.01 Sustainability Project Report
CITY OF CUPERTINO
10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California 95014
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT FORM
Application: CP-2007-01
Applicant: City of Cupertino
Project Location: Citywide
Agenda Date: June 26, 2007
Application Summary:
Report on the Global Green Sustainability Project - Draft Report.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Commission recommend to the City Council to prepare and
implement a Green Building Program.
BACKGROUND:
The 2007 Work Program approved by Planning Commission and City Council includes
implementation of the sustainability policies in the General Plan.
The implementation of the Sustainability policies has been divided into two phases. In
this first phase, a summary analysis of the currently existing efforts of the city related to
green building and sustainable development has been prepared, which provides
direction for the second phase. Global. Green USA has conducted this audit and
analysis.
Their report (Exhibit A) analyzed the existing policies, ordinances and programs of the
city. The current General Plan Policies related to Sustainability were compared to the
three aspects of Sustainability, Environment, Economy and Equity. The analysis
revealed that most of the policies were related to the Environment aspect of
Sustainability.
Furthermore, the existing policies, ordinances and programs were reviewed against the
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design New Construction (LEED NC)
Checklist. This analysis reveals that there are several opportunities for the city to
strengthen its position on sustainability.
The report suggests that there are two options for the city to pursue. Option One
involves developing a complete City Sustainability Program. This option addresses all
the three aspects of sustainability. Option Two involves the preparation and
implementation of a Green Building Program. This option mainly addresses the
Environment aspect of Sustainability as described in the report. There are several
existing Green Building Programs in Northern California. Specifically, the Alameda
County Green Building Program can be used as a framework for developing the City of
Cupertino's Green Building Program. Walker Wells of Global Green USA will present
more information about the report and the analysis at the meeting.
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Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend the preparation and
implementation of a Green Building Program. This appears to be a logical first step in
the creation of a holistic Sustainability Program and can be implemented in a relatively
short period of time. The development of a Sustainability Program can be done after the
Green Building Program has been implemented.
The next step will be to convene a Task Force. If the City Council agrees to this
recommendation, staff will prepare a draft scope of work for the Task Force for the City
Council to approve prior to convening the Task Force. There is adequate revenue in the
2007-2008 budget to support the Green Building Program.
Enclosures:
Exhibit A: Final Draft of "City of Cupertino, Inventory of Codes, Policies and Programs Related to Green
Building & Sustainability" Prepared by Global Green USA. May 25, 2007.
Prepared by: Piu Ghosh, Assistant Planner ~ J
Approved by: Steve Piasecki, Director of Community Developme~
G: \ Planning \ PDREPORT\pcCPreports \2007CPreport\ CP-2007-01.doc
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BACKGROUND
As issues related to climate change, habitat loss, decreasing open space, water
quality and availability, and public health become increasing concerns at the local
level, a growing number of cities are taking proactive steps to ensure a
sustainable future. Balancing the need to meet future demands for constituent
services, expand residential and business opportunities, and protect local quality
of life is challenging and requires that new and emerging strategies in urban
planning and municipal management be employed. Sustainability is one such
strategy. Emerging over the past fifteen years as a tool for local governments,
sustain ability fosters new synergies among city programs and the public in an
effort to link environmental responsibility, social equity, and economic stability.
The City of Cupertino has long viewed environmental protection as a priority, as
is evidenced in prior General Plans, particularly the Conservation Element. Local
interest in the topic of sustainability is a more recent trend. The November 2005
General Plan Update established a series of goals related to sustainability, in
response to the concerns of both the local community and policy makers
regarding how to best preserve and nurture the unique environmental aspects of
the City. The specific topics of energy, water, wildlife conservation, green building
design, air quality, efficient land use planning, and zoning were identified as
priorities for the sustainability of the City of Cupertino.
In 2007, the Planning Commission and City Council directed Staff, via the
Community Development Department's work plan, to begin implementation of the
sustainability goals outlined in the 2005 General Plan Update. The work program
directs staff to conduct a two-phase process, in which the first phase is to
conduct an audit or inventory of existing programs and policies. The second
phase is development and implementation of specific programs. Cupertino
contracted with Global Green USA for the first phase inventory and analysis.
The two most common programmatic approaches that cities use to address
sustainability are the creation of a Sustainable City Program or a Green Building
Program. This report provides an overview of existing programs and policies in
place in Cupertino and provides the information necessary for the City to
determine which of these paths most reflects its current and future needs.
Sustainable City Programs
While the concept of sustainability, or living in balance with nature and natural
processes, is many centuries old, the application of the concept to human
developments or cities is usually linked to a report prepared by the 1989
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Bruntland Commission. Our Common Future, generated by the Commission,
provided the most commonly used contemporary definition of sustainability:
".. .development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of the future to meet its own needs. Perceived
needs are socially and culturally determined, and sustainable
development requires the promotion of values that encourage
consumption standards that are within the bounds of the ecological
possible and to which all can reasonably aspire..."
