05-15-07 Item 2dSouth Miami
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CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI I 1 ®'
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
INTER - OFFICE MEMORANDUM 2001
To: The Honorable Mayor Feliu and Members of the City Commission
Via: Yvonne S. McKinley, City Manage
From: Julian Perez, Planning Direct
Date: April 17, 2007
Subject:
ITEM No.
A REPORT TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION ON THE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS
"GREENHOUSE -GAS EMISSIONS EFFECT (GLOBAL WARMING)" THROUGH THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL AND LOCAL INITIATIVES;
APPLICATION OF GREEN DESIGN STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION FOR
COMMENRCIAL BUILDINGS; LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY EFFICIENT DESIGN (LEED)
CERTIFICATION IN FLORIDA; AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
The intent of this report is to brief the Mayor and City Commissioners on current efforts by the public,
institutional and private sectors to address the "Greenhouse -Gas Emissions Effect (Global Warming)"
through "Green Design." The first several sections of the report provide a brief discussion of the
international and national efforts to address global warming. The remaining sections focus on the state
and local policies and programs addressing global warming, and a brief explanation of the LEED
certification process.
A. International Initiatives. Since the 1980s the United Nations has sponsored several international
conferences to address the reduction of greenhouse -gas emissions. One of the most prominent
conferences was United Nations Conference on Environment and Development ( UNCED), informally
known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. As a result of this conference, the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), an international environmental
treaty was produced. The intent of this treaty was to reduce emissions of greenhouse gas in order to
minimize the impacts of global warming. This treaty was originally structured did not require mandatory
limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual nations and contained no enforcement. Despite the
lack of mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions and enforcement, the treaty was adopted on
March 21, 2004. Eventually, this treaty was considered legally non - bidding.
The UNCED conference was followed by the Kyoto Protocol (1997). The Kyoto Protocol called for
mandatory emission limitations in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions among the signatory
nations. As of December 2006, a total of "169 countries and other governmental entities" have ratified
the protocol. The most noticeable exception has been the United States and Australia. (Note: China
and India who have rectified the protocol are not required to reduce carbon emissions under the present
agreement.) The Bush administration has outlined three concerns for not ratifying the protocol: (1) the
main developing countries need to adhere by the requirements as stated in the present agreement; (2)
existing uncertainties regarding climate change and its impact on society; and (3) preference for
voluntarism over enforceable regulations.
In the past two years, the Kyoto protocol's clean development mechanism, which encourages investment
in development projects that reduce "greenhouse gas emissions" has resulted in more than 500 projects
in more than 40 developing countries. The impact of this effort is expected to reduce emission discharge
by 1.8 billion tons of CO2 from 2005 through 2012. In addition, more than 1,900 companies worldwide
are now filing sustainability reports, according to the Global Reporting Initiative.
B. National Initiatives (United States Efforts). In the United States, the overall emissions of carbon
dioxide rose by 18 percent from 1990 and 2004' (study period), with Texas and Nevada leading the way.
The state of Texas carbon emissions grew by 95.8 million metric tons during the study period,
considered the largest increase of any state, followed by Florida, Illinois, North Carolina and Georgia.
During the study period, carbon emission in the power generation and transportation industry grew by 28
percent and 23 percent, respectively. The State of Florida reported the highest increase in vehicle miles
traveled (79 percent) during the study period. If we continue on this path and action is not taken by the
public and private sectors, global warming pollution in those states generating a significant percentage of
the carbon emission will increase significantly. This means that a significant percentage of state and
municipal budgets will have to be used to address water shortage; flooding in coastal areas;
displacement of people; loss productivity; damage to major infrastructure; and loss of environmentally
sensitive lands and species. These are only a few of the problems that will have to be confronted by
policymakers, elected officials and residents as a result of global warming pollution.
Despite the lack of support for the Kyoto Protocols and increases in overall emissions of carbon dioxide,
the U.S. government and private industries are investing millions of dollars annually to promote
alternative energy research and development (clean technology); government sponsored water
conservation research; financial and regulatory incentives to promote the development of energy efficient
technology; and public education campaign to promote awareness and acceptance of energy efficiency
products.
C. Local Initiatives (Florida Efforts). Until recently the State of Florida has lagged behind California,
Texas and other major states in addressing the "greenhouse gas emission impacts; carbon caps or offset
requirements for power plants; climate action plans; regional climate initiatives; greenhouse -gas
reporting and registries; and state green - building standards. ,2 However, since the election of Governor
Crist, the state is taking a more proactive approach to address this issue. In his first budget (Fiscal year
2007 - 2008), Governor Crist is proposing $68 million in grants, rebates, and tax incentives to encourage
Floridians to save energy. There are also provisions in the budget for promoting development of
alternative fuels and other energy resources, and development of infrastructure needed to manufacture
and deliver renewal energy resources. The incentives proposed by the Governor in this budget include
$40 million in non - recurring General Revenue to create a new "Alternative Energy Incentive Fund" to
promote alternative energy research innovation (includes development of ethanol and manufacturing,
blending, fueling and distribution facilities throughout the state of Florida). Other incentives and
programs proposed by Governor Crist are:
• Sales tax exemption and corporate income tax credits;
• Promotion of energy efficient appliances as a way to conserve energy;
• Enact legislation to establish a permanent "Energy Efficient Product Sales Tax Holiday" for
two weeks each October;
• Public education campaign to promote energy efficient uses;
• Fund the "Renewable Energy Technology Grant Program;"
• Continue funding for the Bio- energy Grant Program; and
• Continue funding for the Solar Energy Rebate Program.
In addition to Governor Crist's efforts, the legislature is considering significant actions to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. One of the legislative proposals (CS /CS /SB 996) calls for the creation of a
corporation ( "Florida Alternative Energy Development Corporation ") to promote the development of
2
alternative energy technologies. This bill also provides incentives and grants to promote research and
development of alternative and renewable energy.
D. Green Design Standard and Certification. In the United States, the discussion regarding the green
design has been less urgent in comparison to our European counterparts. In the last few years, both the
government and the private sector have taken action to ensure that policies and programs are
implemented to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. In 1998, the U.S. Green Building Council
established a building design certification program known as the Leadership Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED). The intent of this program is to establish a national standard for the design, construction
and operation of green buildings (ex. new commercial construction and major renovation projects). In
order for a building to be considered a viable candidate for LEED certification, the applicant must
successfully meet the following performance benchmarks (prerequisites rating system):
1. Sustainable sites (14 possible points for certification);
2. Water efficiency (5 possible points for certification);
3. Energy and atmosphere (17 possible points for certification);
4. Material and resources selection (13 possible points for certification);
5. Indoor environmental quality (15 possible points for certification); and
6. Innovation and design process (5 possible points for certification).
The LEED prerequisites rating system totals 69 elective points. The points are tallied and LEED awards
the building, one of their four levels of certification: basic (26 -32 points), silver (33 -38 points), gold (39 -51
points), and platinum (52 -69 points) certifications. These points may be given in several ways, for
instance, by significantly reducing construction waste or using lights that automatically turn off when
people leave or when there is adequate natural light. Points may also be obtained by the type of
material used on the building, for example, roofs that deflect sunlight or by laying down biodegradable
carpet. A LEED building may collect rainwater that may be used later to irrigate plants and trees.
E. LEED Certification Effort. In 2004, the State of Florida only had thirty (30) projects seeking LEED
certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Since December 2004, this number has risen from
thirty (30) to one - hundred and thirty -three (133) applications. In 2006, the number of projects seeking
LEED certification in South Florida grew from eight (8) to twenty -seven (27). In January of 2007, nine (9)
projects from South Florida registered with the U.S. Green Building Council to obtain LEED certification.
Although South Florida local governments are promoting "green building" it continues to lag behind in the
national green - building trend, when compared to other states. Currently, there are no LEED certified
buildings in South Florida and only 10 in the State. These buildings are:
1. Eugene M. & Christine Lynn Business Center, Deland; Owner: Stetson University
2. Rinker Hall, Gainesville; Owner: University of Florida
3.. Navy Federal Credit Union Remote Call Center, Pensacola; Owner: Navy Federal Credit Union
4. Happy Feet Plus Inc., Clearwater; Owner: Jacob Wurtz and Jane Strong
5. North Sarasota Public Library, Sarasota; Owner: Sarasota County
6. McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodeversity, Gainesville; Owner: University of Florida
7. Whole Foods Market, Sarasota; Owner: Whole Foods Market
8. Twin Lakes Park Office Complex, Sarasota; Owner: Sarasota County
9. Deer Park Bottling Plant, Lee; Owner: Nestle Waters North America
10. Powell Structures and Materials Testing Laboratory, Gainesville; Owner: University of Florida
By comparison, Texas has nine LEED buildings, in California there are more than 70 buildings that have
won LEED certifications, Seattle has 23, and the first building to go up on ground zero in New York is
LEED certified. Some of these buildings include public libraries, universities, high schools, commercial
3
buildings, and homes. Arguably, many developers and architects are adamant about "green building"
because of the increased cost. Although green building is now only marginally more expensive than
conventional construction, a LEED building comes with huge operating savings. However, it has been
found by states like California, New York, and Texas that the positive outcomes outweigh the proposed
cost.
The following summarizes a few selected programs and projects sponsored by the public, institutional
and private entities in Miami -Dade County to promote the green building concept and LEED design
principles.
Miami -Dade offers fast track permitting and tax incentives for developers that build green. The
County has also mandated that all future county government buildings (ex. future family court
building) be built "green."
