Green Design and Energy Issues Facing Planning and Zoning Boards
On November 30, the Rockland County Municipal Planning Federation held a three-hour seminar on Green Design and Energy Issues. The aim of this was to foster increased interest in having local planning and zoning boards incorporate green and sustainable practices into projects and applications that come before them for review and ultimate approval.
Rockand County, like all of New York State has a Home Rule Policy that delegates the ultimate decisions on planning to be made by the local governing municipality, NOT at the county or state. Thus, an effort is clearly needed to insure that local boards have the exposure to the cutting-edge developments in the green and sustainable building area.
An overview of sustainable and energy saving measures was presented that included information on what constitutes an Energy Star home, as well as site plan issues dealing with green infrastructure measures that can better manage storm water run-off.
Energy efficiency in buildings was covered, including the potential for increased solar and wind applications that can easily be incorporated into existing planning and zoning regulations.
Perhaps the real highlight for me, when it came to real new information was the concern raised by Gordon Wren, the Rockland County Director of Fire and Emergency Services. Mr. Wren is a strong supporter of the green movement, but offered us sound observations on several areas that planners (and the general public as well) need to be aware of. First, he mentioned hybrid vehicles, buses, in particular. While green in nature, these vehicles contain as part of their storage batteries a caustic electrolyte agent that, if spilled, can cause environmental damage, as well as personal injury to first responders if the bus is involved in an accident.
Mr. Wren went on to discuss the issues that can arise with homes and buildings that have placed solar voltaic systems on their roofs. First, firefighter cannot open a roof as they normally would. In addition, the system must be de-energized prior to emergency responders coming in contact with it. Enough electrical power is present in the inverter system to cause electrocution.
In addition, as we make buildings tighter in terms of air infiltration, we must provide for appropriate ventilation and humidity control; otherwise unhealthy conditions will and have occurred, such as mold growth and toxic vapor build-up.
Tony Lisanti, the Secretary of the Building Performance Contractors Association of NY State gave a run-down on Energy Star and energy audits. He told us that Energy Star really just involves increasing the energy efficiency by 15 greater than that required by state code. He went on to describe the HERS rating system. The HERS (Home Energy Rating System) is based on how well a building performs as compared to code benchmark for that type of building; the higher the number score, the less efficient the building is. If the score is 220, it is VERY bad; 150 equals average performance, while Energy Star equals 80 or less. Mr. Lisanti showed us infrared analysis studies that clearly showed what looked like good workmanship in the installation of fiberglass insulation was not at all. He also mentioned the need for energy audits to done on all new and renovated buildings, as it is amazing just how poorly some building have been performing despite the expenditure of funds for such new technologies as solar voltaic and geothermal systems. If the building envelope is too loose, all can be lost and then some, on the upgrades.
Another important highlight covered that faces all planning applications at the site plan review level is the new upcoming changes to the NYS Storm water Management Practices Law in 2010. Barbara Kendal from the NYS DEC and Hudson River Estuary Program told us, that for the first time, Green Infrastructure WILL now be part of the MS-4 requirements. This means that planners will not only have to control storm water runoff to pre-existing levels, BUT incorporate such measures as vegetated swails, engineered soil drainage systems that collect and slowly release water to the ground below for infiltration back into the water table. She also mentioned the use of impervious concrete for parking areas, and the need to reduce areas covered by side walks and parking area to a minimum, which may very well require local zoning laws to be changed.
In summary, green and sustainable building will need to dealt with at the local planning level, but we do NOT need to fear; the costs do NOT have to increase for one to comply. It is now the time for local planning boards to take inventory of existing procedures when deliberating and approving site plans and buildings. Some local zoning laws will need to amended to allow for these new requirements that will soon become state law in New York.
Rockand County, like all of New York State has a Home Rule Policy that delegates the ultimate decisions on planning to be made by the local governing municipality, NOT at the county or state. Thus, an effort is clearly needed to insure that local boards have the exposure to the cutting-edge developments in the green and sustainable building area.
An overview of sustainable and energy saving measures was presented that included information on what constitutes an Energy Star home, as well as site plan issues dealing with green infrastructure measures that can better manage storm water run-off.
Energy efficiency in buildings was covered, including the potential for increased solar and wind applications that can easily be incorporated into existing planning and zoning regulations.
Perhaps the real highlight for me, when it came to real new information was the concern raised by Gordon Wren, the Rockland County Director of Fire and Emergency Services. Mr. Wren is a strong supporter of the green movement, but offered us sound observations on several areas that planners (and the general public as well) need to be aware of. First, he mentioned hybrid vehicles, buses, in particular. While green in nature, these vehicles contain as part of their storage batteries a caustic electrolyte agent that, if spilled, can cause environmental damage, as well as personal injury to first responders if the bus is involved in an accident.
Mr. Wren went on to discuss the issues that can arise with homes and buildings that have placed solar voltaic systems on their roofs. First, firefighter cannot open a roof as they normally would. In addition, the system must be de-energized prior to emergency responders coming in contact with it. Enough electrical power is present in the inverter system to cause electrocution.
In addition, as we make buildings tighter in terms of air infiltration, we must provide for appropriate ventilation and humidity control; otherwise unhealthy conditions will and have occurred, such as mold growth and toxic vapor build-up.
Tony Lisanti, the Secretary of the Building Performance Contractors Association of NY State gave a run-down on Energy Star and energy audits. He told us that Energy Star really just involves increasing the energy efficiency by 15 greater than that required by state code. He went on to describe the HERS rating system. The HERS (Home Energy Rating System) is based on how well a building performs as compared to code benchmark for that type of building; the higher the number score, the less efficient the building is. If the score is 220, it is VERY bad; 150 equals average performance, while Energy Star equals 80 or less. Mr. Lisanti showed us infrared analysis studies that clearly showed what looked like good workmanship in the installation of fiberglass insulation was not at all. He also mentioned the need for energy audits to done on all new and renovated buildings, as it is amazing just how poorly some building have been performing despite the expenditure of funds for such new technologies as solar voltaic and geothermal systems. If the building envelope is too loose, all can be lost and then some, on the upgrades.
Another important highlight covered that faces all planning applications at the site plan review level is the new upcoming changes to the NYS Storm water Management Practices Law in 2010. Barbara Kendal from the NYS DEC and Hudson River Estuary Program told us, that for the first time, Green Infrastructure WILL now be part of the MS-4 requirements. This means that planners will not only have to control storm water runoff to pre-existing levels, BUT incorporate such measures as vegetated swails, engineered soil drainage systems that collect and slowly release water to the ground below for infiltration back into the water table. She also mentioned the use of impervious concrete for parking areas, and the need to reduce areas covered by side walks and parking area to a minimum, which may very well require local zoning laws to be changed.
In summary, green and sustainable building will need to dealt with at the local planning level, but we do NOT need to fear; the costs do NOT have to increase for one to comply. It is now the time for local planning boards to take inventory of existing procedures when deliberating and approving site plans and buildings. Some local zoning laws will need to amended to allow for these new requirements that will soon become state law in New York.
Posted by Alan L. Englander at 12/7/2009 3:01 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: HERS Rating System Green Planning Green Infrastructure Emergency Services Impact Energy Design and Audits Storm Water Management Energy Star
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: HERS Rating System Green Planning Green Infrastructure Emergency Services Impact Energy Design and Audits Storm Water Management Energy Star
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