Several years later, the concept of sustainability was further articulated at the
1992 United Nations World Summit for Sustainable Development (commonly
referred to as the Earth Summit) in' Rio de Janeiro. The main result of the event
was the creation of Agenda 21, an action plan for how national governments
could move toward more sustainable policies and practices. A small but
important part of Agenda 21 was a statement encouraging cities and counties to
develop and implement local sustainability plans and programs:
"Each local authority should enter into a dialogue with its citizens, local
organizations and private enterprises and adopt a 'local' Agenda 21."
The types of issues that are addressed in most Sustainable City programs
include not only environmental, or eco-efficiency, issues like solid waste and
storm water management, but also economic and social equity issues such as
access to affordable housing or proximity of certain populations to hazardous
matenals sites.
Over time, sustainability has come to be characterized as a "three-legged stool,"
with each leg representing one of the "three E's of sustainability" -- stewardship
of the Environment, the Economy and Social Equity. In other instances the three
p's of sustainability may be referenced: People, Planet and Profit.
A Sustainable City program combines components of public outreach, scientific
analysis, implementation of targeted initiatives, and communication. Typically, a
task force is formed to identify key sustainability goal areas. Once the major goal
areas are identified and agreed upon, a series of "indicators" are created to track
progress toward (or away from) sustainability goals. Responsibility for achieving
the goals is often shared between the public and private sectors. Progress in
relation to these indicators is tracked and reported annually to identify if policies
or programs need to be adjusted in order to meet the stated goals. Nationally,
examples of cities with Sustainable City Programs include Santa Monica, San
Jose, Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Regionally, the Bay Area is very active in the development of sustainability
programs. Local resources include Sustainable Silicon Valley (SSV), which has
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the goal of reducing regional carbon dioxide (C02) emissions to 20% below their
1990 levels by the year 2010; the Silicon Valley Environmental Partnership
(SVEP), which publishes a regional indicators report every four years; and the
Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Communities, which has published a Compact
. for a Sustainable Bay Area that identifies key regional challenges and
recommends a package of strategic commitments to help meet those challenges.
Green Building Programs
Green building is a rapidly growing national movement to create healthier, more
resource efficient, and more environmentally responsible buildings. While
architects and builders had been employing environmental building techniques
like passive solar, rammed earth construction, and use of reclaimed materials for
many years, the formation of the US Green Building Council in 1993 launched
the current, more professionalized green building movement.
The objective of green building design and construction is to create buildings that
redu,ce resource consumption, provide better working and living environments,
and protect the natural environment. Green building addresses a oroad range of
issues including the following:
· site selection
· building orientation
· stormwater management
· construction and demolition waste management
· energy efficiency
· water efficiency
· use of recycled content and renewable materials
· indoor environmental quality
Over the past decade, a growing number of cities have adopted green building
policies or programs as a first step on the path to sustainability. Other cities have
established green building programs as a stand-alone undertaking, with no larger
sustainability goals or plans.
Most programs begin by the city committing to building all city owned or city
funded buildings to a defined standard of green building. By taking a leadership
position, the city demonstrates a commitment to green building and helps to
establish a local pool of green building professionals and product distributors.
The United States Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System TM, since its
approval by the USGBC membership in 2000, has become the best known
national standard for green buildings.
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There are currently 55 cities, 11 counties, 8 towns, 22 states, 33 schools, and 11
federal agencies across the United States and Canada that use the LEED rating
system as the basis of executive orders, resolutions, ordinances, policies, and
incentives.
A green building program relies on the close collaboration among different city
departments and divisions. Examples of city policies and programs that relate to
green building include:
· General Plan land use, transportation, and conservation elements
· Zoning Ordinance requirements for carpool and bicycle parking
· Low-water landscaping requirements
· Recycling requirements and programs
· Building and energy code
· Stormwater pollution prevention plans
A green building program, if structured correctly, can serve as an umbrella for
these diverse issues and create a common forum for city staff to share and
collaborate across departments.
RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY
The methodology for the research and analysis related to sustainability in
Cupertino included:
· Researching current City policies, programs, and practices.
· Preparing two matrices, one related to the City's stated sustainability goals
and a second related to the LEED Rating System.
Research
Global Green developed an overview of the City of Cupertino's current codes,
programs, and practices based on the following:
1. City of Cupertino General Plan Update, 2005
2. City of Cupertino Municipal Code (current version on web site)
3. Program Information from Cuptertino.Org
4. Handouts from permit counter and the Cupertino Scene
5. Interviews with City Staff
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Policies
As described above, the 2005 General Plan update includes a section
specifically devoted to the topic of sustainability. The staff report for the
Planning Commission Study Session on Sustainability on March 27, 2007 states:
'The 2007 Work Program approved by Planning Commission and City
Council includes implementation of the sustain ability policies in the
General Plan. These policies were adopted in November 2005 as part of
the comprehensive General Plan review.
The General Plan policies with regard to sustainability identify a number of
strategies in each of the following areas - Energy Conservation, Water
Conservation, Green Building Design, Air Quality, Wildlife Conservation
and efficient Land Use Planning and Zoning.