City of Miami has held two forums on green building to educate and inform builders and architect
on the concept. The City will consider offering density incentives to build green. The green
building efforts are include in the Miami 21St Plan. The mayor's office has proposed several
green - related resolutions to the city commission. The mayor has established a "Green
Commission" to guide the development of the City's environmental policy. The Commission is
currently "working on the development of a comprehensive urban forestry strategy to include both
short -term and long -term tree plantings" (Office of the Mayor; Miami Green Commission. 2006).
• Union Credit Bank is the first small bank in the United States and the first lender from Florida to
sign an agreement with the United Nations to promote sustainable financial practices. The bank
has pledge to offer attractive loan rates and financing for energy efficient cars (hybrid cars), green
homes and green business.
• Bank of America has initiated a $20 billion campaign to build an "environmentally sustainable
economy." This effort provides employees with a $3000 credit toward the purchasing of a hybrid
car.
• Baptist Health South Florida (West Kendall Baptist Hospital) plans to be the first LEED certified
hospital in Miami -Dade County.
• University of Miami has made a commitment that all new construction will meet the U.S. Green
Building Council LEED certification requirements.
• Brickell Financial Center (office tower located at 600 Brickell Avenue).
• Miami Green (office condo development located at 3150 SW 38th Avenue).
• Habitat at Broadway (150 -unit hotel located at Southwest 15th Road and Second Avenue)
As mentioned, this list is only a representative sample of how the public, institutional and private entities
are applying green design methods to protect our natural resources, economic base and quality of life of
Miami -Dade County residences.
F. Staff Recommendation. The CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI has an excellent opportunity to join force
with Miami -Dade County and other municipalities as a proactive stakeholder to engage in the
development of environmental policies and programs to minimize the emissions of carbon dioxide. In the
meantime, there are series of short -term actions that the mayor and city commission should consider to
promote the green design and LEED principles in the City of South Miami.
• Creation of a local resolution to support the state of Florida legislative effort to minimize the
amount of carbon dioxide emission.
• Establishment of a local green task force to study the application of LEED certification to new or
remodeled city owned buildings; new building construction; development of a green master plan;
evaluation of local incentives to promote LEED certification; and develop language to mandate
that future commercial and residential developments are energy and water efficient.
• Coordinate with adjacent cities and regional agencies promoting programs and policies to
address the greenhouse effects.
• Support the LEED certification by promoting green design for both commercial and residential
projects.
G. Conclusions. In conclusion, by implementing "green building" the environmental, economic, and
health and community benefits are maximized. Because "green buildings" cuts energy and water use in
its buildings by at least 50 percent, many politicians and environmentalists have pushed for LEED
certifications. In addition, green design will also enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity,
improve air and water quality, reduce solid waste, and conserve natural resources. Economically it will
enhance operating costs, optimize life -cycle economic performance, enhance asset value and profits,
and improve employee productivity and satisfaction.
G. Backup Documentation.
Draft Resolution Relating to the implementation of "Green Design Initiatives."
H. Footnotes.
1. Gram, David. "U.S. carbon dioxide emissions up 18% since 1990." U.S. Today. Associated Press
Report. April 13, 2007.
2. Barnett, Cynthia. "Adapting: Can Florida become a model for how U.S. states adapt to climate
change." Florida Trend. April 2007.
1. Literature Review.
This section provides a series of articles on greenhouse and green design.
JP /JP
PAGreen Building \Green Design Memo Report 4- 9- 2007.doc
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Draft Resolution
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RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, RELATED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
GREEN DESIGN INITIATIVES TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL
RESOURCES AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS IN THE
CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI.
WHEREAS, the available scientific evidence suggest the existence of
serious and escalating threats to our environment as a result of a continuous increase
in the emission of greenhouse gas; and
WHEREAS, cities in Miami -Dade County have a unique opportunity to
provide leadership to develop sustainable communities based on environmental,
cultural and economic policies that protect our natural resources and quality of life;
and
WHEREAS, the City of South Miami is committed to being a responsive,
effective and collaborated government committed to take action to reduce emissions
of greenhouse gas in order to minimize the impacts of global warming; and
WHEREAS, the City of South Miami has demonstrated leadership on
environment issues by supporting the designation of the transit development district,
purchasing energy efficient equipment, reducing energy usage, and internalizing
green building practice; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commissioners will join other mayors
throughout Florida and the United States in support of environmental policies and
programs designed to minimize global warming and promote green design for
commercial and residential development and major renovations; and
WHEREAS, a green building shall mean one whose design, construction and
operation promote the preservation of resources and environmentally sensitive
construction practices, system and materials and be certified by the United States
Green Building Council under the building design certification program known as
Leadership Energy and Environmental Design (LEED); and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the City of South Miami to encourage and
promote environmentally sensitive design and construction within the city's
boundary;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA:
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Section 1: The City Manager is directed to prepare the following resolutions:
a. Support the state of Florida legislative effort to minimize the
amount of carbon dioxide emission.
b. Recommend the membership, duties and responsibilities of the
City of South Miami Green Task Force.
Section 2: This resolution shall take effect immediately upon approval.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM
CITY ATTORNEY
Jp/Jp
PAGreen Building \Green Building Resolution 4- 17- 2007.doc
day of 12007
APPROVED:
MAYOR
Commission Vote:
Mayor Feliu
Vice Mayor Wiscombe:
Commissioner Palmer:
Commissioner Birts- Cooper:
Commissioner Beckman:
Footnotes
?w a
1
Report: U.S. carbon dioxide emissions up 18% since 1990
By David Gram, Associated Press Writer
MONTPELIER, Vt. — Emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide rose 18% in the
USA from 1990 to 2004, with Texas and Nevada leading the way, an environmental
group reported Thursday.
Using data from the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Public Interest Research
Group analyzed carbon emissions in 48 states and rank - ordered them, finding that only
Delaware, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia cut back on those emissions.
Among the findings:
Texas' carbon emissions grew by 95.8 million metric tons during the period, the largest
increase of any state, followed by Florida, Illinois, North Carolina and Georgia.
Fast - growing Nevada ranked first for percentage growth in carbon emissions, at 55 %,
followed by Arizona (54), New Hampshire (50) and South Carolina (45).
Carbon emissions from power generation grew by 28% and by 23% in the
transportation sector, with vehicle miles traveled growing fastest in the state of Florida,
up 79% during the period.
"Global warming pollution is skyrocketing in the United States just as scientists are
sounding alarms that we must rapidly reduce pollution to protect future generations,"
said Emily Figdor, director of the Washington, D.C., -based U.S. Public Interest
Research Group. "This report is a wake -up call to cap pollution levels now before it is
too late."
The report comes on the heels of a United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change report pointing to what scientists have concluded would be the dire effects of
unchecked carbon emissions and resulting global warming.
In a supplemental report released Tuesday that focused on North America, the U.N.
panel said' cities like Chicago and Los Angeles could see heat waives much more often;
New York and Boston could be flooded by ocean storm surges and cities in the West
that use melting snow for water could face severe shortages.
s
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U.S. Public Interest Research Group is supporting legislation — U.S. Sen. Bernie
Sanders, I -Vt., is the lead sponsor in the Senate — that would cut carbon emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by
2050.
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Report: U.S. carbon dioxide emissions up 18% since 1990 - USATODAY.com Page 2 of 2
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4/14/2007
{GLOBAL WARMING
Can Florida
become a
model for
how U. S.
states adapt
to climate
change?
`45%4N
45% of Florida's electricity
needs by 2023 could be met
through improvements in
efficiency and development
of renewable energy, says
the American Council for
an Energy Efficient
1 Economy.
30 APRIL 2007 FLORIDATREND.COM
cross Europe these days, de-
bate rages over how nations
and states should prepare for a
changing climate, particularly
rising sea levels that will test
waterfront cities from Venice to Amsterdam.
Governments and insurance companies
alike have started telling residents there that
they'll have to make more drastic lifestyle
changes than just switching to efficient light
bulbs or hybrid cars. Serious questions about
whether citizens can keep building homes
on islands and near lowlands are the order of
the day.
In the U.S., the discussion has been less
urgent. Only this year have Americans begun
dropping the question mark from their con-
versations about global warming, with the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
stressing in its latest five -year report that
global warming is "unequivocal" and `very
likely" man-made. The panel, representing
600 scientists in more than 100 countries,
estimated in its February report a 3.5- to 8-
degree increase in average surface tempera-
tures, and a 7- to 23 -inch sea -level rise, by
2100. Faster - than- expected melting of ice in
Greenland and Antarctica could mean much
higher seas.
Florida, with its already -hot summers and
1,400 -mile coastline, clearly has a lot to lose in
a world of warming temperatures and rising
oceans. Early signs of global warmingin the
state include drought and increased forest
fires, eroding shorelines, dying coral reefs,
saltwater intrusion into inland freshwater
aquifers and dying trees in low -lying areas
such as Cedar Key, says Stephen Mulkey,
director of special projects at the School of
Natural Resources and the Environment at
the University of Florida and science adviser
to the Century Commission fora Sustainable
Florida, which is charged with focusing long-
term on Florida's essential interests.
According to a report to the Century
Commission by the Virginia -based Institute
By Cynthia Barnett
for Alternative Futures, Florida has lagged
as states from California to Texas to Maine
have forged policies that now include green -
house gas emission targets; carbon caps
or offset requirements for power plants;
climate -action plans; regional climate initia-
tives; greenhouse -gas reporting and regis-
tries; and state green - building standards.
