Green Building Program
Background
Most builders already recognized the economic benefits of building green. On May 22, 2008, the Capitola City Council adopted a Green Building Ordinance, amending Title 17, Zoning, to add Chapter 17.10. The ordinance took effect July 1, 2008. The environmental benefits of a Green Building Program can be tremendous:
- Uses decreased resources
- Decreases harmful environmental effects
- Increases physical health
- Protects ecosystem biodiversity
- Increases air and water quality
- Decreases solid waste
- Builds on existing community and environmental efforts such as recycling materials and reducing landfills
The Ordinance
The new ordinance provides a consistent, unified code that will benefit architects, designers, contractors, and others involved in our local building trades. The Green Building Program also promises to decrease strain on our infrastructure:
- Points are awarded for a variety of green building practices, such as designing water-efficient landscapes, using recycled materials, installing dual flush toilets, and incorporating passive solar heating. The following documents are available to determine how to acquire points and to ensure compliance of projects:
- To obtain a building permit, each project must include elements from the program checklist equal to or exceeding a specified number of points based on whether it is a non-residential [commercial] or residential building.
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Persons constructing a new building, adding or substantially remodeling a building in the City of Capitola shall participate in the Capitola Green Building Program
- City of Capitola: Standards for Green Building Compliance
- New Home Green Points Check List for Residential Buildings
- New Building Green Points Check List for Non-Residential Buildings
What you can do
- Participate in the Green Building Program
- Attend Commission on the Environment meetings
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Help on Commission subcommittees by working toward positive environmental action in our collective community