The implementation strategies outlined in the Environmental
Resources/Sustainability Element are based on principles related to
linking Resource Management and Economic Determinations in
evaluating projects, conservation and efficiency, reduction of waste,
resource management, restoration, prevention/mitigation, innovation,
community participation and education. "
The Twelve Guiding Principles for the City of Cupertino, listed in the General
Plan update are:
1. Neighborhoods
2. Health and Safety
3. Connectivity
4. Mobility
5. Balanced Community
6. Vibrant, mixed-use businesses and "Heart of the City"
7. Attractive Community Design
8. Diversity
9. Education and Technology
10. Environment and Sustain ability
11. Fiscal Self Reliance
12. Responsive Government and Regional Leadership.
These Guiding Principles not only include environment and sustainability directly,
but indirectly many of the principles relate back the idea of a sustainable future
for the citizens of Cupertino.
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The specific goals and policies in the General Plan have numerous relationships
to the main issues (the three Es) of sustainability. A summary of General Plan
goals and policies with a relation to sustainability is provided in Appendix A.
The most specific definition of sustainability in the General Plan is found in the
Environmental Resources/Sustainability Element of the General Plan Update.
This Element (Section 5) offers a compelling overview, in the form of principles,
of how Cupertino prioritizes sustainability and provides a comprehensive and
thorough review of goals, strategies and implementation recommendations to
help Cupertino become a more sustainable city. The goals stated in this General
Plan element are:
A: Sustainable Future for the City of Cupertino
B: Reduced Use of Non-Renewable Energy
C: Energy Conserving and Efficient Buildings
D: Healthy Air Quality Levels for the Citizens of Cupertino Utilizing Local
Planning Efforts
E: Protection of Special Areas of Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Habitation
as Integral Parts of the Sustainable Environment
F: Mineral Resource Areas that Minimize Community Impacts and Identify
Future Use
G: Protection and Efficient Use of Water Resources
H: Improved Quality of Storm Water Runoff
I: A Solid Waste Stream Reduction Program that Meets or Exceeds State
Requirement
J: Adequate Sewer Capacity
Throughout the General Plan there are also 62 policies that are related to
sustainability. These range from hillside protection and maintaining stormwater
quality to encouraging greater use of the City's recycling program.
Programs
The City of Cupertino administers \ . several environmental programs that are
meeting or exceeding local and state requirements. These programs are:
· Business and Residential Recycling
· Coordinated "Garage Sale" event
· Compost Give Away
· Hazardous Waste Reduction
Cupertino also participates in regional air and water quality efforts and takes the
initiative to consider green building practices in the design and construction of
City projects.
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City Staff Interviews
Interviews with Cupertino City Staff were conducted on April 4, 2007 to obtain
additional information about Cupertino's actual practices that may not be
reflected in the current general plan policies, ordinances, or codes. The
interviews were conducted in person at Cupertino City Hall by Monica Gilchrist of
Global Green USA. Piu Ghosh from the City of Cupertino was present for most
interviews. Each interview lasted from approximately % hour to one hour. The
basic questions asked of each interviewee were:
· What are your general responsibilities?
· What steps has Cuperlino taken toward sustainability?
· What development or projects are currently in progress or coming up?
· What other ways could the City of Cupertino address sustainability?
There was some variation in the questions asked, and answered, based upon
interviewee's experience or role within the City. Additionally, some interviews
were done with multiple people at one time.
The main themes that emerged from the interviews were:
· Current program goals are being met and the City is in compliance with state
and regional environmental regulations for recycling and stormwater quality.
For example, Cupertino is meeting the waste diversion requirements of AB
939 through an active and successful recycling and composting program.
· A general support for and interest in sustainability
· Different interpretation among individuals and departments about the
meaning of sustainability.
· Some hesitation to codify sustainability, versus creating incentives for
achieving higher standards
· Some concerns were raised about the need for additional staff
Specific issues of note include:
· Current programs could be more effective if more staff were allocated to
coordinating with local businesses and residents.
· De Anza College is interested in collaborating on public outreach
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Analvsis
Sustainability Goals and Policies
The Table below lists how the current codes, programs and practices relate to
the General Plan policies in comparison to the accepted definitions or
expectations of sustainability.