Given the state's vulnerability, "it is striking
that Florida is not a leader of states respond-
ing to climate change," Mulkey says.
But whether because of political shifts
or the handwriting on the seawalls, Florida
finally appears to be taking climate change
more seriously. The Century Commission,
the Cabinet, Florida's new Energy Commis-
sion, the Senate's utility and natural resources
committees and Gov. Charlie Crist all seem to
be putting global warming on their agendas
in meaningful ways. The Natural Resources
Defense Council's Susan Glickman told the
St. Petersburg Times that between last year
and now, "it feels like 10 years have passed in
terms of level of interest and understanding."
The Legislature is considering steps this
session toward what Mulkey and other sci-
entists say is the most important first step:
Cutting the greenhouse gas emissions that
lead to global warming Proposals include
forced emissions reductions and approval
of up to $100 - million in alternative energy
funding. (Driving the discussion as much as
climate change: Curtailing Florida's depen-
dence on foreign oil)
Perhaps most interesting, the Century
Commission is pushing the idea that Florida
not only mitigate the impacts of climate
change, but become a model for how to adapt.
"We really believe this is a place where Flor-
ida can become a national leader," says Steve
Seibert, executive director of the commission.
Terry Tamminen, climate change adviser
to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger,
who met with the commission and Crist in
February, suggests Florida could lead the
way in areas such as:
E
U
T
» Demonstrating the potential for car-
bon sequestration — the idea of storing COz
long -term underground to reduce its build-
up in the atmosphere — on state -owned
lands and in saline aquifers. Scientists say
underground geologic formations could
store trillions of tons Of CO2, and some
believe this is the most promising possibil-
ity for reducing emissions. But research is
needed to make sure the carbon stays put
and doesn't cause problems underground;
Developing response plans for im-
pacts to marine ecosystems such as dying
coral reefs;
» Taking the lead role in building a
greenhouse gas trading system for the
Southeastern U.S.;
» Research and development.
Governors from five Western states
agreed last month to begin working
together to reduce greenhouse gases,
saying their region has suffered some of
the worst of global warming with recent
droughts and severe wildfires. Florida,
having suffered through droughts and
wildfires as well as severe weather that
maybe related to climate change, needs a
much greater effort to quantify and begin
mapping impacts, Mulkey says. Particu-
larly urgent: Mapping precisely how the
seas will rise. Another Century Commis-
sion project, under way among the state,
OF and Florida State University, may
be the vehicle. The project is known as
CLIP: Critical Lands /Walters Identifica-
tion Project.
"We need more data," Mulkey says, "and
we need it quickly." (0
FLORIDATREND.COM APRIL 2007 31
Literature Review
UNITED NATIONS
NATIONS UNIES
FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE - Secretariat
G!V
CONVENTION - CADRE SUR LETS CHANGEMENTS CLIMATIQUES - Secretariat
For use of the media only.
PRESS RELEASE
Kyoto's clean development mechanism can lead the way
to low- carbon future -- new CDM Executive Board chair
Bonn, 16 February 2007 — The Kyoto Protocol's clean development mechanism (CDM) is a
glimpse of the future when it comes to the global response to climate change, says Hans Jurgen
Stehr, the newly elected chair of the Executive Board that oversees the mechanism.
"The mechanism's success in stimulating investment in development projects that reduce
greenhouse gas emissions is a model for other financial and market -based initiatives," Mr. Stehr
said.
In just two years, the CDM has resulted in more than 500 registered projects in more
than 40 countries in the developing world, stimulating North —South investment and considerable
emission reductions in the process — the mechanism is expected to result in emission reductions
equivalent to 1.8 billion tonnes of CO2 to the end of 2012.
"Our task now is to refine and improve the mechanism to see that it meets its full
potential, as expected by governments," Mr. Stehr said.
At the Executive Board's twenty -ninth meeting, which just concluded in Bonn, decisions
were adopted that enhance the oversight of project: registration and implementation, to ensure
that emission reductions from CDM projects are real, measurable and verifiable.
"The CDM was quick to generate strong interest in the developing world and result in
projects on the ground. It's our challenge to spread CDM even farther afield, with more projects
covering a wider range of activities, while maintaining the high quality standard demanded of the
process," said Rajesh Kumar Sethi, who was elected vice -chair of Executive Board.
CDM project implementers earn certified emission reduction units which are bought by
countries with emission - reduction commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.
"Market -based mechanisms, like the clean development CDM, will be at the heart of any
new agreement taken by the international community to address climate change, and
negotiations on that agreement need to progress quickly," said Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary
of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in welcoming the new chair and
Mailing Address: CLIMATE CHANGE SECRETARIAT (UNFCCC), P.O. Box 260 124, D -53153 Bonn, Germany
Office Location: Haus Carstanjen, Martin - Luther - King - Strasse 8, D -53175 Bonn, Germany
Media Information Office: (49 -228) 815 -1005 Fax: (49 -228) 815 -1999
Email: press @unfccc.int Web: http: / /unfccc.int
UNFCCC /CCNUCC Page 2
G v i -NnCC ��
vice - chair. The first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol ends in 2012, which means time is
short for negotiating a new agreement, given its global scope and the complexity of the task.
Mr. de Boer acknowledged the hard work and considerable contributions of outgoing
Executive Board Chair, Jose Domingos Miguez; Christine Zumkeller, for her role as principal
architect and builder of the CDM, who is retiring from the UNFCCC secretariat; and Janos Pasztor,
acting coordinator of the Project Based Mechanisms programme at the secretariat for the past
year, who is joining the United Nations Environment Programme in Geneva.
Note to journalists:
Go to <http: / /cdm.unfccc.int /EB /Members /index.html> for a list of the CDM Executive Board
members, to <http: / /cdm.unfccc.int /Statistics /index.html> for statistics on CDM, and to
<www.cdm.unfccc.int> for complete information and documentation on CDM.
To arrange interviews, please contact Ms. Carrie Assheuer, Public Information and
Media Assistant: ( +49 -228) 815 -1005.
For further information, please contact: Mr. David Abbass, Public Information Officer, CDM
( +49 -228) 815 -1511; or Mr. John Hay, Spokesperson, UNFCCC, ( +49 -172) 258 -6944.
See also <http: / /unfccc.int >.
What Makes Greenhouse Sense?
Time to Rethink the Kyoto Protocol
Thomas C. Schelling
The Kyoto Protocol should not be a parti-
san issue. The percentage reduction of
greenhouse -gas emissions to which the .
United States committed itself by signing
the 1997 Protocol to the 1992 UN Frame-
work Convention on Climate Change
was probably unachievable when the
protocol was adopted. The protocol then
languished in Washington for the final
three years of the Clinton administration,
which chose not to present it to the Senate
for ratification. In accordance with a
Senate resolution calling for the full par-
ticipation of the main developing countries
in the protocol's emissions- cutting require-
ments, that pause was supposed to allow
time for negotiation to bring those coun-
tries on board. But nobody thought any
such negotiation could produce results, and
no negotiation was ever attempted. George
W. Bush, succeeding to the presidency
three years after the protocol's signing,
had some choices and may not have made
the best choice when he rejected the plan
outright last year. But the one option he
did not have was to submit the protocol
to the Senate for ratification.
The U.S. "commitment" to the protocol
meant cutting emissions significantly
below their 1990 level by aoio —which
required a 25 or 30 percent reduction in
projected emissions levels. Such a cut
was almost certainly infeasible when the
Clinton administration signed the protocol
in 1997. Three years later, with no action
toward reducing emissions, no evidence
of any planning on how to reduce emis-
sions, and no attempt to inform the
public or Congress about what might be
required to meet that commitment,
what might barely have been possible to
achieve over 15 years -1997 to 2012 —had
become unreasonable. The Senate will
not confirm a treaty unless it knows what
actions the "commitment" entails, and
no president could answer that question
without a year's preparation. No such
preparation appears to have been'done in
the Clinton administration. Bush, in stat-
ing that he would not submit the treaty
to the Senate, at least avoided hypocrisy.
In declining to support the Kyoto
Protocol, Bush outlined three concerns
regarding any fixture greenhouse -gas
THOMAS C. S c x E L LI N c is Distinguished University Professor of Economics
and Public Affairs at the University of Maryland.
[2]
agreement. First
countries need t(
pants, as the Ser
so far, developin
clear they have r.
Second, he cited
about the likely
and its impact o
expressed a prefe
over enforceable
he did not makc
"voluntarism" re
international co
A FAIR DEAL?
There is no likel
Indonesia, Brazi
participate in am
for the next few
their best to mA
serves no purpo;
Although their s
allege that rich c
worried about cli
nations have the:
change. They arc
on agriculture an
much more fron
strained by pove
backwardness, t]
climate change i
for developing o
global warming,
economic growtl
There are and
in those countrie
efficiencies that i
carbon dioxide ei
public health; Cl
easily reduce its c
any major reducti
dioxide emissions
will have to be at
°nse?
t" to the protocol
significantly
2olo —which
t reduction in
s. Such a cut
Isible when the
ned the protocol
with no action
Ls, no evidence
reduce emis-
inform the
what might be
nmitment,
een possible to
17 to 2o12 —had
.e Senate will
s it knows what
" entails, and
r that question
in. No such
ve been done in
n. Bush, in stat-
mit the treaty
0ed hypocrisy.
the Kyoto
tree concerns
ihouse -gas
Economics
What Makes Greenhouse Sense?
agreement. First, the main developing
countries need to adhere as full partici-
pants, as the Senate had earlier resolved;
so far, developing countries have made
clear they have no intention of doing so.
