Green
Building Program Requirements
Santa Monica's Green
Building Program was developed in order to raise the bar of excellence
for building practices in the City. Santa Monica has been at the forefront
of the municipal green building movement, setting a trend for cities
nationwide.
Santa Monica's green
building requirements were designed to increase sustainability without
putting excessive burdens on builders or developers. Many of the measures
have some associated initial cost, though others can actually reduce
first costs and operating costs, and all of them increase the overall
value of the building.
The basis for the
green building requirements lies in two different City
Ordinances, as well as in the Municipal
Code. Both the Ordinances and the Code can be accessed directly using the links to the left. Most green building requirements apply to all commercial construction and major renovation projects, as well as to all multi-family residential projects with more than 3 units. There are also a number of requirements that apply only to specific types of projects.
The best place to
start to determine which practices are required and recommended for
your particular project type is the downloadable Design
Advisor. This tool will help you determine what you must do, what
you should consider doing, and some strategies for approaching these
practices. All of the green building practices will be most successful
(and most easily and economically achievable) when integrated into the
initial design phases of the project.
