San Rafael leading effort to unify green-building standards countywide

Known as the Marin Green Building, Energy Retrofit and Solar Transformation Collaborative, or BERST, the effort among Marin's 11 cities and the county aims to unify green building standards for both new construction and remodeling, assist in energy-efficient retrofitting and promote solar programs.

The group also hopes to help foster hundreds of new green jobs and come up with ways to offer attractive financing to create incentives for building upgrades and renewable energy installations.

The group plans to unveil a model green-building ordinance by September and an energy-efficiency retrofit program by the end of the year.

"We're sort of the first out of the pack in terms of having our climate change action plan done. I can sort of condense a year's worth of public process and analysis in a couple of key findings," said Bob Brown, San Rafael community development director.

Because two-thirds of the city's greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation -- an area over which the city has little control -- Brown said the focus falls on the remaining one-third: energy use, water use and buildings.

"That is an area local government can have control," he said.

"New construction and additions, that's the easy area, we do have green-building standards," Brown said. "How to transform existing buildings? The only way

to tackle that issue is at a countywide level."

"It is kind of simpler for elected leaders and planners and building officials," said Richard Schorske, climate action director for the Marin Climate and Energy Partnership, part of the countywide Marin General Services Authority.

"If we all get on the same page it gives everyone a way to share in the political bravery that might be involved in ratcheting up standards," he said. "We're not expecting or seeking perfect uniformity. The more we can move in that direction, the better for all the stakeholders."

Builders love the idea of unified standards, said Klif Knoles, general manager of the Marin Builders Association.

"We are very supportive of having one uniform green-building ordinance," he said. "We're actively pursuing that angle as an association."

"It's been a personal goal of mine for several years," said Jeff Jungsten, Marin Builders Association board chairman. "What we're trying to do is set a simple clear vocabulary that is consistent countywide."

Green building ordinances exist in Novato, San Rafael, Mill Valley, Larkspur, Tiburon and at the county. Organizers hope that those with laws already on the books will consider modifying existing ordinances to make them more consistent.

David Weinsoff, Fairfax mayor and co-chairman of the collaborative, said cities and towns still would have flexibility to adjust ordinances as they see fit.

"It provides us the opportunity to stay ahead of the curve on emerging areas of environmental and construction issues and provides uniformity for contractors and builders to ensure there is a base-level standard to which all other cities can adjust their building standards," he said. "The goal is where we can find commonality -- leaving the opportunity for local governments to tighten it up as they see fit."

Read more San Rafael stories at the IJ's San Rafael section.

Contact Jennifer Upshaw via e-mail at jupshaw@marinij.com

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