Talk:San Diego, CA Sustainable Building Policy

Background:

Existing buildings and the building development industry consume nearly half of the total energy used in the United States. The City of San Diego’s commitment to become increasingly efficient with resources, including energy, water, and materials associated with construction projects, is demonstrated in Council Policy 900-14 “Green Building Policy” adopted in 1997, Council Policy 900-16 “Community Energy Partnership,” adopted in 2000, and the updated Council Policy 900-14 “Sustainable Buildings Expedite Program” adopted in 2001.

On April 16, 2002, the Mayor and City Council adopted CMR-049 which requires City projects to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED silver standard for all new buildings and major renovations over 5,000 square feet. This places San Diego among the most progressive cities in the nation in terms of sustainable building policies.

As a participant in the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Cities for Climate Protection Program, as a Charter member in the California Climate Action Registry and as an active member of the U.S. Green Building Council, the City of San Diego is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by implementing more sustainable practices, including green building technologies.