Mayor Plans to Green Jersey City

JERSEY CITY-Mayor Jerramiah Healy has proposed a series of ordinances aimed at boosting the city’s eco-friendly profile. The proposals, which include incentives for private developers and the purchase of fuel-efficient municipal vehicles, have been sent to the City Council for review and could be introduced next month.

Developers aiming for LEED certification in new construction and rehabilitation would be entitled to a partial refund of building permit application fees under one ordinance proposed by Healy. The refunds would range from 10% on buildings that meet the minimum criteria for certification to 25% on projects that pursue LEED Platinum, the highest designation under the guidelines developed by the US Green Building Council.

City-owned buildings and municipal projects, including those costing more than $1 million to renovate, would also adhere to LEED guidelines if the council enacts Healy’s proposed ordinance 08-176. The ordinance sets LEED Silver as the minimum standard for new or existing buildings, and also mandates the pursuit of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Building label on new construction. These requirements would be waived for new construction if earning LEED Silver and Energy Star designations increases the cost by 20%, and for modifying existing structures if the cost of LEED certification exceeds $20,000 or 1% of the building’s market value.