Green Policies - San Francisco Bay Area

The Alameda County Waste Management Authority (ACWMA) was one of the original stakeholders in the formation of the Green Resource Center, which later became Built It Green. The county actively promotes GreenPoint Rated to homeowners, builders and local jurisdictions.

In July 2007, the Mayor's Green Building Task Force released a report recommending what, if adopted, would be the most progressive green building standards for private sector development of any city in the United States. Over five years increasing LEED and GreenPoint Rated standards would apply to new commercial and residential construction.

The City of Albany Green Building Standards of Compliance mandate minimum thresholds for civic, commercial and residential projects with levels of stringency set according to building size or number of dwelling units. New single family residential and remodels subject to design review must achieve at least 50 Green Points and be verified by a third party GreenPoint Rater. New Multifamily developments must be the maximum GreenPoints practicable if less than 5 units and the minimum standard if more than 5 units.

Every builder applying for a Use or Administrative Use permit for new construction and major remodels or involves demolition must consult with a Build It Green expert under the Berkeley’s Best Builders program and submit a GreenPoint checklist with the application. All new non-residential buildings over 10,000 sq. ft. must conduct an Energy Conservation Analysis under PG&E’s Savings by Design Program.

The City of Brisbane requires that all new single dwellings and multifamily residential projects of 20 units or more must achieve at least 50 GreenPoints with the minimum achievements in all categories according to the most recent GreenPoint Rated Guidelines.

Cotati's Sustainable Building Program mandates that every new residential development must achieve at least 60 points from the GreenPoint Rated checklist.

Hayward requires that all multifamily developments with 20 units or more are required to submit a GreenPoint Rated checklist to the Planning Commission, and obtain at least 50 points. Additionally, all municipal buildings exceeding $3 million in cost must achieve a LEED Silver rating.

Los Altos mandates that all new single and multifamily homes must be GreenPoint Rated, new municipal buildings be LEED certified, and new commercial developments be 15% more efficient than Title 24.

The City of Novato requires that each new residential building achieve at least 50 GreenPoints with a minimum of ten points in each category.  Major renovations must achieve 30 points with a minimum of five points in each category.  Completed GreenPoints checklists must be submitted to the Planning Department and the Building Department.