| Local Policy Description: | Cambridge’s Action Plan suggests several strategies that would reduce GHG emissions in more than one sector. These strategies focus on the design of buildings, which would reduce energy demand, waste, and other GHG-producing activities.
Strategy: Reduce the Urban Heat Island Effect through Design of the Built Environment
The less incoming solar radiation buildings, streets, and other surfaces absorb, the cooler the city becomes. There are two main ways to reduce the absorption of heat: increase transpiration and shading by vegetation and increase the albedo (reflectance) of surfaces. There are many low-cost ways to make surfaces more reflective. It can be as simple as selecting light-colored asphalt shingles instead of black shingles when re-roofing a building.
Proposed Actions
Short-term
• Provide developers and property owners with information about using green roofs or high reflectance roofs on buildings and other reflectance and shading techniques.
• Provide developers and property owners with information about reflectance and shading for parking lots.
Medium and Long-term
• Provide incentives for new construction and renovations to meet LEED standards for reflectance and shading.
• Incorporate LEED standards for reflectance and shading in all City and private parking lots and in new construction and major renovations.
Strategy: Promote the Design and Construction of Green Buildings
Designing green buildings involves different approaches and techniques than does conventional design. It explicitly considers factors such as the energy efficiency of a structure and the level of air quality that will result. It requires tools such as energy modeling to support the design process. The aim of the green building approach is to construct buildings that are more durable, are sited optimally, use less energy, provide a safe and comfortable indoor environment, and conserve natural resources—in other words, to minimize the environmental footprint of our built environment. On July 1, 2001, a new energy code for commercial and high-rise residential buildings took effect in Massachusetts. The code affects the construction of new buildings and is projected to save 27 trillion BTUs of power generation. It is estimated that statewide the new code requirements will reduce annual emissions of CO2 by about 2.4 million tons, sulfur dioxide by about 14,500 tons, and nitrogen oxides by about 3,500 tons. The new code does not affect existing buildings, which outnumber new buildings, except when they undergo major renovations.
Proposed Actions
Short-term
• Provide developers, citizens, and City staff with information to assist them in applying LEED standards.
• Develop green standards for renovation of City-owned properties. Utilize the City energy management workgroup to coordinate department implementation.
Medium-term
• Strengthen zoning incentives to include LEED in project review and planned unit development (PUD) processes.
• Reuse materials from existing structures during renovation or redevelopment projects.
• Design and construct durable buildings with flexible re-use options.
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