Becoming an environmentally friendly city takes time and
patience, but Brian Parker and his team of experts want to help
local developers build greener for a small fee.
Becoming an environmentally friendly city takes time and patience, but Brian Parker and his team of experts want to help local developers build greener for a small fee.
Parker is the government relations manager for Build It Green, a nonprofit organization financed primarily by the California Public Utilities Commission, private sponsors such as Wells Fargo and participating cities.
BIG is the “credible yet accessible point of entry” for cities that yearn to be green, Parker told the city council and planning commission at a joint study session Monday night.
The nonprofit essentially consults with cities and builders on residential projects, encouraging incentives for green builders and giving both parties a “road map” to follow when developing single- and multi-family units.
Armed with seven years of research, a detailed compendium of green terms and a sleek Powerpoint presentation, Parker told city officials that his team can guide builders and train city staff in the ways of the future: conservationist construction.
The city could go it alone with its own green construction program and various ordinances, but BIG’s expertise ensures that Gilroy would become a city that surpasses environmental requirements, Parker told the assembled officials.
Fair enough, Mayor Al Pinheiro said after Parker’s hour-long pitch, but wanted to see what are other cities are doing.
“We need to learn what nearby cities are doing, like Morgan Hill, and then proceed from there,” said Pinheiro, adding that he still thought it was important for city staff to learn about green construction to better help local builders.
City Administrator Jay Baksa and Councilman Peter Arellano agreed and said educating city planners and engineers at periodic BIG training seminars should be a priority. The next one is in Oakland Dec. 14 and 15.
Environmental Programs Coordinator Lisa Jensema hosted Parker at Monday night’s joint study session. She told the council that no nearby cities employ BIG.
But a bit farther away, Santa Cruz requires residential developers to hire BIG consultants like any other contractor or engineer. The city of Santa Rosa promotes BIG as a voluntary program. The city of Rohnert Park requires residential projects be BIG certified. Cities throughout Marin County are establishing programs with BIG, and San Francisco is phasing it in, as well.
Parker credited the rise in municipal interest to issues such as global warming, yes, but more practically, he said “a lot of builders are looking to see how they can differentiate themselves and sell for value” in a dismal housing market.
The more efficient a home, the higher its “green point,” Parker said.
BIG housing experts – who have industry experience as contractors or engineers – assign a green point to a developer’s multi-family housing project, for example, and then work with that builder and the city to achieve BIG standards that create more attractive homes for conscientious buyers, Parker said.
Because these homes would conserve resources compared to their regularly constructed counterparts, BIG urges cities to lower fees for certified projects. This saves developers money that they could use to offset the cost of hiring a BIG consultant for their project.
The nonprofit charges about $600 to review one single-family home and up to $4,250 for a 30-unit apartment building, according to Parker.
