“Everyone has a role to play in reducing our carbon footprint,” said Supervisor Barbara Kondylis.  “The Voluntary Green Builder Program lays out a framework to make a difference here in Solano County.”

The Board of Supervisors gave tentative approval to the Voluntary Green Builder Program for residential building and changes to the associated County ordinance at its Board meeting on June 10.   A second reading of the ordinance will be on June 24, with the ordinance taking effect 30 days later.

Solano County, along with other governmental agencies, is required to develop and implement programs that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with guidelines established in recent legislation (AB 32 and SB97).  The adopted ordinance will help the County meet the proposed goals outlined in the 2008 County General Plan that the Board of Supervisors will review in July.

The Voluntary Green Builder Program exceeds the existing State energy efficiency standards by at least 15 percent.  Building officials estimate, according to the tenets of the California Green Builder program, the potential exists to exceed 20 percent energy efficiency.

Under the voluntary program, builders are encouraged to:

 • Divert at least 50 percent of construction and deconstruction debris from landfills

 • Orient the building to reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer

 • Use water conservation methods for landscaping and household use

 • Install energy-efficient lighting, household appliances, and heating and air conditioning systems

 • Use certified sustainable wood products and high-recycled-content products

 • Use of construction materials that do not emit toxic chemicals

 • Install technology to allow supplemental energy production, such as solar and wind

 • Allow third-party certification of their compliance to the program

“Many opportunities for ‘green’ alternatives in building and landscaping are built into this program, so participants will be able to make a significant impact on the County’s environment,” said David Cliché, Solano County Building Official.

As an incentive to participate in the program, residential builders will receive expedited plan review at no additional cost. The expeditious process reduces the review and approval time by half.

Costs associated with participating in the program are paid by the builder and property owner.  Commercial builders are also encouraged to “build green,” but they would fall under national guidelines.

Solano County, as a member of the Napa-Solano Chapter of the International Code Council, has taken the lead in this area by crafting the ordinance.  The Chapter will present the County adopted ordinance to its members for their elected bodies to emulate.  Other Chapter members include Napa County and the cities of Rio Vista, Vallejo, Fairfield, Vacaville, Dixon and Napa.

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