Green Schools Initiative Green Schools and Green Buildings State and Local Policy Possibilities Mary Luévano Policy & Legislative Affairs Director Global

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Green Schools Initiative

Green Schools and Green Buildings

State and Local Policy Possibilities

Mary LuévanoPolicy & Legislative Affairs Director

Global Green USA




Global GreenGreen Building Initiatives

1994: Green Affordable Housing Initiative

2000: Local Government Green Building Program Work

2004: Green Schools Initiative

2005: Climate Solutions for Communities




•Global Green works across a continuum that includes research, technical assistance, education, advocacy, and policy development efforts.

Technical Assistance Policy/AdvocacyResearch/Outreach

Linking Practice and Policy




Crafting an Effective Policy Strategy




Drafting Your Argument

Highlighting the positive characteristics of green schools:

1. Efficient To Operate

2. Durable and Resilient

3. Healthy and Productive

4. Environmentally Responsible




Green School BenefitsReduce operating

costs

Improved Air Quality

Reduced Maintenance

Improved student performance

Increased teacher/worker retention

Direct Benefit(Individual/Org)




Green School BenefitsSupports

regional/national economic

developmentReduces Impacts of

Global Warming

Protects Endangered Species and Habitat

Indirect Benefit(National/Global)




Formulating a Strategy

• Identify key policymakers and champions• Identify what specific issues appeal to

policymakers personally• Understand the fiscal situation of the state or

school district• Identify related policy efforts to piggyback on• Identify key constituencies who will support

policy/build coalition




MandateMandate

IncentivesIncentives

Policy OptionsEducation and Technical Assistance




MandatesMandates

Green Schools Mandates

ExecutiveExecutiveOrderOrder

DistrictDistrictResolutionResolution

LawLaw




IncentivesIncentives

Green Schools Incentives

UtilityUtilityIncentiveIncentiveProgramsPrograms

SchoolSchoolConstructionConstructionBondsBonds




Education and Technical

Assistance

Education and Technical Assistance

Hiring (or Hiring (or acquiring) acquiring) a green a green school school advisoradvisor

Partnering Partnering with local, with local, state or state or federal federal agencies agencies that can that can provide provide resourcesresources

Educating key Educating key staff about staff about LEED and/or LEED and/or CHPSCHPS




What’s happening around the country?




What’s up in NY, IL, CA

• New York/NYC:

2005: Mayor Bloomberg signs law requiring city-funded capital projects to use LEED. Schools and hospitals must meet the LEED Certified level. Also required energy cost reductions.

Ilinois: 2007: the Illinois State Senate amends the School Construction Law with the governor’s approval, directing the Capital Development Board to only issue grants to school projects with LEED for Schools certification, the Green Globes rating system, meet the standards set forth by the Capital Development Board’s Green Building Advisory Committee, or comparable rating system certification.

• California:2006: voters approve statewide green schools bond for $100m), LA USD adopted green school policy in 2005/implementing now

Significant because these states contain 3 largest school districts in the country.




State and Local Policy Examples: California




• 2004: Legislation introduced (AB 736-Hancock) requiring all schools built after 2006 to meet CHPS - Vetoed (reason: want comprehensive gb policy)

• 2004: LA USD adopts motion to bring GG on as Green Schools advisor

• 2005: Legislation introduced (AB 315-Hancock) requiring all schools that receive state funding to meet CHPS - threatened w/veto/held by author (reason: DGS opposed mandate)




CA Policy`AB 315 Supporters– Global Green USA (Sponsor)– Natural Resources Defense Council (Sponsor)– American Lung Association (Sponsor) – Collaborative for High Performance Schools– Urban Ecology– American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)– Planning and Conservation League– East Bay Municipal Utility District– Literacy for Environmental Justice– Sempra Energy – SMUD– American Institute of Architects – California Teachers Association– California Federation of Teachers– Association of California School Administrators– California School Boards Association– Clean Power Campaign – Sierra Club– San Diego Unified School District– San Francisco Unified School District– Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District– New Haven Unified School District– PG&E– Warner Bros.– Los Angeles Unified School District




CA Policy

2005: GG works to get $100million in state education bond (Prop. 1D) set-aside for green schools. Approved by voters in November 2005.

“The sum of one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation therefore, for grants for projects that promote sustainable resource use in public facilities, including the use of green building materials in schools. Priority shall be given to projects that provide multiple benefits, use existing public lands, serve communities with the greatest need, and facilitate joint use of public resources and investments, including schools. Not less than fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) of the funds made available by this article shall be for incentive grants for the use of sustainable building materials in public schools.”