2-1: Concentrated Development in Urban Centers X X
2-2: Connections Between Centers and the X X
Communit
2-4: Active Spaces X X
2-19: Jobs/Housin Balance X X X
2-48: Hrllside Development Standards (that ensure X
hillside protection)
2-51: Cluster Develo ment in Subdivisions X
2-65: Herita e Trees X
2-67 Stevens Creek Park Uoin upper and lower to X
create wider protected area)
2-68: Continuous Open Space X
2-71: Private 0 en Space and Recreational Facilities X X
2-72: Public Use of Private Open Space X X
2-73: Open Space and Trail Linka es X
2-79: Park Design (low impact, natural resources, X
native/drou ht tolerant lants
4-2: Reduced Reliance on the Use of Single - X X
Occupant Vehicles
4-3: Cupertino Pedestrian Transportation Guidelines X X
and the Cupertino Bic cle Transportation Plan
4-5: Increased Use of Public Transit X X
4-6: Traffic Service and Land Use Development X
4-7: Traffic Service and Pedestrian Needs X
Environmental Resources/Sustainability Element
5-2: Conservation and Efficient Use of Energy
Resources
5-3: Green Buildin Desi n
5-4: Air Pollution Effects of New Development
5-5: Air Pollution Effects of Existin Development
5-6: Walkin ,Jo in and Bic clin
5-7: Use of 0 en Fires and Fire laces
5-8: Public Project Landscaping
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
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Table 1: General Plan Policies Related to Sustainability
General Plan Policy Aspect of Sustainability
Environment Economy Equity
5-9: Development Near Sensitive Areas X
5-10: Landscaping Near Natural Vegetation X
5-11: Natural Area Protection X X
5-12: Hillside Property Fencing X
5-13: Recreation in Natural Areas X X
5-14: Recreation and Wildlife Trails X X
5-15: Mineral Resource Areas X X
5-16: Mineral Extraction Controls X X
5-17: Incompatible Land Uses X X
5-18: Recreation at Old Quarries X X
5-19: Natural Water Bodies and Drainage Systems X
5-20: Reduction of ImperviQus Surfaces X
5-21: Pollution and Flow Impacts X
5-22: Compact Development Away from Sensitive X
Areas
5-23: Conformance with Watershed-Based Planning X
and Zoning
5-24: Ground Water Recharge Sites X X
5-25: Other Water Sources X X
5-26: Industrial Water Recycling X X
5-27: Natural Water Courses X
5-28: Interagency Coordination X X X
5-29: Coordination of Local Policies with Region-wide X X
Conservation Policies
5-30: Public Information Effort X X X
5-31: Water Use Efficiency X X
5-32: Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program X X
5-33: Illicit Discharge into Storm Drains and X X
Waterways
5-34: Storm Water Runoff X
5-35: Development of Septic Systems X X
5-36: Mitigation for Potential Storm Water Impacts X X X
5-37: Pest-Resistant Landscaping and Design X X
5:"38: Commercialllndustrial Recycling X X
5-39: Residential Recycling X X
5-40: On-Site Garbage Area Dedication X
5-41: Public Education X
5-42: City Recycling X X
5-43: Re-distribution of Reusable Materials X X
5-44: Reuse of Building Materials X X
5-45: Coordination with the Cupertino Sanitary District X
Total 60 29 15
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The above analysis shows that nearly all (60 of 62) of the City's sustainability
goals are focused on the environmental component of sustainability. Roughly
half of the policies also touch on economic issues (29) and a quarter (15) have
some relationship to social equity.
Of the 62 policies with a relationship to sustainability, ten are supported by
ordinances in the Cupertino Municipal Code or by City programs. The following
ordinances are currently in place to implement the policies outlined in the above
table:
· Chapter 19.81 Recycling Areas supports Policy 5-39: Residential Recycling,
Policy 5-42: City Recycling, and Policy 5-43: Re-distribution of Reusable
Materials.
· Chapter 9. 18 Stormwater Pollution Prevention and Watershed Protection
supports Policy 5-19: Natural Water Bodies and Drainage Systems, Policy 5-
32: Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program, and Policy 5-36: Mitigation
for Potential Storm Water Impacts.
· Chapter 14.15 Xeriscape Landscaping supports Policy 2-79: Park Design,
Policy 5-31: Water Use Efficiency, and Policy 5-37: Pest-Resistant
Landscaping and Design.
· Chapter 15.32 Water Conservation supports Policy 5-31: Water Use
Efficiency and Policy 5-26: Industrial Water Recycling.
· Chapter 19.40: Residential Hillside Zones supports Policy 2-48: Hillside
Development Standards.
· Chapter 14.18: Heritage and Specimen Trees supports Policy 2-65: Heritage
Trees
In addition, the City's current practices of considering green building practices for
public buildings and participating in a green operations program supports Policy
5-2: Conservation and Efficient Use of Energy Resources and 5-3: Green
Building Design.
LEED Rating System
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system is
developed and administered by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), a non-
profit organization. LEED covers the basic spectrum of sustainable development
by addressing issues related to site use, energy efficiency, water conservation,
material selection, and indoor environmental quality. Over the past ten years
LEED has become the best known and most widely used green building rating
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system in the United States. Over 55 public agencies have adopted LEED as a
requirement for public buildings, and more recently, as the basis of programs for
private-sector construction. There are various versions of LEED for different
building types:
· LEED NC: New Construction (NC) for commercial and high-rise residential
· LEED CI: Commercial Interiors or tenant improvements
· LEED C&S: Core and Shell of commercial and retail structures
· LEED EB: Existing building retrofits or upgrades
· LEED H: Homes both single and low-rise residential
When discussing "LEED" most design professional are referring to LEED NC.
This is likely because it is the oldest of the LEED products and, therefore, the
system that they are most familiar with. The LEED NC rating system is
structured five main categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and
atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. Each
category features a number of credits that can be earned by either conducting
analysis beyond what is typical of current practice or incorporating building
systems or materials that promote resource conservation, reduced environmental
impact, or improved human health and well being. All of the categories except
water efficiency also feature mandatory prerequisites.
As LEED is an accepted national standard, and NC is the most broadly used of
the LEED systems, LEED NC was used in this analysis as an indicator of existing
support for green building and, by extension, sustainability. If the City's current
policies, programs, and practices show a high degree of consistency with LEED,
then this is perceived as strong local support for green building. Low consistency
with LEED would demonstrate little current activity regarding green building.
To create the LEED Comparison Matrix, each code, program and policy from the
City of Cupertino was reviewed to determine its relationship to the LEED NC
prerequisites and credits using the following criteria:
· Supportive indicates that the goals or intent established by Cupertino are
compatible with the LEED credit or the intent of the LEED credit.
· Trending indicates that there is some specific policy on the books that
supports the requirements of LEED credit.
· Definitive indicates that the LEED credit is achieved by building to code in
the City of Cupertino.
· Not Applicable indicates that a credit is not applicable for city policy.
Generally, these are building oriented items not addressed at the City level
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Finally, Opportunity indicates that there are no strong supportive policies
currently in place, but an opportunity exists to create a city policy within the intent
of this credit. The analysis shows that current city efforts, as compared to LEED,
result in the following (See Appendix B for detailed LEED analysis):
· 3 definitive credits
· 10 trending credits
· 13 supporting credits
· 11 credits are that are not applicable to city policies
· 25 credits presented opportunities for the city to further develop sustainability
policies
LEED NC Compatibility Analysis
Indoor Environmental
Quality
Materials and
Resources
Energy and
Atmosphere
Water Efficiency
Sustainable Sites
o
2
. Definitive
i . Trending
Supporting
. Opportunity
4
6
12
8
10
The LEED NC analysis demonstrates that there is a higher number of credits that
represent opportunities in the green building sector, as compared to items that
are addressed specifically by current City of Cupertino policies, programs or
practices. While the numbers of supportive, trending and definitive policies
currently in place is limited, it is important to view these results in the context of
the specificity and rigor of the LEED rating system. In other words, the fact that
there are a number of policies in place that are supportive, trending and definitive
for LEED credits indicates that the city demonstrates a good level of readiness in
relation to green building.
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LEED for Neighborhood Development
The USGBC is currently in the development process for the LEED for
Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) rating system. A collaborative effort
among the USGBC, Congress for New Urbanism and the Natural Resources
Defense Council, LEED ND is currently in the pilot phase with the public
comment period to occur in 2008 and a launch of the full rating system in 2009.
Instead of rating individual buildings, LEED ND addresses development issues at
the neighborhood scale and is therefore a good tool for analyzing the
"greenness" of planning and development policies. Because the rating system is
still in the pilot phase, it is not possible to conduct a definitive LEED ND based
analysis. However, an initial review using the pilot criteria indicates that the City
of Cupertino has a number of policies currently in place that are supportive and
trending toward the LEED ND credits.
Specifically, in the "Smart Location & Linkage" and the "Neighborhood Pattern &
Design" sections, where the emphasis is on compact, pedestrian friendly, active
spaces, there is a good deal of compatibility between the planning goals of the
City of Cupertino, as outlined in the General Plan Land Use Element, and the
LEED ND rating system. The third section of the LEED NO rating system is
"Green Construction and Technology", which addresses many of the same
issues discussed above in the LEED NC analysis.
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
It is apparent from the General Plan update, the interviews conducted with staff
and the public participation at the Planning Commission Study Session on March
27, 2007 that sustainability issues are an important part of the culture in
Cupertino.
Cupertino's sustainability goals, policies and strategies indicate a desire to
preserve the local quality of life and to work in conjunction with the larger
ecological region in which Cupertino is located. Key examples are water quality,
water procurement, air quality, stormwater and watershed management.
The City is meeting, or working toward, many of the goals and policies in the
General Plan, especially those that are linked to state or regional regulations.
For example Goal I: A Solid Waste Stream Reduction Program that Meets or
Exceeds States Requirements and Policy 5-43: Re-distribution of Reusable
Materials are being met through the City's recycling program. However, there
remain goals and policies that are currently not being implemented through a
specific ordinance or program.
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Two Paths Forward
The next step for the City of Cupertino is to determine if the best approach to
achieve full implementation of the sustainability goals and policies is the
development of a of a Sustainable City Program or a Green Building Program.
Sustainable City Program
Given the strong emphasis on the environmental aspect of sustainability
demonstrated by the current General Plan policies, if the decision is made to
pursue a sustainable city program, the primary challenge will be to develop a
more robust series of economic and social equity policies to balance the existing
environmental policies.
It will also be critical to formulate measurable indicators for each of the existing
and possible new policies. As stated in the introduction, there are a number of
organizations in the Bay Area that can provide some guidance and support to the
City in this process. However, there is no existing sustainable city program that
is readily transferable to the City of Cupertino. Developing a program specific to
Cupertino is estimated to require .12-18 months of public outreach, data analysis,
and program design before a program could begin implementation.
Green Building Program
Pursuing a green building program would be consistent with the current
emphasis on environmental issues and would enable Cupertino to further
implement the Sustainability aspect of sustainability. The steps toward
developing a Green Building Program (from Local Government Green Building
Programs, A Step by Step Guide created by Global Green USA) include:
· Step 1: Inventory of Existing Policies and Programs
· Step 2: Analysis of Current and Projected Building Types
· Step 3: Review of Existing Guidelines and Programs
· Step 4: Outreach to Stakeholders
· Step 5: Develop Guidelines and Green Building Framework
· Step 6: Implementation, Phasing, Training and Incentive
Of these steps, the city has completed Step 1 (in this report) and initiated Steps 2
and 3. The decision is made to pursue a green building program the nest steps
would be to complete Steps 2 and 3, concurrent with beginning the outreach to
local stakeholders (Step 4) by forming a "green ribbon committee" comprised of
the local developers, architects, builders, and environmental advocates. This
would be followed by development of the program framework and, once the
program is approved, by program implementation.
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The Bay Area has several organizations that are actively promoting green
building programs and a number of cities with programs underway. Cupertino
could leverage these existing efforts to accelerate the establishment and
implementation of a local program. Options include using the either LEED or the
Green Points program (also know as the Alameda County Green Building
Program), as the basis of the program. Green Points is administered by Build it
Green, a Bay Area based non-profit organization. The green building criteria
could then be folded into the project review and approval process currently
administered by the Community Development and Public Works Departments. A
green building program can also be viewed as an interim step toward a larger
Sustainable City Program.
Preparing for the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32)
Signed into law in late 2006, the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) requires
the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to adopt a statewide greenhouse gas
emissions limit that is equivalent to the level of greenhouse gas emissions in
1990. Once the limit is established, the emissions goal must be achieved by
2020.
The first recommendations of "discrete early implementation measures" for AB
32 are due by June 30,2007. While the role of local government in the
implementation of AB 32 is still undefined, either of the above approaches would
be valuable in positioning the City to be prepared for regulations that may result
from Assembly Bill 32.
Furthermore, the establishment of a cap and trade style program as an AB 32
implementation mechanism is currently being debated in the public arena.
Entities that are proactive in both documenting a baseline of carbon emissions
and developing actions to reduce emissions will be well positioned and
potentially rewarded if such a program is put in place.
Because buildings are a major source of green house gases (approximately 30%
nationally) through the combustion of fossil fuels, a green building program that
encourages energy and water efficiency (roughly 15% of energy used in the
State if California is related to transporting and treating water) would be a
valuable tool in mitigating local contributions to global warming. A sustainable
city program, which would likely address transportation in addition to buildings,
would further expand the spectrum of programmatic opportunities for global
warming mitigation through the City's actions.
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Policy 5-2: Conservation and Efficient Use of Energy Resources
Policy 5-3: Green Building Design
Policy 5-4: Air Pollution Effects of New Development
Policy 5-5: Air Pollution Effects of Existing Development
Policy 5-6: Walking, Jogging and Bicycling .
Policy 5-7: Use of Open Fires and Fireplaces
Policy 5-8: Public Proiect LandscapinQ
Policy 5-9: Development Near Sensitive Areas
Policy 5-10: Landscaping Near Natural VeQetation
Policy 5-11: Natural Area Protection
Policy 5-12: Hillside Property Fencinq
Policy 5-13: Recreation in Natural Areas
Policy 5-14: Recreation and Wildlife Trails
Policy 5-1"5: Mineral Resource Areas
Policy 5-16: Mineral Extraction Controls
Policy 5-17: Incompatible Land Uses
Policy 5-18: Recreation at Old Quarries
Policy 5-19: Natural Water Bodies and Drainage Systems
Policy 5-20: Reduction of Impervious Surfaces
Policy 5-21: Pollution and Flow Impacts
Policy 5-22: Compact Development Away from Sensitive Areas
Policy 5-23: Conformance with Watershed-Based Planning and Zoning
Policy 5-24: Ground Water Recharge Sites
Policy 5-25: Other Water Sources
Policy 5-26: Industrial Water Recycling
Policy 5-27: Natural Water Courses
Policy 5-28: Interagency Coordination
Policy 5-29: Coordination of Local Policies with Region-wide Conservation Policies
Policy 5-30: Public Information Effort
Policy 5-31: Water Use Efficiency
Policy 5-32: Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Proqram
Policy 5-33: Illicit Discharge into Storm Drains and Waterways
Policy 5-34: Storm Water Runoff
Policy 5-35: Development of Septic Systems
Policy 5-36: Mitigation for Potential Storm Water Impacts
Policy 5-37: Pest-Resistant Landscapinq and Desiqn Features
Policy 5-38: Commercial/lndustrial RecyclinQ
Policy 5-39: Residential Recyclinq
Policy 5-40: On-Site Garbaqe Area Dedication
Policy 5-41: Public Education
Policy 5-42: City Recyclinq
Policy 5-43: Re-distribution of Reusable Materials
Policy 5-44: Reuse of BuildinQ Materials
Policy 5-45: Coordination with the Cupertino Sanitary District
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APPENDIX B: LEED NC Rating System Analysis
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S ustai nable ,Sites, .. .;:.. ,., {' ~-~ -- :~~.2k~i~!~~:~;i~~~~.:~~~~f1_~;':~~~~~~.~~~~{~
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1 prereq 1 Construction Activity Pollution Prevention Required
-
Cupertino requires NPDES and BMP compliance. Additionally, several
policies (GP 5-20, 5-21, and Municipal Code chapter 9.18) encourage
additional pollution prevention strategies.
1 _ Credit 1 Site Selection 1
GP encourages sustainable growth patterns. Land Use/Community Design
Element: Goal A, Policy 2-1; GP Environment/Sustainability element
Section 5, Goal E, Policies 5-9, 5-11.
1 Credit 2 Development Density & Community Connectivity 1
_.'-.
GP encourages sustainable growth patterns. GP, Section 2, Goal A.
Policies 2-1, 2-2.
1 Credit 3 Brownfield Redevelopment 1
Minimal brownfield opportunities, potential In mine areas
1 Credit 4.1 Alternative Transportation, Public Transpo'rtation Access 1
GP, Circulation Element, Goal B: Increased Use of Public Transit, carpools,
bicycling, walking and telecommuting. Goal D: Increased Use of existing
public transit service and development of new rapid transit service.
~ Credit 4.2 Alternative Transportation, Bicycle Storage & Changing Rooms 1
GP: Circulation Element, Policy 4-3, Bicycle Plan-#9-Bicyle Facilities in
New Developments.
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1 Credit 4.3 . Alternative Transportation, Low-Emitting & Fuel-Efficient Vehicles 1
City could build and promote low emitting & fuel efficient station, parking
areas and infrastructure
1 Credit 4.4 Alternative Transportation, Parking Capacity 1
GP, Circ. Parking Placement in New Development.
1 Credit 5.1 Site Development, Protect or Restore Habitat 1
GP. Section 5, Goal E - Protection of Natural Areas, Policy 2-48 Hillside
Protection, 5-9 Development near sensitive areas, 5-11 Protection of natural
areas.
1 . Credit 5.2 Site Development, Maximize Open Space 1
GP, Section 5, Goal E; GP Policy 2-51 Cluster Development in Subdivisions
1 Credit 6.1 Stormwater Design, Quantity Control 1
Impervious surfaces. GP, Policy 5-20: Reduction of Impervious Surfaces;
Policy 5-32: Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program; Municipal Code
9.18 Stormwater Pollution Prevention and Watershed Protection.
1 Credit 6.2 Stormwater Design, Quality Control 1
BMPS: GP, Section 5, Goal H: Improved Quality of Storm Water Runoff;
Policy 5-32: Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program; Policy 5-34: Storm
Water Runoff; Municipal Code 9.18 Stormwater Pollution Prevention and
Watershed Protection.
1 Credit 7.1 Heat Island Effect, Non-Roof 1
GP, Circ. Parking Placement in New Development. Although the parking
placement is intended to keep parking out of site, an added benefit could be
to reduce the urban heat island effect.
1 Credit 7.2 Heat Island Effect, Roof 1
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Opportunity: City could demonstrate and promote vegetated roofing.
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1 Credit 8 Light Pollution Reduction 1
. --
Opportunity: City can work to balance security needs with efficient lighting
practices.
.Water Efficier:Jc] _,' ~" ';:;~r\'. " ':...'~ ~~ ",.ii;:t..:}~tf ~. :'.;' :\::':.~1tf:'.;' ' "" .,-:'.~~;';".,.Il, . ;~~;,:;).- i " J J .~_\ '~{\~, "0'.,:"0 r ::litlm:.
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1 Credit 1.1 Water Efficient Landscaping, Reduce by 50% 1
Municipal Code 14.15 Xeriscape Landscaping; Municipal Code 15.32
Water Conservation; General Plan Policy 5-31: Water Use Efficiency.
1 Credit 1.2 Water Efficient Landscaping, No Potable Use or No Irrigation 1
General Plan Policy 5-26: Industrial Water Recycling
1 Credit 2 Innovative Wastewater Technologies 1
General Plan Policy 5-26: Industrial 'Water Recycling; Policy 5-24: Ground
Water Recharge Sites.
.1 Credit 3.1 Water Use Reduction, 20% Reduction 1
General Plan Policy 5-31: Water Use Efficiency; Policy 5-26: Industrial
Water Recycling, Municipal Code 15.32.
1 Credit 3.2 Water Use Reduction, 30% Reduction 1
General Plan Policy 5-31: Water Use Efficiency; Policy 5-26: Industrial
Water Recycling, Municipal Code 15.32.
~nerg)~ ~nd AtrJ:l~.s_phere ", ~i: - "?- t ~ ~~ir~ ..;~?~. .f'.. ,~:"_'\~~~~ 'rJ;:~~;;~'~~t'.,..:~~~~~:'~~~:t!'i1{~!:;:~M:~~'t.~;~~~ ""'w,;rnma
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1 Prereq 1 Fundamental Comm'issioning of the Building Energy Systems Required
. Prereq 2 Minimum Energy Performance Required
Compliance with CA T24 contributes to this credit
1 Prereq 3 Fundamental Refrigerant Management Required
City could take adopt Montreal Protocol to take leadership role in
refrigerant management
1 Credit 1 Optimize Energy Performance 1 to 1 0
CA T24 guides buildings toward optimizing energy performance.
1 Credit 2 On-Site Renewable Energy 1 to 3
Rebates provided by the California Energy Commission.
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1 Credit 3 Enhanced Commissioning 1
1 Credit 4 Enhanced Refrigerant Management 1
Opportunity for City to support early compliance with the Montreal Protocol
and minimize contributions to global warming.
1 Credit 5 Measurement & Verification 1
1 Credit 6 Green Power 1
PG& E offers some choices for green power or could buy RECs.
