Green Buildings
#5509: Green Buildings (2005)
Requiring publicly-funded buildings to be built using high-performance standards.
Supported by Sierra Club (3 points).
Signed into law.
This legislation, the first of its kind in the country, requires state-funded construction projects to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's Silver LEED standard (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for high performance buildings.
Buildings that meet this national standard save energy and water, use fewer natural resources, and are generally much more healthful for workers and students; and, they cost less to maintain and operate over time. Green buildings principles are already gaining favor, but this legislation will speed up that process and could play a pivotal role in transforming the building industry.
Environmental lobbyists had to defeat a floor amendment by Senator Doumit that would have made the bill virtually impossible to implement.
The environmental community also agreed to amend the bill removing any connections between the LEED standard and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood. The timber industry opposes policies that reinforce the independent FSC certification for sustainably-harvested wood. They prefer their own, industry-based certification.
Representatives Dunshee and Jarrett; Senator Poulsen.
Senator Doumit for offering the amendment we helped defeat.