Thursday, February 14, 2008

Rowlett to participate in LEEDS program for municipal buildings

By Pegasus News wire

ROWLETT — Joining other communities in North Texas and around the nation, the City of Rowlett recently passed a resolution to participate in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Standards (LEEDS) program for municipal buildings and has adopted a Residential Green Building Program that has, as a component, the EnergyStarTM program in an effort to improve the environment, conserve energy, and set an example for the community.

The LEEDS program green building rating system is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high performance, sustainable buildings. LEEDS provides building owners and operators with the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance.

“The LEEDS certification will evidence the City's commitment to the improvement of the environment and energy conservation and will set an example for the community,” said Councilman Steve Maggiotto, who spearheaded certification effort. “This program provides a more sustainable, more economical and a more environmentally responsible community.”

Councilman Maggiotto first presented the idea of these programs at a joint meeting of the City Council and the Planning & Zoning Commission in October with emphasis on becoming a part of the regional solution by positioning city facilities to meet the environmental challenges of today. These include operational cost reductions, reducing resource consumption and lowering the cost of ownership. The LEEDS Program also focuses on energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor air quality, and waste recycling.

The City's new Residential Green Building Program, EnergyStarTM, is designed to ensure a higher quality of life for its citizens in the areas of waste reduction, pollution reduction, water conservation, energy conservation, and sustainable development.

“The Council as a whole supported Mr. Maggiotto in this effort to implement programs that make us a part of the regional and nation effort to become more environmentally active,” said Mayor John Harper. “We have determined that it will be advantageous and beneficial to our citizens to have this program to promote energy conservation, water conservation and reduction of pollution for generations to come.”

This program also sets the minimum standards for energy efficiency, conservation of water, indoor air quality, and waste recycling for single-family residential buildings. By implementing this program, citizens will experience:

• Energy Efficient Mortgages

• Lower monthly utility costs

• Stable mortgage payments (even though energy costs are rising)

• Mortgage interest is tax deductible (utility costs are not)

• Higher resale value

“By making the standards of this program mandatory, we hope to give future generations the legacy of environmental sensitivity, functionally efficient homes, a competitive edge in homeownership and a commitment to conservation,” Maggiotto said. “The EnergyStarTM program will also offer Rowlett homeowners improved durability and comfort in their homes, reduced maintenance costs, and a healthier indoor environment.”

Source: City of Rowlett

See more stories in:

• Environmental Issues
• Politics and Government > City Government > Rowlett

Comments

Andrew Laska Verified

Uh, its LEED; not LEEDS.

Leeds is a city in England. I wonder if its written into their ordinance incorrectly?

Andrew

9 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Teresa Gubbins Staff

thank you andrew, good eye as usual, the Ss have been struck. should i mention that the "its" in your comment needs an apostrophe? haha. teasing you. zing!

i'm going to ask the rowlett PIO your very question, and see whether it's just that she recently took her first trip to the UK or is the entire city of rowlett now mistakenly LEEDS-y instead of LEED-y

9 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Andrew Laska Verified

hehe. Its... It's

To-may-to... To-mah-to...

Andrew

9 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )