City of St. Paul adopts green building policy

December 19, 2009

by Brian Johnson Staff Writer 

The city of St. Paul is moving ahead with green building requirements for new construction projects that receive at least $200,000 in city funding.  

Under the city’s sustainable building policy, approved Wednesday by the city, building projects that receive $200,000 or more in city loans, grants or “other funding vehicles” must meet green building standards as defined by a rating system such as LEED.  

St. Paul officials say the city is the first in the state to adopt such a policy. 

An advisory group of “architects, designers, contractors, developers, bankers, and regulatory agencies, as well as city staff and other industry representatives,” worked for more than two years to develop the policy, the city noted.  

Under the new policy, developers can take their pick of seven rating systems to satisfy the requirements. A partial list of approved rating systems includes LEED Silver or Green Globes 2 for commercial projects or LEED for Homes or Minnesota GreenStar for residential construction.  

Specific policy requirements include meeting Minnesota Sustainable Building 2030 energy standards for new buildings, beating EPA standards for potable water use by at least 30 percent, and using 50 percent less water for landscaping compared to a traditionally irrigated site. 

In addition, at least 75 percent of the construction waste, including demolition materials, must be recycled “or otherwise diverted from landfills.” Other requirements apply to things such as indoor air quality and stormwater management. 

Parking structures and parking lots and “any addition to an existing building that includes a new HVAC system” are not subject to the requirements, according to the city.  

The city says it will provide a “sustainability facilitator” to help guide developers through the process. 

One objective behind the policy is to help the city reach its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012, in accordance with the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. 

St. Paul is home to more than 20 LEED-certified or registered buildings, the city noted, including the Western District Police Station, and a new fire department headquarters on West 7th Street. 

Organizations that helped create the policy include BOMA, BWBR Architects, Family Housing Fund, McGough Construction, Riverfront Corporation, Saint Paul Port Authority, and the University of Minnesota’s Center for Sustainable Research. 

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