The Office of Environmental Affairs supports the outreach and eduction of the city's Green Building and Green Points Program that encourages the use of cost-effective and sustainable remodeling and building methods and technologies that conserve energy, water and other natural resources.

Planning and Development Services administers the Green Building and Green Points Program as part of the residential building permit process. 

News and Events
Green Building and Green Points Booklet
Workshops
Commercial Resources 
Residential Resources 
Green Points Update Process 
Green Building Information

News and Events

2008 Public Process for Commercial and Residential Green Building codes  

The city of Boulder is organizing public comment on the proposed residential Green Building and Green Points program regarding remodels and additions. Additionally, staff was directed by council to propose a commercial green building code focusing on energy efficiency enhancements to the energy code. The following public process took place thus far and the proposed date to return to City Council is Oct. 21.  

Aug 13, Environmental Advisory Board meeting
Oct 1, Landmark's Board
Oct 2, Planning Board
Oct 21, First reading of ordinance to City Council
Nov 10, Tentative second reading date to City Council    

Commercial Green Building Resources:
Green Building Costs and Financial Benefits, by Gregory H. Kats 

Commercial and Residential Green Building Public Meetings (August 13 - September 3)
Join us to Discuss the city's commercial and residential green building proposals and adoption of the 2008 National Electric Code

 Green Building and Green Points Guideline Booklet (9.38 MB)

• •  Attachment A  - HERS Example Certificate
    Attachment B - Home Energy Audit example certificate
    Attachment C - Construction Waste Recycling Tracking Spreadsheet
    Attachment D - Deconstruction Plan and Construction Waste Recycling Form
    Attachment E - Accountability Form
• Applications
  •  Application for Additions and Remodels
  •  Application for New Construction

Final Green Points Ordinance 7565
Ordinance 7565 (Green Building and Green Points Program) was adopted by Boulder City Council on Nov. 13, 2007.  The ordinance went into effect on Feb. 1, 2008.  Additionally, the city has published a notice that it proposes to adopt the following rule regarding the interpretation and implementation of Chapter 10-7.5, "Green Points and Green Building Program," B.R.C. 1981.  Section 10-7.5-6, "Regulations," B.R.C. 1981 authorizes the city manager to:

• Make reasonable interpretive and administrative regulations to aid in applying this subsection under the procedures of chapter 1-4, "Rulemaking," B.R.C. 1981, and     
• Adopt rules related to the award of green points that provide for equivalent benefits as for similar green point awards in this chapter.  The purpose of this grant of rulemaking authority is to allow the city manager to consider green point awards for technology and products that were not contemplated at the time of the adoption of this chapter that will provide benefits that are consistent with the purposes of this chapter.

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Educational Training and Workshop Opportunities

• Building Science Field Training for Contractors
  This training will be a field session for contractors. It will demonstrate those building science principals and applications that impact the energy performance of the home, as well as the HERS index. Focus on those items that will make the home Energy Star compliant. Demo the blower door, IR camera, duct blaster, etc. Demo Thermal Bypass Checklist and Insulation Grading forms (TBC/IG). More scheduled meetings to come.
  
  
• Green Building Materials
  This workshop walks you through the role materials play in the city of Boulder, city of Longmont, and Boulder County green building programs. You will see a point-by-point overview and gain in-depth guidelines for using materials in the most effective way to meet and exceed the green program goals.  You will leave the workshop with an overview understanding of these programs' material requirements and how to use materials to support design of a green project.  More scheduled meetings to come.
    
• Building Science Basics, ENERGY STAR and Code Compliance
  The intent of this particular training session is to address the technical side of new construction toward meeting the new mandatory requirements for energy efficiency levels in the city of Boulder's Green Points program, the County's BuildSmart program, and the city of Longmont's green building program. The presentation will address building science basics and their application to energy efficient construction, as well as how a home's HERS index score will be calculated and used as compliance through the city of Boulder's permitting office. Presentation will include those points from EPA/ENERGY STAR needed for acceptable HERS index to achieve Energy Star status, possibly including some slides from the EPA presentation. Note that Energy Star status is significantly higher than Boulder City requirements. More scheduled meetings to come.
    

• Advanced Techniques for High-Efficiency Homes
  This is a more advanced training for builders and designers looking to understand strategies to build integrated high-performance "Green" homes.  The workshop will include case studies and technical analysis that will help participants understand how to select materials and systems to design and build a energy-efficient, durable, green home.  The workshop will also include information as to how these features fit into various regional programs including ENERGY STAR, Boulder Green Points, Boulder County BuildSmart, and Longmont's Green Building program (many of these programs have more stringent efficiency requirements for larger houses).  More scheduled meetings to come.
  

• Deconstruction 101
  The deconstruction educational seminar will outline the specific requirements for the City mandates/green points involved in home deconstruction. This will include an overview of deconstruction, environmental impacts, material guidelines, and the process for compliance. The seminar will be conducted by local non-profit deconstruction professionals from the ReSource Division of the Center for ReSource Conservation. All contractors, homeowners, or interested parties concerned with residential construction projects or resource conservation are encouraged to attend. More scheduled meetings to come. 

• Incorporating HERS Ratings and ENERGY STAR in Your Architectural Design
  The most recognized symbol of energy efficiency for the nation is ENERGY STAR for lights and appliances.  Learn how to incorporate HERS raters ENERGY STAR Concepts and inspection  into the standard architectural design and construction sequence required by the new Boulder Green Points Program.  The presentation will explain the basics of HERS ratings, the ENERGY STAR Thermal Bypass Checklist, the software used to develop the ratings, and some basic strategies incorporating "whole building design" to harmonize orientation, insulation, glazing, shading, mass, air tightness, mechanical systems and renewables.  Upon completion, the participant should understand the basics of successfully working with a HERS rater from napkin sketch through construction and permit drawings to a final Certificate of Occupancy. EPA ENERGY STAR Marketing will be displayed at the presentation with brochures, brass plaques and certificates . Will include information on Boulder/Longmont/County green building programs. More scheduled meetings to come.
  

• February 2008 Workshop Presentations

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Resources:

Energy Efficiency
AEC's Energy Efficiency Analysis Report

Green Building Materials
Oikos Green Product Information
GreenSpec Directory by Building Green 
Center for ReSource Conservation
AIA Colorado Sustainable Design Resource Guide 

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Green Points Update Process included:
(Meeting documents can be located by following the links after the meeting dates below.)

Tuesday, August 14 - City Council Study Session
Thursday, October 4 - Planning Board (public testimony)
Tuesday, October 16 - City Council (first reading - consent agenda)
Thursday, October 18 - Planning Board (public testimony) 
Tuesday, October 30 - City Council Special Meeting on Green Points 
(second reading and public hearing) 
Tuesday, November 13 - City Council (third reading, no public hearing)
Tuesday, November 30- City Council (special meeting)
Thursday, January 24 - Planning Board

Memo
Proposed Green Points Ordinance

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 Green Building Information

Information about the Green Points program presented at:

USGBC GreenBuild - Pittsburgh, PA - 2003
ACEEE Study Session - Monterey, CA 2005

The Benefits of Green Building
Energy & Climate - tips on reducing heating and water use
Boulder Green Building Guild - A great resources for building professionals and homeowners

• Help homeowners find the products and designs for building "green."
• Encourage Boulder homeowners to include cost-effective and sustainable remodeling and building methods that conserve fossil fuels, water and other natural resources.
• Promote the recycling of construction materials and reduce solid waste.
• Promote better indoor air quality

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