Hayward Green Building Ordinance
The City of Hayward is considering the adoption of a "Green Building" that would require that all new residential construction and some remodeling be conducted in compliance with green building standards. These standards would apply to landscaping, foundation, plumbing, exterior finishes, appliances, insulation, heating and cooling.
The current draft ordinance would only encourage the use of green building materials and practices in home remodeling and additions. We were able to convince the City that since the standards for a “green” remodeling project are still being developed and that the costs of doing a “green” project may be higher than a conventional project, the City should “encourage” rather than mandate these practices.
We see the use of green building practices as a potential marketing tool for resale properties. It’s possible that a REALTOR® could use an addition done with “green” materials or other energy-efficiency work as a marketing tool.
All of the members of the Hayward Sustainability Committee were sensitive to the additional costs that green building practices could add to residential remodeling projects. Among their concerns was the possibility that home owners would bypass the building permit process to avoid having to use more expensive materials.
The city of Hayward is truly interested in hearing from the real estate community regarding what incentives it could offer to motivate property owners to use “green” practices and materials in their remodeling and addition projects.
So what exactly is “Green Building?”
According to City of Hayward staff, green buildings are sited, designed, constructed, and operated to enhance the well-being of their occupants and support a healthy community and natural environment. “Green building” practices include:
These are the claimed benefits of “green building.” However, the REALTOR® community should be concerned about this proposed ordinance. The Green Building standards could increase the cost of new housing, the cost of making improvements to existing housing and add to the time it takes a project, even a simple remodel, to be approved by the city. Individual property owners seeking to upgrade their homes for either resale or for their own enjoyment would be impacted.
Bay East took its concerns to the City of Hayward and, as a result, we’ve been involved in drafting the latest versions of the ordinance. Bay East staff has attended meetings of Hayward’s Sustainability Committee which includes representatives from the City Council, Planning Commission and city staff.
We were also represented on the Green Building Review Committee which included representatives from the development community. This group provided critical feedback to Hayward staff regarding the ordinance and how its provisions would impact the cost and feasibility of new construction and remodeling work. To their credit, Hayward staff took the bulk of the Committees recommendations and incorporated them into the current draft ordinance.
On July 2 the Hayward Sustainability Committee reviewed the latest version of the ordinance and directed city staff to submit it to the City Council at a work session on September 16. The following is a summary of the ordinance as it applies to residential construction and remodeling projects:
The GreenPoint Rating System was developed by Build It Green - a non-profit membership organization that promotes energy- and resource-efficient building practices in California. The Homebuilders Association of Northern California endorses Build It Green’s GreenPoint Rating System.
The GreenPoint Rating System may be used to ensure green building measures are incorporated into residential construction projects. There are GreenPoint Rating guidelines and checklists for new single-family construction; new multi-family construction and for for remodels and additions. A GreenPoint Rated home is graded on five categories:
Build It Green is currently working on a GreenPoint Rating system for remodeling and addition projects. According to City of Hayward staff, system will use two rating levels:
The current draft ordinance would only encourage the use of green building materials and practices in home remodeling and additions. We were able to convince the City that since the standards for a “green” remodeling project are still being developed and that the costs of doing a “green” project may be higher than a conventional project, the City should “encourage” rather than mandate these practices.
We see the use of green building practices as a potential marketing tool for resale properties. It’s possible that a REALTOR® could use an addition done with “green” materials or other energy-efficiency work as a marketing tool.
All of the members of the Hayward Sustainability Committee were sensitive to the additional costs that green building practices could add to residential remodeling projects. Among their concerns was the possibility that home owners would bypass the building permit process to avoid having to use more expensive materials.
The city of Hayward is truly interested in hearing from the real estate community regarding what incentives it could offer to motivate property owners to use “green” practices and materials in their remodeling and addition projects.
So what exactly is “Green Building?”
According to City of Hayward staff, green buildings are sited, designed, constructed, and operated to enhance the well-being of their occupants and support a healthy community and natural environment. “Green building” practices include:
- Designing for livable communities
- Using the sun and the location of a building to the building's advantage for natural heating, cooling, and lighting
- Using native, drought-resistant plants and water-efficient practices
- Building quality, durable structures
- Reducing and recycling construction and demolition waste
- Using insulation and appropriate ventilation
- Using durable, salvaged and recycled materials
- Using energy-efficient and water-saving appliances, fixtures and technologies
These are the claimed benefits of “green building.” However, the REALTOR® community should be concerned about this proposed ordinance. The Green Building standards could increase the cost of new housing, the cost of making improvements to existing housing and add to the time it takes a project, even a simple remodel, to be approved by the city. Individual property owners seeking to upgrade their homes for either resale or for their own enjoyment would be impacted.
Bay East took its concerns to the City of Hayward and, as a result, we’ve been involved in drafting the latest versions of the ordinance. Bay East staff has attended meetings of Hayward’s Sustainability Committee which includes representatives from the City Council, Planning Commission and city staff.
We were also represented on the Green Building Review Committee which included representatives from the development community. This group provided critical feedback to Hayward staff regarding the ordinance and how its provisions would impact the cost and feasibility of new construction and remodeling work. To their credit, Hayward staff took the bulk of the Committees recommendations and incorporated them into the current draft ordinance.
On July 2 the Hayward Sustainability Committee reviewed the latest version of the ordinance and directed city staff to submit it to the City Council at a work session on September 16. The following is a summary of the ordinance as it applies to residential construction and remodeling projects:
- All new residential projects would be required to be “GreenPoint Rated.”
- Residential remodeling and addition projects entailing more than 500 square feet would be encouraged to become GreenPoint Rated.
The GreenPoint Rating System was developed by Build It Green - a non-profit membership organization that promotes energy- and resource-efficient building practices in California. The Homebuilders Association of Northern California endorses Build It Green’s GreenPoint Rating System.
The GreenPoint Rating System may be used to ensure green building measures are incorporated into residential construction projects. There are GreenPoint Rating guidelines and checklists for new single-family construction; new multi-family construction and for for remodels and additions. A GreenPoint Rated home is graded on five categories:
- energy efficiency,
- resource conservation,
- indoor air quality,
- water conservation, and
- community.
Build It Green is currently working on a GreenPoint Rating system for remodeling and addition projects. According to City of Hayward staff, system will use two rating levels:
- The “Elements” label will be used for homes that meet basic requirements regarding Energy Efficiency, Indoor Air Quality, Resource Conservation and Water Conservation.
- The “Whole House” label will be applied to homes that have made “comprehensive green improvements” in those areas.
