The Ohio Department of Development (ODD) is spearheading this initiative, aiming to accelerate the adoption of high-performance buildings in the state. The initiative is part of a larger effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. The four cities selected for this pilot program are Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Toledo.
The program, called “Building Blocks,” aims to incentivize the adoption of clean energy technologies in buildings. It offers financial incentives, tax breaks, and other support to encourage building owners to make energy-efficient upgrades. Building Blocks is designed to be a “bottom-up” approach, meaning it relies on local communities and building owners to drive the adoption of clean energy technologies.
The study found that the building sector is responsible for the majority of energy consumption in these cities, accounting for 70% of total energy consumption. The study also revealed that the building sector’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is directly proportional to its energy consumption. This means that the more energy a building consumes, the more greenhouse gases it produces.
But what about existing buildings? Existing buildings are often overlooked in the energy efficiency efforts. Existing buildings represent a significant portion of the energy consumption in many countries. They are also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. So, why are they often overlooked? There are several reasons why existing buildings are often overlooked in energy efficiency efforts.
* **Cities Take Control: Sustainable Development Through Flexible Standards**
* **Beyond Codes:
This means that cities can choose to adopt standards that best suit their needs and resources. **Here’s a breakdown of the key points:**
* **Shift from Codes to Standards:** Cities will move away from mandatory codes and towards voluntary standards for sustainable development. * **Flexibility and Customization:** Standards offer flexibility, allowing cities to tailor them to their specific needs and resources.
As a legal matter, cities generally can’t adopt building codes stricter than those established by the Ohio Board of Building Standards. However, the board doesn’t have authority to set requirements for benchmarking emissions or performance standards for existing buildings. The cities’ grant application said the board confirmed that a delegation of authority won’t be needed, as long as they don’t adopt new construction codes. Energy efficiency provides its own incentives for building owners, because “it saves money,” said Oliver Kroner, who heads up Cincinnati’s Office of Environment & Sustainability. “People are generally aligned with the [city’s] climate commitments. But there’s sometimes the gap with what you want to do and how to get there.”
The summary provided focuses on the benefits of green building practices for both building owners and tenants. It highlights how green buildings can lead to lower costs for building owners, which in turn can lead to lower rents for tenants. This, in turn, can attract tenants and make the building more competitive in the market.
Ziegler also highlighted the city’s commitment to affordable housing, stating that the city has invested in various programs and initiatives to address the housing needs of low-income residents. Ziegler further emphasized the importance of community engagement in addressing housing challenges. He stressed the importance of listening to residents’ concerns and working collaboratively with them to find solutions.
“We have other grants that are focused on workforce development,” Kroner said, adding his hope that many people from underserved communities will be able to work in jobs to help buildings meet building performance standards once they’re adopted. As work by Webb’s group continues, the four cities and others will gear up for outreach efforts and other work so they’re ready to adopt standards. “There’s going to be a lot of education and outreach in the beginning,” McCracken said.
