Moving forward with efforts to become an even more environmentally sustainable city, a special “Green Ribbon” Committee has developed a proposed Green Building Policy for private development.
Green Building is an emerging practice whereby buildings are designed and built to use less energy and water; maximize use of recycled and local materials; and be more healthy and comfortable for their occupants. The proposal will soon be brought before the City Council for consideration.
The Green Building program for private development will complement the City’s existing Green Building policy, which has already produced Long Beach’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-Certified building, the new Mark Twain Library.
Another program will require that certain projects recycle or reuse at least 60% of the debris generated from new construction or demolition projects. A majority of construction debris – such as concrete, brick, wood and metal – can be reused or recycled into new building material, which saves natural resources, energy and landfill space.