees and residents; and the rate at which the City's landfill capacity is depleted, and

WHEREAS, it is anticipated that utilizing sustainable design practices will significantly reduce operations and maintenance costs and decrease the negative impact of buildings on the environment and occupant health, and

WHEREAS, The U.s. Green Building Council has emerged as the leading standard for designing, constructing, operating and certifying the world's most sustainable buildings through LEED, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Program of the U.s. Green Building Council.

NOW, THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:

Section 1: Effective January 1, 2006, the City of Little Rock shall adopt the U.s. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for new construction (LEED-NC) rating system for new or replacement city-owned facilities and major renovations; the city may choose to use another nationally recognized rating system.

Section 2: Effective January 1, 2006, the City of Little Rock shall adopt, wherever possible, the LEED for Existing Buildings rating system (LEED-EB) for the operations of existing city-owned facilities; the city may choose to use another nationally recognized rating system.

Section 3: The City of Little Rock shall encourage owners of facilities leased to the City of Little Rock to implement the LEED-NC and LEED-EB criteria as a part of new and renewed lease negotiations; the city may choose to use another nationally recognized rating system.

Section 4: The City Manager shall appoint a "green team" to formulate a strategy to implement the City's Sustainability program. A component of this strategy will be an assessment of existing conditions and a method to promote and educate the organization and the community on the benefits of sustainability.

Section 5: The City Manager shall identify a currently funded City project for a sustainability pilot program. The City shall complete a "life cycle cost analysis" on the project and present its findings to the community and City Board.