Materials:alJ~ 11~~.lAt_~~t~.~~ ~r" . -..-.:,
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Prereq 1 Storage & Collection of Recyclables Required
Cupertino's existing recycling program meets the intent of this credit.
Municipal Code 19.18, 'Recycling.
Credit 1.1 Building Reuse, Maintain 750/0 of Existing Walls, Floors & Roof 1
Credit 1.2 Building Reuse, Maintain 100% of Existing Walls, Floors & Roof 1
Credit 1.3 Building Reuse, Maintain 500/0 of Interior Non-Structural Elements 1
Credit 2.1 Construction Waste Management, Divert 50% from Disposal 1
AB 939 requires compliance with this credit.
1 Credit 2.2 Construction Waste Management, Divert 75% from Disposal 1
GP, Section 5 Goal I: A Solid Waste Stream Reduction Program that Meets
or Exceeds State Requirement
1 Credit 3.1 Materials Reuse, 50/0 1
General Plan, Policy 5-44: Reuse of Buildin~ Materials
1 Credit 3.2 Materials Reuse,1 0% 1
General Plan, Policy 5-44: Reuse of Building Materials
1 Credit 4.1 Recycled Content, 10% (post-consumer + % pre-consumer) 1
Opportunity to promote use of recycled content goods.
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1 Credit 4.2 Recycled Content, 20% (post-consumer + % pre-consumer) 1
Opportunity to promote use of recycled content goods.
1 Credit 5.1 Regional Materials, 10% Extracted, Processed & Manufactured 1
Regionally
Opportunity to promote use of locally manufactured goods.
1 Credit 5.2 Regional Materials, 20% Extracted, Processed & Manufactured 1
Regionally
Opportunity to promote use of locally manufactured goods.
1 Credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials 1
Opportunity to promote use of rapidly renewable materials.
1 Credit 7 Certified Wood 1
Opportunity to promote use of certified wood products.
Indoor Envirol:}mental Ql!alit~_., : ,. "", '" ~:'.:;~~~~~fll.~_~~"'j~~~~..~~~ -q
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1 Prereq 1 Minimum IAQ Performance Required
Opportunity for the city to launch educational and promotional campaign
about indoor air quality.
1 Prereq 2 Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control Required
State and local standards for smoking contribute toward this credit.
1 Credit 1 Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring 1
Opportunity for the city to launch educational and promotional campaign
about indoor air quality and monitoring systems.
1 Credit 2 Increased Ventilation 1
Opportunity for the city to launch educational and promotional campaign
about indoor air quality and ventilation.
1 Credit 3.1 Construction IAQ Management Plan, During Construction 1
....
Opportunity for the city to launch educational and promotional campaign
about indoor air quality and IAQ Management Plans.
1 Credit 3.2 Construction IAQ Management Plan, Before Occupancy 1
Opportunity for the city to launch educational and promotional campaign
about indoor air quality and IAQ Management Plans.
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1 Credit 4.1 Low-Emitting Materials, Adhesives &. Sealants 1
Opportunity for the city to launch educational and promotional campaign
about indoor air quality and low emitting materials.
1 Credit 4.2 Low-Emitting Materials, Paints & Coatings 1
Opportunity for the city to launch educational and promotional campaign
about indoor air quality and low emitting materials.
1 Credit 4.3 Low-Emitting Materials, Carpet Systems 1
Opportunity for the city to launch educational and promotional campaign
about indoor air quality and low emitting materials.
1 Credit 4.4 Low-Emitting Materials, Composite Wood & Agrifiber Products 1
Opportunity for the city to launch educational and promotional campaign
about indoor air quality and low emitting materials.
1 Credit 5 Indoor Chemical & Pollutant Source Control 1
1 Credit 6.1 Controllability of Systems, Lighting 1
1 Credit 6.2 Controllability of Systems, Thermal Comfort 1
1 Credit 7.1 Thermal Comfort, Design 1
1 Credit 7.2 Thermal Comfort, Verification 1
1 Credit 8.1 Daylight & Views, Daylight 75% of Spaces 1
Opportunity for the city to launch educational and promotional campaign
about daylighting and views.
1 Credit 8.2 Daylight & Views, Views for 90% of Spaces 1
Innovation.in Q~~Jg~ '!: '>' 1~~~~ ! ~ ~'~~' ,,1:'" of"~ , ~. .,.' . -;'f: . :::.:S' ~'0~
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1 Credit 1.1 Innovation in Design 1
City could encourage innovation through education and incentives.
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Credit 1.2
1
Credit 1.3
1
Credit 1.4
1
Credit 2
Innovation in Design
City could encourage innovation through education and incentives.
Innovation in Design
City could encourage innovation through education and incentives.
Innovation in Design
City could encourage innovation" through education and incentives.
LEED@ Accredited Professional
1
1
1
1
11
This level indicates that this credit is not applicable to the City of Cupertino's
policies or programs. Generally, these are building oriented items that are
NotA Iicable not addressed at the Cit level.
Supporting
Definitive
This level indicates that the goals or intent of the City's policies are
compatible with the LEED credit or the intent of the LEED credit.
This level indicates that there is some specific policy on the books that
SUDDorts the reauirements of LEED credit.
This level indicates that the LEED credit is achieved by building to code in
the Citv of Cupertino.
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