Palo Alto Steps Up Green Building Code Efforts

Palo Alto has already met and beat its climate protection goals by 20 percent set eight years ago. And now, the city is looking to cut its greenhouse gases by stepping up its green building code efforts even more.

Just in time for Earth Day, the city is prepared to discuss new building codes that will require all new homes to have at least 500-square feet of solar panels and approve new rules to promote irrigation efficiency.

The goal, a city report states, is to have buildings exceed the minimum state energy requirements by 15 percent.

The city is also focusing on encouraging the reduction of solo car driving and using natural gas to accelerate the reduction of harmful emissions.

"Palo Alto is a global leader in sustainability, and our city is visited regularly by delegations around the world that come here to learn about our innovative approaches, progressive policies and ambitious goals," City Manager James Keene said in a statement. “As we update our sustainability and climate action plan and council sets new goals, the challenges of ongoing drought, the quickening pace of climate change and the reality that we will need to make major changes in transportation will test us as never before, if we hope to establish a sustainable future.”

To read more of what Palo Alto's Earth Day report, click here.
 

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