By: Dana M. Eckman

Bucks County Herald - July 19, 2007

Doylestown Borough has taken a leadership role in pro-moting energy conservation and reducing the town's greenhouse gas emission and "carbon foot-print."

As part of this effort, council recently adopted a comprehensive Energy and Environmental Initiative, including the creation of a financial incentive program to encourage and reward property owners and builders to employ "green building" technologies and practices.

The "Green Points" building incentive program proposes building permit fee waivers and reductions based on utilization of green building practices and systems.

Because the Statewide Building Code does not permit a municipality to impose stricter energy regulations than the State code, the borough instead is proposing an incentive program to promote these cutting edge "green" building practices.

"The purpose of the program is to promote energy conservation and reduce Doylestown Borough's fossil fuel usage, greenhouse gas emission and "carbon footprint," said assistant borough manager Phil Ehlinger, the program's creator, who has an extensive background as an architect in solar energy and energy conservation.

With this initiative, building permit fees will be completely waived for all hot water, hot air, and photovoltaic solar systems. Fees will also be waived for conversion to high-efficiency gas furnaces and energy-efficient appliances and hot water heaters.

For new construction, additions, and renovations, a fee reduction point system, called "Green Points," will offer a financial incentive to employ various green building technologies and practices.

These include:

• reduction of construction waste and recycling of materials, water conservation and reduction of high maintenance landscaping;

• material-efficient construction, framing exceeding the minimum insulation for building envelopes, efficient plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems;

Muse of solar energy systems including photovoltaic electrical systems, and active and passive solar heating systems.

The Green Points credits can provide up to a 50 percent reduction in permit fees which can amount to thousands of dollars on a new building project.

Green Points programs also provides a large bonus for utilization of the United States Green Building Council "LEEDs" rating system (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). This independent system provides ratings for the level of energy efficiency and environmentally "green" systems and practices for individual projects.

Applicants apply for their "LEED" rating from the USGBC, and the borough will offer a 60-percent permit fee reduction for all projects that receive a LEED "Silver" rating or better.

LEED permit fee credits can apply to all new construction in the borough, including a pro-posed new county courthouse and other commercial and residential buildings.