Second, he cited the immense uncertainty
about the likely extent of climate change
and its impact on society. Third, he
expressed a preference for "voluntarism"
over enforceable regulation, even though
he did not make clear whether his
"voluntarism" referred to domestic or
international commitments.
A FAIR DEAL?
There is no likelihood that China, India,
Indonesia, Brazil, or Nigeria will fully
participate in any greenhouse -gas regime
for the next few decades. They have done
their best to make that point clear, and it
serves no purpose to disbelieve them.
Although their spokespersons regularly
allege that rich countries are the most
worried about climate change, developing
nations have the most to lose from climate
change. They are much more dependent
on agriculture and will therefore suffer
much more from global warming. Con -
strained by poverty and technological
backwardness, their ability to adapt to
climate change is limited. The best way
for developing countries to mitigate
global warming, therefore, is through
economic growth.
There are undoubtedly opportunities
in those countries for improved energy
efficiencies that may simultaneously cut
carbon dioxide emissions and improve "
public health; China, for example, could
easily reduce its dependence on coal. But
any major reductions in worldwide carbon
dioxide emissions over the next few decades
will have to be at the expense of the rich
countries. Calling for the immediate
participation of the big developing
nations is futile. Once the developed
countries have demonstrated that they
can cooperate in reducing greenhouse
gases, they can undertake arrangements
to include developing countries in a
greenhouse -gas regime, aiding them
with economic incentives.
THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE
As Bush has emphasized, there. are many
uncertainties in the greenhouse -gas debate.
But what is least uncertain is that climate
change is real and likely to be serious. In
any case, residual ambiguity about this
question should not delay essential research
and development in nonfossil energy
sources, energy conservation, and policies
to exploit the most cost - effective ways to
reduce emissions.
A huge uncertainty that will make
any lasting regime impossible for many
decades to come, however, is how much
carbon dioxide can safely be emitted over
the coming century. A reading of the evi-
dence— including climate sensitivity,
regional climate changes, likely severity
of impact, and the effectiveness of
adaptation — suggests that the highest
ceiling for carbon dioxide concentration,
beyond which damage would be unac-
ceptable, is probably between 600 and
1,200 parts per million. (It is currently
about 370 ppm.) Further uncertainty exists
about how much carbon dioxide can be
absorbed into various natural sinks —
oceans and forests —or sequestered
underground or deep in the ocean. Thus
any estimate of the level at which total
carbon dioxide emissions worldwide over
the coming hundred years should be
capped is wide - ranging, falling between
FOREIGN AFFAIRS•May/June2ow [3]
Thomas C. Schelling
Soo billion tons and z trillion tons.
(Worldwide emissions are currently
approaching 7 billion tons, half of which
stays in the atmosphere.) In any event,
what is ultimately unacceptable depends
on the costs of moderating emissions,
and these costs are also uncertain.
As a result, any "rationing scheme"
would necessarily be subject to repeated
revision and renegotiation. It is note-
worthy that the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change the international
body, comprising more than a thousand
scientists from scores of countries, that
is the acknowledged (if controversial)
authority on the subject —has never pro-
posed what concentration of greenhouse
gases would constitute unacceptable
damage. Nor has any other representative
body yet dared to .hazard an estimate.
IN THE LONG RUN
The Kyoto Protocol had a short -term
focus. It assumed correctly that developed
countries could achieve significant
reductions in emissions fairly promptly.
As the National Academy of Sciences
emphasized ten years ago, there are a num-
ber of opportunities to reduce emissions
at little or no cost. They are mostly one-
time measures that are not indefinitely
exploitable. Had they been promptly
attempted, they might have made the
Kyoto approach feasible. Postponing these
steps merely loses time.
But the protocol was embedded in
the 1992 Convention on Climate Change,
which was oriented toward the long term.
So it has been interpreted as heralding
the beginning (for developed countries)
of a long -term decline in carbon dioxide
emissions. But any reasonable trajectory
of emissions in the future ought to show
a rise for some decades and a rapid
decline later in the century.
There are several reasons for such a
trajectory. First, the technologies needed
to drastically reduce fossil -fuel consump-
tion through alternative energy sources,
greater energy efficiency, and sequestration
of carbon dioxide or its removal from fuel
are not developed. Decades of investment
are needed. The necessary investments will
not happen by themselves; government
action and support, especially in arranging
market incentives, will be essential.
Second, it is economical to use durable
equipment until it is due for replacement;
early scrapping is wasteful. Much capital,
such as electric power plants, is very
long -lived. Auto fleets can turn over in
15 or 20 years, but most industrial plants
cannot. Furthermore, deferring expenses
saves interest on loans for capital invest-
ment. Finally, the richer countries will
almost certainly have higher incomes in
the future and be better able to afford
drastic changes in energy use.
The economical trajectory for emissions
over the coming century will differ sub-
stantially among the developed countries.
Thus any reasonable rationing scheme
should contemplate a timeline of at least
a century, not a few decades. But no
possible consensus exists on how much
total emissions should be allowed for the
coming century. That confusion makes
any scheme of fixed quotas, including
"emissions trading," out of the question.
In short, the Kyoto Protocol's exclusive
focus on the short term neglected the ,
crucial importance of expanding worldwide
research and development of technologies
to make severe reductions feasible later
in the century. It also adopted a format
incompatible with the most economical
141 FOREIGN AFFAIRS • VolumehNo.,3
:NT PEACE
s of Managing
:onflict
A. CROCKER, FEN OSLER
?LA AALL
ssor, Managing Global
Drehensive volume
trces of
inflict and the vast
: responses to it.
Appleby, Mohammed
Michael Brown,
Michael Doyle, Rolf
nno, Lawrence
ginia Haufler, Stanley
and ■ Bruce Jentleson,
-g, Neil Kritz, Charles
icklider, Edward
hantal de Jonge
anders, William
er, Stephen Stedman,
iilip Williams, David S.
129223 -29 -3
:mss
on in a
LOCKER, FEN OsLER
VU
. team of Crocker,
build on the
6 volume Managing
ambling here a cast
rs and inviting them
-ok challenges us to
hors bring with
ind how each may
ferent phases of a
rves to be widely
WhatMakes Greenhouse Sense?
trajectory of emissions over time: arise for was not binding, but there is no expec-
some decades followed by a sharp decline. tation of penalties for shortfall.
FREE TO CHOOSE?
The Bush administration has favored
"voluntary" measures over "mandatory'
ones. But it is not clear whether these
terms referred mainly to domestic or to
international measures. Domestically, a
voluntary approach would make the
greenhouse question unique among
issues of environment and health, which
fall under government jurisdiction. The
research Hof the National Institutes of
Health, for example, is universally ac-
knowledged to be essential; leaving such
research to the market or to voluntary
industrial altruism would not appeal to
anyone. The same approach should apply
to research on new low- carbon or non-
carbon energies or carbon sequestration.
Major replacement of fossil fuels or re-
ductions in energy demand, carbon diox-
ide "containment" efforts, or investment
in new technologies to bring them about
will not occur without serious market
incentives. Domestically, "voluntarism"
is an ineffectual approach that would put
blame only on firms that have no market
support for what they may be asked to do.
An international regime, in contrast,
can be only voluntary. Commitments
will not be "enforceable." At best they
may be honored, because respectable
governments prefer to keep commitments.
The U.S. government has a strong aver-
sion to any commitments it does not
think it will keep. And neither the
United States nor the other major
developed countries will likely accept
serious sanctions for missing emissions
targets. There is talk of "binding com-
mitments," as if "commitment" itself
HOT AIR
Emissions trading is popular, especially
with economists. Trading means that any
nation that underuses its emissions quota
(commitment) may transfer its unused
quota (the excess of its allowed emissions
over actual emissions) to any country
that offers financial compensation. The
"purchasing" nation then uses its bought
allotment to increase its own emissions
quota. The idea is to permit emissions to
be reduced wherever their reduction is
most economical. Countries that have
the greatest difficulty (highest costs) in
reducing emissions can purchase relief
from countries that are comparatively
most able to effect emissions reductions.
When 2,000 economists, including
some Nobel laureates, circulated a rec-
ommendation a few years ago that nations
should adopt enforceable quotas for
carbon dioxide emissions and allow the
purchase and sale of unused quotas,
the concept was aesthetically pleasing
but politically unconvincing. Although
emissions should be reduced in those
countries where they can be cut most
economically, the economists' proposed
trading system was perfectionist and
impractical. The problem with trading
regimes is that initial quotas are negotiated
to reflect what each nation can reasonably
be expected to reduce. Any country that
is tempted to sell part of an emissions
quota will realize that the regime is con-
tinually subject to renegotiation, so selling
any "excess" is tantamount to admitting
it got a generous allotment the last time
around. It then sets itself up for stiffer
negotiation next time.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS •May /June2oo2 [5]
78379 -93 -3
Thomas C. Schelling
Still, the latest version of the Kyoto
Protocol, negotiated in November zoos,
does contemplate trading and even anti-
cipates who the sellers will be. It conceded
carbon dioxide emissions quotas to Russia
and Ukraine — countries that, because
of their depressed economies, will keep
their emissions relatively low during the
Kyoto time period. They will have what is
called "hot air" to sell to any Kyoto par-
ticipant willing to pay to remain within
its own commitment. This arrangement
may have been an essential inducement
to'get Russia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol,
and countries that were not sure they
would meet their commitments on their
own saw it as a cheap safety valve.
