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Although Rockville's new green building regulations will make it more expensive for businesses and residents to build in the city, city and business officials seem to agree it is the right thing to do.

Cliff Majersik, executive director for the Institute for Market Transformation in Washington, D.C., said Rockville's code joins Washington, D.C.'s, as one of the greenest in the country. It may also make Rockville a more attractive location for future development, he said.

"There is a competition now. I think you increasingly see jurisdictions competing to have the greenest codes," Majersik said. "You are going to have buildings that are more comfortable to live and work in and that's going to make it easier for Rockville to attract and retain good tenants."

The new codes, passed unanimously by the City Council May 10, require builders and renovators to improve energy efficiency, water conservation, stormwater management and indoor air-quality.

For residents, that means higher insulation requirements, using energy-efficient windows and buying Energy Star appliances. Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that designates products and practices that are energy efficient.

In order for businesses to comply with the new code, they will need to choose from a list of environmentally friendly options during construction to be in compliance.

The laws go into effect July 1. Additionally, both commercial and residential builders will be required to develop a list of the green features of their construction and how those features should be maintained.

"This is a step in the right direction," said city Sustainability Coordinator Erica Shingara. "I think nationally we are moving towards increasing our energy efficiency."

The city, led by former mayor Susan R. Hoffmann, began investigating green building codes in late 2007. Passage of new requirements was delayed by a change in the International Code Council building codes in 2009.

Hoffmann is happy the new codes finally passed.

"I'm thrilled, just thrilled," Hoffmann said. "It is certainly something that I wanted to see happen. I'm delighted that it has all finally passed."

Builders will be required to choose from a list of green-building options similar to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system developed by the United States Green Building Council. Developers will have to achieve the Rockville equivalent of 25 LEED points out of a possible 110 to be approved for construction.

"We've established standards that are similar (to LEED), but we are not forcing applicants and builders to go through the official process," Councilman John Britton said. "They can pick and choose from a very similar set of regulations that gets us the same result with less bureaucratic hassle and less fees."

LEED points can be acquired for rehabilitating an existing building, reusing waste, using renewable energy, using recycled materials, using low-toxic building materials, promoting alternative transportation and increasing water efficiency.

Majersik said the only way cities will have green buildings is if they require them.

"Most buildings are built to code. Builders aim to do that well and don't aim to do any better than that," Majersik said. "People realized that you have to fix the code if you want to have good buildings."

Andrea Jolly, executive director of the Rockville Chamber of Commerce, said the business community supports the new codes.

"It might cost businesses a little bit of money, but we are part of the community as well and we have a responsibility to protect the environment," Jolly said. "We understand the importance of being good citizens."

Jeffery Abramson, a partner with The Tower Cos., which specializes in green building, helped write Rockville's code. He agrees with Jolly.

"It's a little bit more money up front, but you are going to save that money in the long term because the building is more efficient," Abramson said. "It really shouldn't be that hard for business to comply with this code. We have to inspire them to reach beyond the code if we want to keep moving forward."

The Tower Oaks office building at 2000 Tower Oaks Blvd. is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum-certified structure — the highest certification — and considered one of the most environmentally friendly office buildings in the state.

The 200,000-square-foot building, co-developed by Tthe Tower Cos. and Lerner Enterprises, is built with cool and green roofs and an efficient heating and air-conditioning system, among other features.

Jeremy Sigmon, the manager of building codes advocacy for the U.S. Green Building Council, warned compliance is the key to the success of any code and in order for Rockville to stay on the cutting edge it must continue to push residents and the business community.

"Even with the greenest buildings out there our net impact on the environment is still negative," Sigmon said. "What we have to do is lift the floor as much as possible and at the same time lift the ceiling. By doing those two things together we are providing the spectrum of options available and stepping stones to a more sustainable future."

To read the city's green building regulations, visit http://www.rockvillemd.gov/

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