CA Policy

Drafting the Regs:

• Two administrative bodies (OPSC, SAB)

• Challenges to CHPS criteria (outside standard, desire to focus on ghg reductions)

• Final regs approved in Fall 2007




• Los Angeles Unified School District

2/2002- direct the head of Facilities develop more resource efficient design criteria for new and renovation project, consult with CHPS

10/2003- ensure every new school incorporate CHPS from the beginning of the design process, must meet 28 points, aim for 32 points

LA Green Building Policies




LAUSD’s $19 billion schoolconstruction program

How did we get here?• Last school built in 1973• Most schools over 55 years old• Many schools on year-round program

1997- $2.4 billion, 71% approval2002- $3.35 billion local, 68% approval2004- $3.87 billion, 63% approval2005- $4 billion, 66% approval $13.62 billion

Balance from state school construction bonds




State and Local Policy Examples: Louisiana




Louisiana Schools• School Districts making significant investments

in school infrastructure

• Presents unique opportunity to incorporate green building standards into schools

• New construction• Repairs/Renovations




LRA Green Schools Criteria

• 2006: Global Green USA approached by the LRA to develop Green Schools Criteria for schools to obtain CDBG funds

• 2007: Criteria adopted by the LRA

• As drafted, green schools criteria are applicable to both repair/renovation projects and new school builds




What is the Goal?

• All new schools built in Louisiana should incorporate green building/green design standards

• All renovated/repaired schools should incorporate green building/green design standards




Questions for high performance schools

• Mandatory or Voluntary• Self-Certification or Third-Party• Green Criteria in Bond Language?• High Performance Modernization• Linking Construction & Maintenance Budgets• Remember-- it’s about the kids




Green Seed Schools

• $75k worth of EE and IAQ Audits

• 5 Schools Total in Orleans Parish

• Completed: AP Tureaud, International School

• In progress: MLK Elementary




Green Seed Schools

Energy/Cost Savings

• AP Tureaud - saving $26,588/year (36% improvement)

• International School - saving $21,781/year (34% improvement)




Municipal Green Building Policy




Green Building Policy Opportunities

• States and municipalities across the country have adopted green building policies

• Momentum is there, global warming is major concern




Examples

Austin, Texas

First in the country, 1991 Created residential rating tool

Now program encompasses residential, multi-family, commercial, and municipal construction

Includes:Green Building GuidelinesEducational materialsRating systemsMarketing plan to create consumer demandTechnical expertise




Examples (cont)

Los Angeles, CAProgram adopted in April 2008

3 Main Components:Green Building Team: hold public meetings, resolve technical issuesStandard of Sustainability: Establishes a requirement for non-residential and high-

residential (above 6 stories) projects at or above 50,000 square feet of floor area, or low-rise residential (six stories or less) of 50 or more dwelling units and 50,000 square feet of floor area, or the alteration or rehabilitation of at least 50,000 square feet of floor area or 50 or more dwelling units for which construction costs exceed a valuation of 50% of the replacement cost of the existing building

Standard of Sustainable Excellence: Establishes an incentive program for projects that register with the USGBC’s LEED program, include a LEED AP, and can demonstrate how they will achieve LEED certification at a Silver or higher level.




State of Louisiana and City of New Orleans




City of New Orleans

• Passed Green Building Resolution (2006)

• Passed Green Schools Resolution (May 2008). Resulted in efforts to draft ordinance.




State of Louisiana•Three attempts over last several years to pass green building legislation.

•2008: Global Green sponsors legislation

•Challenges faced•Now working with Legislator/created USGBC Advocacy Committee




Municipal Green Building Programs

Municipal Green Building Programs

• Global Green began advising cities on development of Green Building Programs over 8 years ago.

• Have worked directly with:

Cities of Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Irvine, Pasadena, Santa Clarita. Energy efficiency a core part of each of these programs.

• Publication: Developing Green Building Programs: A Step-By-Step Guide for Local Governments

• Provided guidance and advice to cities nationally• In development - a model green building program guide




Green Building Programs - How to get started

• Focus on New Construction, Renovation or both?

• Focus on civic, residential or non-residential buildings?

• Identify size threshold

• Identify appropriate green building standard/what type of design verification you want to require

Need to consider the following three critical elements:

Incentives - expedited permitting? Financial incentives?

Administration - who is responsible for oversight/enforcement?

Outreach and Education -how will you market the program effectively?




Keys to Effective Policy Making

• Implementation and monitoring of policy is CRITICAL

• 3rd party verification is another critical component to developing effective green building policies.

• Financing mechanisms such as tax credit programs and bond initiatives provide great opportunity for widespread implementation of green building practices.




Final Note

Policy is important but unless it is linked to an action plan, it is not effective




Resources

Global Green creates partnerships with cities, developers and non-profit organizations to provide green building support in the form of:•Workshops•Green building guideline or program development•Policy guidance•Tools: Fact Sheets, “How-to” literature•Green Building Resource Centers - Santa Monica, Louisiana




Green Schools Report




Louisiana Developer Fact Sheets




Global Green USA Contact Information

2218 Main StreetSanta Monica, CA 90405(310) 581-2700www.globalgreen.org

Mary LuevanoPolicy & Legislative Affairs [email protected]

Documents

Green Schools Initiative Green Schools and Green Buildings State and Local Policy Possibilities Mary Luévano Policy & Legislative Affairs Director Global