It requires a sense of humor to appre-
ciate this latest modification of the Kyoto
Protocol: respectable governments being
willing to pay money, or make their do-
mestic industries pay money, to an ailing
former enemy in the guise of a sophisti-
cated emissions - trading scheme. The
purpose is to bribe the recipient into rati-
fying a treaty and providing governments
a cheap way to buy out of emissions com-
mitments, with the pretense that it serves
to reduce emissions in accordance with
the principle of comparative advantage.
PAST AS PROLOGUE
There is remarkable consensus among
economists that nations will not make
sacrifices in the interest of global objec-
tives unless they are bound by a regime
that can impose penalties if they do not
comply. Despite this consensus, however,
there is no historical example of any regime
that could impose effective penalties, at
least with something of the magnitude of
global warming. But there are historical
precedents of regimes that lacked coercive
authority but were still able to divide
benefits and burdens of a magnitude
perhaps comparable to the demands of
a global- warming regime. (In this case,
cutting emissions is the burden; allowing
emissions is the benefit.) There are two
interesting precedents outside wartime.
Both hold promise.
One is the division of Marshall Plan
aid, which began in 194.8. The magnitude
of the aid, as a percentage of the national
income of the recipient countries, is not
easy to determine today, because most
European currencies were grossly over-
valued after the war. But a reasonable
estimate places the aid's value anywhere
from 5 percent to zo percent of national in-
come, depending on the recipient country.
For the first two years of the Marshall
Plan, the United States divided the money
itself. For the third year, it insisted that
the recipient countries divide the aid
among themselves. Government represen-
tatives therefore went through a process
of "reciprocal multilateral scrutiny." Each
government prepared extensive docu-
mentation of all aspects of its economy:
its projected private and public invest-
ments, consumption, imports, exports,
what it was doing about railroads and
livestock herds, how it was rationing
gasoline or butter, and how its living
standard compared to prewar conditions.
Each government team was examined
and cross - examined by other government
teams; it then defended itself, revised its
proposals, and cross - examined other
teams. More aid for one country meant
less for the rest.
There was no formula. Rather, each
country developed "relevant criteria."
The parries did not quite reach agreement,
but they were close enough that two
(6) FOREIGN AFFAIRS • VolumehNo.3
iE NUCLEAR SHADOW
nitu Kothari and Zia Mian
n of historic public
ecent writings by scholars,
gathers the diverse voices,
d approaches of the
novement in in India and
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WEEN CULTURE AND
adical solution to the
ad by Islam in a rapidly
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i- 75121 -3 / $19.95 pb.
►N RIGHTS OF WOMEN
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'olfgang Benedek,
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IRST CENTURY
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TAKE
atter With foreign Aid?
lough its purpose is
Mess and benign, has been
onsiderable controversy and
financially and morally. This
ways in which aid can be
3. problem, and more of
1 77-069-11 $17.95
What Makes Greenhouse Sense?
respected people —the secretary - general
of the Organization for European Eco-
nomic Cooperation and the representative
of Belgium (which was not requesting
any aid)— offered a proposed division
that was promptly accepted. Of course,
the United States was demanding the
countries reach agreement on aid. Today,
there is no such "angel' behind green-
house negotiations. Still, the Marshall
Plan represents something of a precedent.
NATO went through the same process
a year later (19517-52) in its "burden- sliaring
exercise." This time, it involved U.S. aid
and included targets for national military
participation, conscription of soldiers,
investments in equipment, contributions
to military infrastructure and real estate,
and so on. Again, the process was one of
reciprocal scrutiny and cross - examination,
with high -level officials spending months
negotiating. Again, they did not quite
reach final agreement. But this time,
three officials fashioned a proposal that
was accepted. After one more year, NATO
proceeded without U.S. aid — except for
the contribution of U.S. military forces
to NATO itself.
With the possible exception of the
reciprocal -trade negotiations that ulti-
mately created the World Trade Orga-
nization (wTO), the Marshall Plan and
NATO experiences are the only non -
wartime precedents in which so many
countries cooperated over such high
economic stakes. They were not aesthet-
ically satisfying processes: no formulae
were, developed, just a civilized procedure
of argument. Those examples are a
model for what might succeed the
Kyoto Protocol if it fails or evolves into
something else. Their procedure is one
that the main developed nations might
pursue prior to any attempt to include
developing nations. NATo has been an
enormous success; member nations
made large contributions in money,
troops, and real estate. They did it all
voluntarily; there were no penalties for
shortfalls in performance. And, without
explicit trading, they practiced the
theory of comparative advantage (in
geographical location, for instance, or
demographics, or industrial structure).
It was an example of highly motivated
partnership, involving resources on a
scale commensurate with what a green-
house regime might eventually require.
The wTo experience is also instructive.
It involves a much broader array of nations
than NATO does, and it has its own system
of sanctions: the enforcement of commit-
ments. Because it is essentially a system
of detailed reciprocal undertakings, and
because most infractions tend to be bilateral
and specific as to commodities, offended
parties can undertake retaliation and
make the penalty fit the crime (thus
exercising the principle of reciprocity).
A judicial system can evaluate offenses
on their merits to authorize or approve
the retaliatory measure. Fulfilling or failing
wTO commitments is piecemeal, not
holistic. There is no overall "target" to
which a wTO member is committed. In
contrast, if a greenhouse- regime nation
fails to meet its target, there is no particular
offended partner to take the initiative and
penalize the offender —and if there were,
it might be difficult to identify an appro-
priate "reciprocal' retaliatory measure.
PROMISES, PROMISES
One striking contrast between NATO and
the Kyoto Protocol deserves emphasis:
the difference between "inputs" and
FOREIGN AFFAIRS •May /Juneaooz [7]
Thomas C. Schelling
"outputs," or actions and results. NATO
nations argued about what they should
do, and commitments were made to
actions. What countries actually did —
raise and train troops; procure equip-
ment, ammunition, and supplies; and
deploy these assets geographically —could
be observed, estimated, and compared.
But results —such as how much each
NATo nation's actions contributed to
deterring the Warsaw Pact —could not
be remotely approximated.
Like NATO, commitments under the
wTO's auspices are also made to what
nations will do, or will abstain from doing;
there are no commitments to specific
consequences. No nation is committed
to imports of any sort from anywhere; it
is committed only to its actions —such
as tariffs and other restrictions, subsidies,
and tax preferences.
With the Kyoto Protocol, commit-
ments were made not to actions but to
results that were to be measured after a
decade or more. This approach has dis-
advantages. An obvious one is that no one
can tell, until close to the target date, which
nations are on course to meet their goals.
More important, nations undertaking
result -based commitments are unlikely
to have any reliable way of knowing what
actions will be required —that is,
what quantitative results will occur on what
timetable for various policies. The Kyoto
approach implied without evident justi-
fication that governments actually knew
how to reach io- or is -year emissions
goals. (The energy crisis of the 1970s did
not last long enough to reveal, for exam-
ple, the long -run elasticity of demand for
motor fuel, electricity, industrial heat,
and so on.) A government that commits
to actions at least knows what it is com-
mitted to, and its partners also know and
can observe compliance. In contrast, a gov-
ernment that commits to the consequences
of various actions on emissions can only
hope that its estimates, or guesses, are on
target, and so can its partners.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Eventually, to bring in the developing
nations and achieve emissions reductions
most economically, the proper approach
is not a trading system but financial
contributions from the rich countries to
an institution that would help finance
energy - efficient and decarbonized
technologies in the developing world.
Examples might be funding a pipeline
to bring Siberian natural gas to northern
China to help replace carbon - intensive
coal, or financing the imported compo-
nents of nuclear -power reactors, which
emit no greenhouse gases.
Such a regime will suffer the appearance
of "foreign aid." But that is the form it
will necessarily take. The recipients will
benefit and should be required to assume
commitments to emissions - reducing
actions. Meanwhile, the burden on the
rich countries will undoubtedly be more
political than economic. Large -scale aid
for reducing carbon dioxide emissions
in China is economically bearable but
enormously difficult to justify to the
American public, or to agree on with
Japan and the European Union.
While European countries are
lamenting the U.S. defection from the
Kyoto Protocol, a major U.S. unilateral
initiative in research and development
oriented toward phasing out fossil fuels
over the next century would both produce
welcome returns and display American
seriousness about global warming.
181 FOREIGN AFFAIRS • VolumehNo.3
ign Relations in Berlin.
, ,
on topical issues I
)i reviews, and a lsurvey
field of politics slid
i on international relations.
,uncil of Fbreign
Ide readership. TIP will br
tnity." I I
1 Henry A. Kissinger
The greenhouse gas issue will persist
through the entire century and beyond.
Even though the developed nations have
not succeeded in finding a collaborative
way to approach the issue, it is still early.
We have been at it for only a decade.
But time should not be wasted getting
started. Global climate change may
become what nuclear arms control. was
for the past half century. It took more
than a decade to develop a concept of
arms control. It is not surprising that
it is takipg that long to find a way to
come to consensus on an approach to the
greenhouse problem.0
Council on
Foreign Relations
THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The Council on Foreign Relations is seeking
talented individuals who are considering a
career in international relations.
Interns are recruited year -round on a semes-
terly basis to work in either the New York
City or the Washington, D.C., .office of the
Council. An intern's duties generally consist
of administrative work, editing and writing,
and event coordination.
