The Crisisof2008: Structural Lessons for and from Economics*

Sustainable Design and
Green Building Toolkit
F O R L O C A L G O V E R N M E N T S
EPA 904B10001 | June 2010Disclaimer
Te Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments (Toolkit) is not intended to provide
guidance on local government codes/ordinances. Te information here, however, can help communities evaluate
their existing codes/ordinances and apply the information to create more environmentally, economically, and socially
sustainable communities. Te U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cannot attest to the accuracy of non-
EPA Web sites provided in the Toolkit. Providing references to non-EPA Web sites, companies, services, or products
does not constitute an endorsement by EPA or any of its employees of the sponsors of the site or the information or
products presented. Furthermore, EPA does not accept any responsibility for the opinions, ideas, data, or products
presented at non-EPA Web sites, or guarantee the validity of the information provided.
Cover credits: Top row of photos courtesy of Loren Heyns with Neighborhood.org. Bottom photo courtesy of Neighborhood.org.
Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments i Acknowledgments
Te U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is grateful for the invaluable assistance of a number of
organizations and individuals who helped develop the Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local
Governments (Toolkit).
Approximately 40 individuals contributed to the development of the Toolkit by participating in a March 2009
workshop hosted by the Southface Energy Institute in Atlanta, Overcoming Barriers to Green Permitting: Tools
for Local Governments. Te workshop was facilitated by Michael Elliott, Director of Research, Consortium on
Negotiation and Confict Resolution, Georgia Institute of Technology. A complete list of the workshop registrants can
be found in Appendix B.
We recognize the following individuals for reviewing and providing invaluable feedback on the Toolkit:
• Alice Champagne, Brad Townsend and Danelle Volpe, City of Roswell;
• Allison Dennis, EPA Green Power Partnership;
• Allan Bilka, International Code Council;
• Bob Tompson, EPA Ofce of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park;
• C hris Choi, EPA Region 5;
• Chris Edmark, Turston County Plans Examiner;
• David Eisenberg, Development Center for Appropriate Technology;
• David Price, EPA Ofce of Air and Radiation;
• Henry Slack, EPA Region 4;
• Jeremy Sigmon, U.S. Green Building Council;
• Jonathan Passe, EPA Energy Star Residential Programs;
• Liz Upchurch, Tennessee Valley Authority;
• Mary Walsh and Heather Nix, Upstate Forever;
• Michelle Britt and Mark Halverson, Pacifc Northwest National Laboratory;
• Robin Snyder and Cosimina Panetti, Building Codes Assistance Project;
• Sam Klein, MaGrann Associates;
• Stephanie Busch, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division; and
• Truett Degeare, EPA Ofce of Resource Conservation and Recovery.
Te project benefted from initial funding and support from EPA’s Ofce of Solid Waste and Emergency Response,
Innovations Work Group. Te project was led by EPA Region 4’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Division, Water Protection Division, and Ofce of Pollution Prevention and Innovation; in collaboration with
EPA Headquarters’ Ofce of Policy, Economics and Innovation. Monica Gonzalez, Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional (AP), developed the Resource Guide portion of the Toolkit.
Monica was a Georgia Institute of Technology Student Co-op and volunteered her time and green building expertise
on this project.
EPA especially thanks the following individuals for leading the development of the Toolkit:
• EPA, Region 4: Karen Bandhauer, Mary Ann Gerber, Suganthi Simon, Steve Smith
• EPA, Ofce of Policy, Economics and Innovation: Corey Bufo (now with the Department of Energy), Susan
Gitlin, Kevin Nelson, Ken Sandler, Lee Sobel
• EPA, Region 3: Lorna Rosenberg
• City of Roswell, Georgia:
• Public Works / Environmental Department – Alice Champagne, Stuart Moring, Danelle Volpe
• Community Development Department – Brad Townsend
• Monica Gonzalez, LEED AP
Tis Toolkit was prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and by ICF International (EPA Contract #
EP-W-05-025). Elizabeth Brown and Scott Ledford supported development of the Toolkit at ICF.
Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments ii Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments iii Table of Contents
Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................................... ii
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1
Overview of the Sustainable Design and
Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments ................................................................ 2
Section 1: Assessment Tool and Resource Guide ..............................................................................................2
Section 2: Creating an Action Plan ..................................................................................................................3
Who Should Use The Toolkit ........................................................................................................... 3
How The Toolkit Can Help 3
How The Assessment Tool and
Resource Guide Works ............................................................................................................................ 3
Assessment Tool ................................................................................................................................................3
Resource Guide .................................................................................................................................................5
How to Complete The Assessment Tool
and Resource Guide .................................................................................................................................. 5
How to Develop an Action Plan ..................................................................................................... 6
Section 1: Sustainable Design Permitting Assessment Tool
and Resource Guide 7
A. Sustainable Sites and Responsible Land Use Development ........................................................................8
B. Materials and Resource Conservation ......................................................................................................30
C. Energy Conservation and Atmospheric Quality ........................................................................................39
D. Water Effciency, Conservation, and Management ....................................................................................50
E. Indoor Environmental Air Quality ............................................................................................................58
F. General Green Building Resources ...........................................................................................................65
Assessment Summary ................................................................................................................................69
Section 2: Creating an Action Plan .............................................................................................70
The Action Plan Roadmap ..............................................................................................................................70
Appendix A: How The Toolkit Was Created..............................................................................80
Appendix B: Registrants List – Overcoming Barriers to Green Permitting
Workshop ......................................................................................................................................................82
Appendix C: List of Abbreviations and Acronyms ...............................................................83
Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments iv Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments v Introduction
Te process of designing, developing, and inhabiting
the built environment has a profound infuence on a
community’s economy, environment, and quality of life. In
Sustainable design includes considering not just how buildings the United States, buildings account for approximately 40
percent of total energy consumption and carbon dioxide and the surrounding site are constructed, but also where they are
emissions, 13 percent of water use, and 160 million tons constructed. EPA has many resources for local governments and the
per year of construction and demolition (C&D) debris.
real estate industry on smart growth: compact, walkable, mixed-use Buildings also contain indoor air that can be 100 times
1 development that takes advantage of existing infrastructure and more polluted than outside air. Additionally, unsustainable
building practices can have unintended social and protects critical natural lands. For more information on smart growth
economic consequences including brownfelds, sprawl, and its many environmental, economic, and social benefts, see:
degraded local air quality, loss of farmland and open space,