New York Municipalities Begin Requiring LEED, Green Building Certification

Municipalities in the lower Hudson Valley are joining a small but growing trend in trying to combat global warming by requiring that new building projects and some renovations receive LEED, green building certification.

Earlier this week the County Executive of Rockland County signed a local law which requires that for building projects owned or operated by the County, which cost in excess of one million dollars, there be a “good faith effort” to receive the LEED silver certification. The city of Yonkers is now considering a local law that would require any building receiving a zone change, variance, subsidy or tax break to obtain LEED silver certification. The law is proposed for major renovations or construction of at least 4,000 square feet, with less stringent standard applying to smaller projects.