The Council considers both undergraduate
and graduate students with majors in interna-
tional relations, political science, economics,
or a related field for its internships. A regional
specialization and language skills may also
be required for some positions. In addition
to meeting the intellectual requirements,
applicants should have excellent skills in
administration, writing, and research, and
a command of word processing, spreadsheet
applications, and the Internet.
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SInNATI IRF
er,
or-
he
r.
ore t t a Cockrum says it's
,t a noble effort, just business. In April the
!veloper plans to break ground on the
-gest green office tower in Florida. Called
ickell Financial Centre, the building is to rise
floors, comprise 601,000 square feet and
LEED- certified.
To date, not a single building in South
orida has won LEED certification, a
!signation granted by the U.S. Green Building
)uncil. But Cockrum says they aren't going
een to 'win plaudits or "do good," she says
nply it is the future of building.
"We don't build and then sell: we will keep
is building," says Cockrum, chairman and
=0 of Miami -based Foram Group. "So we
!ed to build now for what the new buildings
II be in ten years."
Increasingly, other South Florida builders
e beginning to think so too. After being slow
catch on to the green building trend
)mmon in places like Europe, California and
=w York, more and more builders in the
gion are going green.
Examples include a public library ,in
�mbroke Pines. The interior space of MTV's
)uth Beach offices. An office -condo in Miami
)ar' Merrick Park called Miami Green. The
�w facilities for the Christine E. Lynn College
Nursing at Florida Atlantic University in
)ca Raton. An office park in Miramar.
Public leaders and institutions are also
Ating on board. Miami Mayor Manny Diaz
3s held two forums in recent months on
-een building to familiarize architects and
.silders with the concept. The University of
iami has pledged to build only LEED -
,rtified buildings in the future. Miami -Dade
ounty plans a family court built along LEED
.sidelines. Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank Ortis�
an outspoken advocate in favor of green
gilding.
I MARCH 2007 HOME & DESIGN
Governments like the cities of Miami and
Pembroke Pines are also considering
measures to encourage or even mandate
green building. "I want to make every city. in
Broward County green with envy that we
were the first to go green," Ortis told The
Miami Herald not long ago.
But South Florida has a lot of catching up
to do. There are no LEED - certified buildings in
South Florida and just 10 in the state. By
comparison, more than 70 buildings have won
LEED certification in California. Seattle has 23
LEED- certified buildings all by itself. The city
of Austin, Texas —not a big city —has nine
LEED- certified buildings within its boundaries.
The first building to go up on ground zero in
New York City is LEED- certified.
"Miami doesn't want to be the last one at
the alter," says Richard Fedrizzi, CEO of the
Washington -based U.S. Green Building
Council.
The LEED rating system was set up by the
U.S. Green Building Council in 1998. - -The
acronym stands for Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design. What it does is
establish a checklist of things a developer can
do to become green. Points are tallied and
then one of four LEED levels is awarded: basic
certification, silver, gold and platinu
Points can e won, for instance, by
significantly reducing construction waste or
using lights that automatically turn off when
people leave or when there is adequate
natural light. Builders might employ roofs that
deflect sunlight or lay down biodegradable
carpet. Or a LEED building might collect
rainwater to be used to irrigate plants and
trees. A building also wins points for locating
near a mass transit stop and accommodating
alternative forms of transportation like.
Many politicians and environmentalists
GREEN BUILDING HAS
TAKEN OFF IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE WORLD:
NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA,
EUROPE. BUT THERE ARE
SIGNS THAT SOUTH
FLORIDA IS FINALLY
STARTING TO CATCH ON.
By Matthew Haggman
have pushed for green building because LEED
cuts energy and water use in its buildings by
at least 50 percent. It reduces solid waste
even more. Buildings rank among the biggest
consumers of energy and materials. The
Worldwatch Institute, a Washington -based
group that tracks environmental issues,
estimates that as much as 40 percent of the
globe's energy and materials are swallowed
up by buildings.
So much, in fact, that buildings play a
bigger role than cars in producing the carbon
dioxide emissions responsible for global
warming, Fedrizzi says. So if buildings energy
use can be cut significantly, it amounts to a
big step in not only reducing the use of natural
resources but in curbing global warming.
Many also say it is an important step in
reducing the United States' dependence on
foreign energy. "Green building is a form of
patriotism," says William Holly, president of
Holly Real Estate, which is building the office -
condo Miami Green.
But a big reason that developers like Holly
or Cockrum are adopting it is because it helps
the bottom line. In sum, green building is very
profitable.
A green building is now only marginally
more expensive than conventional construction.
Yet, a LEED- certified building comes with
huge operating savings. Energy and water
bills can be slashed by 50 percent or more.
Green buildings are increasingly sought out
by tenants or buyers, giving a competitive
advantage to LEED structures.
Studies have shown that cleaner air and
abundant natural light in green schools result
in students performing better. Green offices
enjoy greater worker productivity. Green
stores bring improved sales. The result is that
a LEED office building may, for instance, be
able to charge a higher rent.
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"More and more, tenants are asking to be
in LEED- certified buildings," says Cockrum,
who said the interest is more from companies
based elsewhere. She said South Florida
companies aren't yet asking to be in a LEED
building.
Financial institutions and investors are
also catching on. Development company
Hines, based in Houston, and CalPers, the
California Public Employees Retirement
System, formed a fund last year to invest only
in LEED projects.
There seems little reason not to do a
LEED- certified building. But lack of
knowledge about how to build green is still
prevalent, prompting some to think
government action remains necessary to
steer builders toward green.
The city of Boston, for instance, is
amending its code to require that all new
buildings bigger than 50,000 square feet be
LEED certified. But Fedrizzi says cities can
start with two simple steps to spur green
,building.
First, allow all proposed green - building
fi projects to go to the front of the line in the
approval and permitting processes. Fedrizzi
V notes a case in Austin, where a LEED
certified Lowe's took just three months to
clear the city's approval and permit process
because of expedited review. Typically,
approvals take 15 months there, he said.
Second, give density bonuses to green
projects. For instance, allow a developer to
build an extra 20 units in a 100 -unit condo
project if they build green.
But government sweeteners or not,
others say the whole building community had
simply better get with it —and fast.
f° "Green building is a freight train coming
down the tracks," said Holly. "You can either
Q get on board or get run over." i
HOME & DESIGN MARCH 2007 71
Protecting Florida's Natural Resources
Page 1 of 4
Budget Highlights View Budget Search Reports other Information Go To
Protecting Florida's Natural Resources
Conservation is the cornerstone of successful environmental steward
Governor Crist has a long standing commitment to protect Florida's environment. As a men
Florida Cabinet, Governor Crist and the Florida Cabinet directed the acquisition, manageml
protection of conservation and recreation lands for the benefit of current and future generat
Floridians. Their efforts have guided the protection of our plant, wildlife and water resource;
these state treasures will be respected and enjoyed by Florida residents and visitors; and p
clean and safe environment for Florida's communities.
Governor Crist is committed to protecting, preserving and conserving the natural and pristir
that makes Florida such a wonderful place to visit and live.
Accelerated Funding for the Florida Forever Program
Over the past 30 years, Florida has invested more than $6 billion to preserve and conserve
million acres of land under the Preservation 2000 Program and its successor, the Florida F1
a member of the Florida Cabinet, Governor Crist voted to conserve more than 100,000 acr(
under the Florida Forever Program.
Governor Crist embraces Florida Forever's wide range of goals, including public land mans
maintenance, increased protection by acquisition of conservation easements, increased pu
environmental restoration, and water resource protection and supply. Florida is at the forefr
nation's land protection efforts and continues to serve as a model for other states.
The Crist/Kottkamp administration is recommending $400 million for the Florida Forever La
Program, an increase of $100 million over the current year. This funding will continue to prE
unique natural resources and wildlife by accelerating land purchases. One example is the r
to purchase 1,580 acres of land to amend the boundary of the Wekiva -Ocala Greenway pr(
provides an important link between the Ocala National Forest and the extensive state holdii
Wekiva River. Securing this area will provide habitat for many rare animal species. This fun
implement the final phase of the Wekiva project and the remaining land acquisition commits
Florida Keys.
http: / /peoplesbudget. state. fl. us / Highlights / natresource /natresource_home.aspx- 4/16/2007
Protecting Florida's Natural Resources
wekiva- Ocala Greenway
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Page 2 of 4
LAKE. ORAFOGE.. SEANIIOOLE,A140 vr, LUSIA COIJI Tl.ES
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Click to enlarge
Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee, the second - largest freshwater lake in the continental United States, enc
square miles and is the "liquid heart" of South Florida. Since 2000, $175 million has been p
cleanup and rehabilitation of this valuable resource.
Lake Okeechobee is an important state and local resource which provides the water supply
towns, agricultural operations and downstream ecosystems. The lake supports a multi - milli
recreational and commercial fishery and provides flood control for surrounding communities
http: / /peoplesbudget. state. fl. us / Highlights/ natresource /natresource_home.aspx 4/16/2007
y' J
Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee, the second - largest freshwater lake in the continental United States, enc
square miles and is the "liquid heart" of South Florida. Since 2000, $175 million has been p
cleanup and rehabilitation of this valuable resource.
