city pages “It’s not a design guideline. It’s not a checklist. It’s a building code,” local architect Katrina Evans—who chairs the committee— told ACC commissioners last week. Efficiency features can add 2 to 5 percent to building costs, but those costs “are always going down as products become more mainstream,” she Designing a new building to be energysaid. efficient can cost a little more on the front Just adding a reflective, lighter-colored end but pays dividends in lower energy bills. “cool roof” can cut a building’s air condiThe Athens-Clarke County Government’s own tioning costs by 20 percent, she says; that’s buildings are already being constructed in one of the cheapest ways to save energy. accordance with LEED standards whenever Photovoltaics—electricity-generating solar a new building is built; the county’s new panels—are “still a little out of reach” costDanielsville Road fire station costs 10 to 20 wise, but other requirements that “walk the percent less to heat and line” between costs and cool than comparable fire benefits will be given The committee is stations, Central Services careful consideration. director David Fluck has Those might include addrecommending less told Flagpole. ing energy sensors; using stringent rules based But in most places, recycled materials; lowincluding Athens-Clarke paints and carpets on standards developed VOC County, new construction that don’t give off fumes; of privately owned buildventilation that brings in by ASHRAE, a heating ings is not required to outside air; “biodiverse” meet any energy-efficiency and air-conditioning landscaping; shade trees standards—it must only or light-colored, heatengineering society. comply with local building reflecting concrete pavcodes, which only require ing (rather than asphalt, basic insulation. That will change if county which absorbs heat); and designated recycling commissioners accept the recommendation of areas in buildings. a “green building committee” composed of ACC commissioners could vote in November local developers, designers, builders and propon formulating and eventually implementing erty owners. But rather than insisting that such a code. It could apply to apartments new buildings receive LEED certification—a over three stories high and to commercial process which, in and of itself, can add sigbuildings, either new or when renovations are nificant expense to a project—the commitplanned—but probably won’t apply to singletee is recommending the county adopt less family houses. That requirement is considered stringent rules based on standards developed too controversial. by ASHRAE, a heating and air-conditioning engineering society. John Huie
Mayor, Commish Get Staff Recommendations for Green Building Regs
Skate Shop O F AT H E N S
50 GAINES SCHOOL ROAD · 706.543.6368
JULY 21, 2010 · FLAGPOLE.COM
5