Builders would be offered incentives of fee reductions from 5 percent to 15 percent to incorporate reduction of energy and water consumption; improved indoor quality; and renewable resources into their buildings under the voluntary ordinance unanimously accepted by the council, The Burbank Leader reported.
Councilman Dave Golonski called the Green Building and Sustainable Architecture program a good first step to having environmentally friendly construction in the city.
Under the ordinance, builders, contractors and architects are encouraged to meet standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council, an organization that advocates environmentally responsible buildings with its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, rating system.
The Burbank Unified School District and the city are currently working on a project that has already been certified under the LEED rating system.
A 17,000-square-foot combination recreation center and day school to be built in Ovrom Park has been designed to improve indoor air quality, reduce emissions and allow for storage of recyclables.
The building is scheduled to be completed in May 2006.
The portion of the ordinance dealing with construction and demolition debris was developed by the public works department and building division to address reducing the amount of debris taken to landfills.
The ordinance requires a waste management plan be submitted for a building permit to be issued, and that permit and plan review fees be reduced for participating.
