Laserfiche WebLink
governments and private property owners <br />to engage in sustainable development <br />practices, as well as assisting in education <br />and information efforts for the building <br />industry and the public, are the best <br />means to generate successful results. <br />These programs should focus on <br />outcomes, allowing flexibility in how to <br />best meet those outcomes in different <br />locations and situations. The League <br />opposes mandates that limit the authority <br />of cities to determine what practices will <br />best meet the needs of their communities. <br />The League supports sustainable <br />development efforts that meet the above <br />criteria, including programs proposed in <br />the following areas: <br />a) Shifting public resources, services, <br />investments, purchasing power, and <br />procurement toward more <br />economically and environmentally <br />sustainable outcomes where those <br />solutions are cost effective and <br />appropriate. <br />b) Using local land -use planning and <br />zoning to protect and enhance limited <br />natural resources, and reduce the <br />impacts of growth and development <br />on local infrastructure. <br />c) Promoting efficient and renewable <br />energy sources. <br />d) Encouraging sustainable building <br />design, construction, and operation <br />strategies focused on integrated <br />design, energy efficiency, water <br />conservation, stormwater <br />management, waste reduction, <br />pollution prevention, indoor <br />environmental quality, and the use of <br />low -impact building materials and <br />products. <br />e) Supporting sustainable economic <br />development, such as brownfield <br />clean-up, on -site stormwater <br />31 <br />management, and sustainable business <br />practices and technologies. <br />f) Assisting and recognizing local <br />governments that take actions to <br />reduce greenhouse gas emissions and <br />increase energy efficiency by <br />providing and identifying technical <br />assistance, financial assistance, and <br />best practices. <br />SD-28. Advanced Energy Building <br />Standards <br />Issue: The State of Minnesota has made a <br />strong statutory commitment to the <br />reduction of carbon emissions and <br />greenhouse gases. As part of that effort, <br />projects funded by the state must meet a set <br />of energy requirements called Sustainable <br />Building 2030, or SB 2030. However, to <br />meet state energy efficiency goals, <br />improvements in energy performance of <br />buildings not financed by the state will also <br />be needed. <br />The State Building Code sets the standards <br />that must be met in new or substantially <br />retrofitted structures and prohibits local <br />requirements that differ from that code. The <br />current state schedule for the amendment <br />and adoption of more stringent building and <br />energy codes is not adequate to result in the <br />state meeting those goals. <br />Cities working on improving the energy <br />performance of development within their <br />communities have identified a clear <br />opportunity to establish cost-effective <br />energy -efficiency performance standards for <br />new and substantially reconstructed <br />commercial, industrial, and institutional <br />buildings that can significantly reduce <br />carbon dioxide emissions by lowering <br />energy use in those structures. <br />The solution that has been proposed, <br />referred to as an advanced energy building <br />