Lake Okeechobee is an important state and local resource which provides the water supply
towns, agricultural operations and downstream ecosystems. The lake supports a multi - milli
recreational and commercial fishery and provides flood control for surrounding communities
http: / /peoplesbudget. state. fl. us / Highlights/ natresource /natresource_home.aspx 4/16/2007
Protecting Florida's Natural Resources
Page 3 of 4
Okeechobee is also home to migratory water fowl, wading birds and the federally endanger
Snail Kite (Rosthrhamus sociabilis plumbeus).
The Crist/Kottkamp administration recommends $50 million to continue the expansion of w,
areas, construct treatment marshes and expedite environmental management initiatives. TI
enhance the ecological health of the lake and downstream coastal estuaries.
St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers
Governor Crist believes we can do more to protect the health of the Caloosahatchee and tr
rivers and their estuaries. These rivers and-their estuaries are an important part of the Sout
ecosystem and affect the quality of life and the economy of the communities that rely on the
Governor Crist believes that funding should be reserved to improve the environmental heal.
water systems and recommends the allocation of $40 million to assist with the implementat
that benefit the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers.
Florida's Famed "River of Grass" - The Everglades
The Crist/Kottkamp administration supports the coalition of federal, state and local leaders,
agricultural and environmental stakeholders, who are committed to restoring the natural be;
"River of Grass" through the 39 -year Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.
Governor Crist recommends $100 million to fully fund the State's share of the Everglades ri
project. The funding plan assures that the land and water areas needed for Everglades res
acquired to restore a more natural water flow and improve water quality.
Energy Diversity
Consumer Awareness and Energy Conservation sW-
Governor Crist is committed to energy conservation and energy supply diversity to provi�c n, ,o
foundation for Florida's energy future. Conservation is one of the fastest and most cost
to ensure the availability of the energy needed to grow and diversify Florida's economy's } �"
protecting our environment. Conservation also protects Florida consumers from the risirrs,�V t.VAY
nation's dependence on foreign oil. °N Ovr
Our nation relies on imported oil to meet 60 percent of its energy needs, and Florida, why`;
8.5 billion gallons of gas per year, is third in the nation for motor fuel consumption. GovEtih <W'
n(p believes that Florida's climate, our productive agricultural lands, our long growing seas&
d ve investments in alternative energy provide the state with the ability to lead the nation in tl1
of alternative energy while growing our economy and protecting our environment.
Governor Crist is proposing more than $68 million in grants, rebates, and tax incentives A F�
2007 -08 to encourage Floridians to conserve energy, to promote the development of all&yn -91""'
6,iiand other energy resources, and encourage the development of the facilities and infrastvvG�--
needed to manufacture and deliver renewable energy resources to Floridians throughoL
Incentives proposed by Governor Crist include $40 million in nonrecurring General Reve,*-- �-
cYenk- a new Alternative Energy Incentive Fund administered by the Office of Tourism, Trade ;H ele-
Development, in consultation with the Florida Energy Office, to provide incentives to enC.--,-s --
alternative energy research innovations. This will include the development of ethanol arwk
http: / /peoplesbudget. state. fl. us / Highlights/ natresource /natresource_home.aspx 4/16/2007
V _'I
Protecting Florida's Natural Resources
Page 4 of 4
manufacturing, blending, fueling and distribution facilities throughout the state of Florida
To further encourage the use of new fuel sources, the Governor recommends a 100 perc,^r
,u,r - in the cap on sales tax exemptions and corporate income tax credits provided by the RE A--&T"4
Energy Corporate Tax Program for clean fuels, which includes ethanol and biodiesel mgt
blending, fueling and distribution infrastructure. The sales tax exemptions would increaE a b--
:L million to $2 million per fiscal year, and the corporate income tax credits would increase N.-m
4. s- million to $13 million per fiscal year for the next three years.
Promoting the purchase and use of energy- efficient appliances as a way to conserve erjrg:5�
Governor Crist encourages the Florida Legislature to enact legislation to establish a pertmn -or
Energy Efficient Products Sales Tax Holiday for two weeks each October. The tax holiday , b0A
to Energy Star products such as dishwashers, clothes washers, air conditioners, ceiling
fluorescent light bulbs, dehumidifiers, programmable thermostats and refrigerators.
To encourage Floridians to conserve energy, the Crist/Kottkamp administration recomrrje -"o
$750,000 to create a new public education campaign to encourage consumers to change -
an" --use patterns and to utilize biofuels and other available products and options that reduce
energy used.
Fund Existing Energy Initiatives
Governor Crist recommends $10 million in nonrecurring General Revenue to continue tl?.cawrzoj
funding authorization for the Renewable Energy Technology Grant Program to encourap -r��
and development and the commercialization of alternative energy.
Governor Crist recommends $5 million in nonrecurring General Revenue to continue the c�v►�r
funding authorization for the Bioenergy Grant Program, which encourages research, de -1•61 -w;
expansion of the commercialization of ethanol, biodiesel, biomass, and the conversion w)r
materials to energy.
In addition, Governor Crist recommends the continuation of funding for the Solar Energy 11-k,02
Program at the current authorization which provides $2.5 million for rebates to consumE AS W6
solar energy panels, solar water heaters and solar pool heaters.
CESS SAFETY I STRENGTHENING FLORIDA'S I FLORID BRAN ONOMY I FSTUDENRY I KEEPING FHERIDIAYS I FLO RESOURCES RAL I GC
FIRST
http: / /peoplesbudget. state. fl. us / Highlights/ natresource /natresource_home.ast)x 4/16/2007
USGBC: Certification Process
Page 1 of 6
Products and Services I Se
Home > LEED > LEED Certification > Certification Process
Certification Process
• Eligibility
• Registration
• Credit Interpretations
• Certification & Documentation
o Application Documentation Submittal
• LEED Certification Expedited Review Policy
• Submitting Y2.2 credit paths and templates for v2.1 credits (updated
12/19/2006)
• LEED Technical Reviews
• Certification Award
• Appeals
• Platinum Rebates
• Fee Summary
Eligibility
Commercial buildings as defined by standard building codes are eligible for
certification under LEED NC, CS, CI and EB. Commercial occupancies include —but
are not limited to— offices, retail and service establishments, institutional buildings
(e.g., libraries, schools, museums, churches, etc.), hotels, and residential buildings
of four or more habitable stories. If the application of LEED for a unique building
type is questionable, USGBC encourages the project team to tally a potential point
total using the LEED Rating System Checklist that is provided with each LEED Rating
System. All Rating Systems are a free download via the LEED hornepage. The project
is a viable candidate for LEED certification if it can meet all prerequisites and
achieve the minimum number of points to earn the Certified level of LEED project
certification.
Reeistration
The first step toward earning LEED certification is project registration. Registering
during the early phases of project design will ensure maximum potential for
achieving certification. Registration is an important step that establishes contact
with the USGBC and provides access to essential information, software tools and
communications. Upon registration, project contacts receive an orientation letter
and access to LEED- Online. To register your project visit the LEED Registration page.
Once a project is registered, the project team begins to prepare documentation and
calculations to satisfy the prerequisite and credit submittal requirements. It is
helpful to have a LEED Accredited Professional as the project contact and team
member responsible for coordinating the LEED process.
Credit Interpretations ,
In some cases, project teams may encounter difficulties applying a LEED
prerequisite or credit to a specific project. USGBC has established a review process
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USGBC: Certification Process Page 2 of 6
for registered project inquiries, called credit interpretation requests (CIRs), to
ensure that rulings are consistent and available to other projects. If a question
arises, project teams should:
1. Consult the LEED Reference Guide in regards to credit intent, requirements
and calculations. View additional guidance for Innovation Credits.
2. Review the LEED Credit Interpretations Rulings (CIR) aQe for previously
logged CIRs on relevant credits. (Log in to myU5GBC and choose CIR from the
menu at left. All LEED project contacts have access to this page.)
3. If a similar credit interpretation has not been logged, or does not answer the
question sufficiently, submit a new CIR using via LEED- Online. The inquiry
should be succinct and based on information found in the Reference Guide,
with emphasis on the intent of the prerequisite or credit. Each CIR costs
$220.
Note: For projects NOT using LEED Online the first two CIRs are includec
with registration. Each additional CIR is $220. As of November 15, 2005,
project registrations will not include free CIR's.
ion 13 Documentati
To earn LEED certification, the applicant project must satisfy all of the prerequisite!
and a minimum number of points to attain a LEED rating level. The certification
review process includes the following:
1) Application Documentation Submittal
For Projects using LEED - Online the documentation submittal is paperless; letter
templates, additional documentation, and online certification payment are all
submitted via the web. Click here for more information on LEED - Online.
For projects NOT using L.EED- Online, the project team submits two complete copies
of ALL project application materials and the corresponding fee (check payable to
U.S. Green Building Council) to the LEED Certification Manager at 1800
Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20036 . Please indicate which
rating system you are submitting for. A complete application includes the following:
• the printed LEED Letter Template and requested submittals for each prerequisite
and credit, separated by tabs (LEED Version Letter Template Excel document is
required on a CD);
o For NC v2.1 projects NOT using LEED Online, project teams are expected to
use the most current version of the Letter Templates as of the date of
certification submission.
