Pages - BE2

BE 2: Increase adoption of high performance building construction technology, achieving 1% Net Zero households and commercial properties community wide by 2030. (Net Zero buildings are energy efficient buildings that produce as much energy on-site as they consume in a year)

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BE2-1 Establish a Net Zero / Green Building Resource Center to provide general and technical assistance about Net Zero strategies,, green materials, energy efficient appliances and equipment, lighting, renewable energy generation, and to provide information on available rebates to residents and others.

Continue to provide resources to help residents and businesses make informed decisions about renewable energy options including on-site solar, green energy purchases, and community solar. Encourage businesses and residents to participate in utility offered renewable energy purchase programs. Assemble a list of all program offerings with links to utility resources.

BE2-2 Establish a Net Zero Energy Building Guide providing building owners, renters, developers, designers, and contractors with detailed information on strategies to make new construction or significant renovation projects Net Zero Energy or Net Zero Energy ready. Include a project strategy checklist for building owners and teams to use and report sustainable strategies used.

BE2-3 Establish a program to encourage and educate residents and businesses on the benefits of Net Zero Energy and on-site solar, share best practices, providing training, technical assistance, and promote the Net Zero Energy Building and Solar-Ready Guides. Include promotion of rebates and tax credits available for energy efficiency, high performance buildings, and on-site renewable energy, particularly those included in the Inflation Reduction Act. Partner with municipalities to provide and promote educational events.

BE2-4 By 2027, analyze the need for a Net Zero Ready ordinance for new construction to be Net Zero Ready with no natural gas carbon emissions. Ordinance should be coordinated with the CEJA Stretch Code and extend beyond to focus on net zero construction and could be based off of Department of Energy ZER-H program.

BE2-5 Develop competitive Request for Proposal for effective and innovative Net Zero pilot projects. Focus on "Net zero building in every neighborhood" to establish visibility of strategies throughout the community. RFP should encourage high quality mixed use redevelopment on infill properties and existing surface parking lots along transit oriented development corridors. RFP's should focus on equity, affordability, livability, and compliance/support of the plan goals.