A 'green' light for condos, office towers
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Ryan Frank
The Oregonian
Commissioner Dan Saltzman is back coloring the city green again.
The former engineer is out with an idea to require all major private construction projects -- read condos and office towers -- to be Earth-friendly.
Developers would have to get certified for green features, such as solar power or recycled rainwater in the johns, through the U.S. Green Building Council to the silver level. Already, all city-funded projects must meet gold standards, and ones funded through the Portland Development Commission must get silver. The new rule would affect privately funded projects. If the council agrees to it, the new codes would go into effect in 2010 or so.
The change is part of a $1.5 million sustainable industries project Saltzman is pushing for the next budget year. As part of the work, Saltzman plans a blue-ribbon, er, a green-ribbon task force. The environment, along with children, is one of Saltzman's core issues. This project comes as the council pushes sustainable businesses and biofuels to the top of economic-development targets.
After handing over a copy of the plan, Brendan Finn, Saltzman's new chief of staff, said: "And that's printed on the front and back . . ." before Saltzman picked up with ". . . because that's how we do things around here."
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/o...200.xml&coll=7
Threaded Mode