• LEED registration information, including project contact, project type, project
size, number of occupants, date of construction completion, etc.;
• an overall project narrative including at least three project highlights;
• the LEED Project Checklist /Scorecard indicating projected prerequisites and
credits and the total score for the project (If mixed submittal, LEED v2.0 credits
are to be noted as such in LEED v2.1 Letter Template Credit Summary or similar
format.); and
• Drawings and photos (8.5x11 or 11x17) illustrative of the project, including:
• Site plan
• Typical floor plan
• Typical building section
• Typical or primary elevation
• Photo or rendering of project
• LEED Certification Expedited Review Polic
o Effective October 1, 2006, the process for LEED certification reviews relating
to LEED -NC, LEED -CI, LEED -EB, and LEED -CS may be expedited at the request
of the project team provided that the USGBC receives and accepts
notification no less than 10 business days prior to the start date of the LEED
certification review process. Interested project teams should call the USGBC
main office at 202 -828 -7422 and ask to speak with a member of the LEED
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USGBC: Certification Process Page 3 of 6
certification team. Furthermore, USGBC reserves the right to not accept
expedited reviews at any time. Upon acceptance of the request, USGBC must
receive the LEED certification fee, expedited fee, and application no less
than 10 business days. The expedite fee outlined below shall be in addition to
the required certification fee.
1. Paper Reviews: $10,000 additional fee
2. LEED Online Design Et Construction Review: $10,000 additional
fee
3. LEED Online Design Review Only: $5,000 additional fee
4. LEED Online Construction Review Only (following a Design
Review): $5000 additional fee
5. Paper or LEED Online Appeal Review: $500 additional fee per
prerequisite/ credit appealed
: / /WWW
o Timeline for expedited reviews shortens the published LEED certification
process by half. As such, project teams should expect:
1. 12 business days for a Preliminary Review (paper submittal) or
Request for Clarification (LEED - Online)
2. 10 business days for the project team to provide a supplementary
submittal or clarifications
3. 7 business days for a Final Review (paper) or Design, Construction,
or combined Design Et Construction Review (LEED- Online)
4. 12 business days for an Appeal Review
o Expedited reviews shall include the entire standard LEED certification
process, so it is not applicable to just one part (e.g. Final Review) of the
process. However, teams may expdite a Design Review but not the
Construction Review as they are two separate processes. Also, the Appeal
Review process may stand alone as well. See payment details above for more
information. Fulfillment of plaques, award letters, and certificates is subject
to availability at the time of project certification. USGBC cannot guarantee
that these items will be ready for delivery when the project accepts the
certification level awarded.
2) LEED Technical Reviews:
a) LEED- Online Review: LEED Online is currently available for LEED -NC
Q.1, LEED -NC v2.2, LEED -CI v2.0, and LEED -EB v2.0. All Letter Templates
are now downloadable PDF's allowing for paperless certification submissions.
All reviews will be done via LEED Online. More information on LEED Online
Reviews to come soon.
b) LEED for New Construction Version 2.1 Review: The LEED Letter
Templates and additional submittals for each prerequisite and credit are
reviewed for compliance. Within 30 days of administrative approval, the
USGBC issues a Preliminary LEED Review document noting credit
achievement anticipated, pending and denied. In addition, up to six
prerequisites and /or credits shall be selected for audit. The project team ha!
30 days from the receipt of the Preliminary Review to provide corrections
and /or additional supporting documents (e.g., calculations, cutsheets and
other backup) as a supplementary submittal to the application. The USGBC
conducts a Final LEED Review of the application within three weeks of
receiving the resubmittal and notifies the project contact of certification
status. If two or more audited credits are denied, additional credits may be
selected for a second audit and may prompt a Second Preliminary LEED
Review prior to a Final LEED Review. Note the Certification Audit
Requirements.
c) LEED for New Construction Version 2.0 / 2.1 Combination Review: A[
credits submitted under the LEED v2.0 Rating System shall be reviewed as
outlined in the LEED 2.0 Review Process. All credits submitted under the
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4/2/2007
USGBC: Certification Process Page 4 of 6
LEER v2.1 Rating System shall be reviewed as outlined in the LEED v2.1
Review Process. If audited credits pass, the timeline is identical for both
processes. Please note that LEED -NC Mixed v2.0/2.1 submittals, for projects
that registered before November 15, 2005, are acceptable for projects not
using LEED- Online. However, using LEED- Ontine for NC v2.1 exclusively is
recommended for simplicity.
d) LEED for New Construction Version 2.0 Review: Documentation
submittals for every prerequisite and credit are reviewed for compliance.
The inclusion of extraneous documentation is discouraged as this slows the
application review process. Within 30 days of administrative approval, the
USGBC issues a Preliminary LEED Review document noting credits earned,
pending and denied. The project team has 30 days from the receipt of the
Preliminary Review to provide corrections and /or additions as a
supplementary submittal to the application. The USGBC conducts a Final
LEED Review of the application within three weeks of receiving the
resubmittal and notifies the project contact of the LEED certification.
e) LEED for Existing Buildings Version 2.0 Review: The LEED Letter
Templates and additional submittals for each prerequisite and credit are
reviewed for compliance. Within 30 days of administrative approval, the
USGBC issues a Preliminary LEED Review document noting credit
achievement anticipated, pending and denied. Upon receipt of the
Preliminary Review, the project team is given the opportunity to provide
corrections and /or additional supporting documents (e.g., calculations and
other backup) as a supplementary submittal to the application. The USGBC
conducts a Final LEED Review of the application within 30 days of receiving
the supplementary submittal and notifies the project contact of certification
status.
f) LEED for Commercial Interiors Version 2.0 Review: The LEED Letter
Templates and additional submittals for each prerequisite and credit are
reviewed for compliance. Within 30 days of administrative approval, the
USGBC issues a Preliminary LEED Review document noting credit
achievement anticipated, pending for cause or pending for audit, and
rejected. In addition, up to five prerequisites and /or credits shall be
selected for audit. The project team has 30 days from the receipt of the
Preliminary Review to provide corrections and /or additional supporting
documents (e.g., calculations, cut sheets and other backup) as a
supplementary submittal to the application. The USGBC conducts a Final
LEED Review of the application within three weeks of receiving the re-
submittal and notifies the project contact of certification status. If two or
more audited credits are denied, additional credits may be selected for a
second audit and may prompt a Second Preliminary LEED Review prior to a
Final LEED Review.
g) LEED for Core and Shell Precertification Review: LEED for Core and
Shell Precertification is a unique aspect of the LEED for Core and Shell
Program. Precertification provides the core and shell owner /developer with
the ability to market to potential tenants and financiers the valuable green
featurs proposed in the building. Precertification is format recognition by the
USGBC given to a candidate project for which the owner /developer has
established a goal to develop a LEED for Core and Shell building. Once
a project is registered as a LEED for Core and Shell project, the project tearr
may submit for Precertification. Precertification is granted to projects after
the USGBC has reviewed early design stage documentation. Download this
PDF for detailed information on how to submit for LEED for Core and Shell
Precertification. Contact I Privacy Pot
Copyright (S 20C
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USGBC: Certification Process Page 5 of 6
U.S. Green Building Council 3) Certification Award. Upon notification of the LEED certification, the project
team has 30 days to accept or appeal the awarded certification. Upon the project's
acceptance, or if it has not appealed the rating within 30 days, the LEER
certification is final. The project may then be referred to as a LEED certified
building. The USGBC presents the project team with an award letter, certificate anc
metal LEED plaque indicating the certification level.
4) Appeal. If the project team feels that sufficient grounds exist to appeal a credit
denied in the Final LEED Review, it has the option of appeal. The appeal fee is $25C
(changing to $500, effective 9/1/04) per credit appealed. A review of these items
will occur within 30 days at which time an Appeal LEER Review will be issued to the
applicant.
Appeal Submittals
For projects using LEED- Online alt appeals will be submitted online via LEED Online.
If an appeal is pursued, please note that a different review team will be assessing
the appeal documentation, so be sure to include the following information:
1) LEED registration information, including project contact, project type, project
size, number of occupants, date of construction completion, etc.
2) An overall project narrative including at least three project highlights.
3) The LEED Project Checklist /Scorecard indicating projected prerequisites and
credits and the total score for the project. (If mixed submittal, LEED v2.0 credits
are to be noted as such in LEED v2.1 Letter Template Credit Summary or similar
format.)
4) Drawings and photos (13.5x11 or 11x17) illustrative of the project, including:
a. Site plan
b. Typical floor plan
c. Typical building section
d. Typical or primary elevation
e. Photo or rendering of project
5) Original, re- submittal, and appeal submittal documentation for only those credits
you are appealing. It would be helpful to include a narrative for each appealed
credit to describe how the documents address the reviewers' comments and
concerns. Please note that all provided documents will be considered as part of the
appeal process.
Please submit two copies of the appeal information in a three -ring binder or on a
compact disc to the attention of the LEED Certification Manager at the USGBC.
Remember to include a check, payable to the U.S. Green Building Council, in the
amount of $500 per credit or prerequisite appealed. We will finish your Appeal LEE[
Review within one month from receipt of your resubmittal.
Visit the Register Your Project Page for the LEED project registration and
certification fee summary and LEED project registration form.
I'Z - 1 11 L•l ;f . ..
USGBC wilt fully rebate certification fees for any project awarded LEED platinum
certification after December 31, 2006.
The rebate currently applies to projects that certify using LEED for New
Construction, LEED for Existing Buildings, LEED for Commercial Interiors, or LEED for
Core and Shell. Projects that certify under future versions of LEED (excluding pilot
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USGBC: Certification Process
Page 6 of 6
projects) will also be eligible
Project teams are required to pay certification review fees. Upon verification of
LEED platinum certification, all certification fees paid by the project team will be
refunded. Additional fees required to expedite LEED certification, along with appeal
review fees and registration fees, will not be refunded.
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