Large-scale construction in Boston to be green

Boston (U.S.A.) is amending its building code to require all large-scale private construction be ‘green’.

Under new regulations, all private construction of at least 50,000 feet must meet the minimum criteria of the United Stated Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for new projects.

Boston is believed to be the first city to revise its building code to adhere to the criteria. The change means that each project must meet at least 26 of 69 criteria the Green Building Council established. Developers can choose from the 69 items, which include construction with recycled content, water-efficient landscaping systems and proximity to public transportation.

Boston is adding four other criteria, including one that would pertain to a project involving historic preservation.

Boston is one of 62 local governments in the U.S.A. that are currently Members of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. For more information on ICLEI and its programs in the U.S.A., please visit www.iclei.org/usa.

Source: “Boston plans to go ‘green’ on large building projects”, The New York Times, 20 December 2006.