Assemblywoman Greenstein and Assemblyman Panter Green Building Bill Clears Assembly Committee

GREENSTEIN/PANTER GREEN BUILDING BILL CLEARS ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE

Measure Would Allow Municipalities to Adopt Green Buildings, Sustainability Plans

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee today released legislation Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein and Assemblyman Mike Panter sponsored that would promote energy efficiency through construction of "green buildings" and the use of sustainable energy plans by municipalities.

The legislation (A-4212) would encourage municipalities to include green building strategies and an environmental sustainability plan element in their master plans.

"Green buildings reduce consumption of natural resources and lower emissions of dangerous greenhouse gases," said Greenstein.  "Green buildings employ environmentally sound practices during construction, such as locally harvested wood.  Green buildings can include the use of a wide range of strategies that can mitigate negative environmental impacts during construction and over the life of the home."

According to Global Green USA, excessive consumption of environmentally unsound building products is contributing to a depletion of natural resources worldwide and the acceleration of global warming.  Building construction and maintenance account for 30 percent of all wood and raw materials used.

The measure would amend the "Municipal Land Use Law" to allow a municipal planning board to include green buildings and environmental sustainability plan elements in their master plan to encourage and promote the efficient use of natural resources. 

"Building construction can have significant impacts on the local, regional and global environment," said Panter.  "Green buildings place a premium on conservation.  They reuse water resources, treat storm water runoff on-site and they optimize temperatures and climate conditions through their design."

The construction and maintenance of buildings is responsible for an estimated 40 percent of the country's energy use and 30 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to the growing menace of global warming.  . 

The measures was released 7 to 0 .  It now heads to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post it for a floor vote.
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