Good news for Escambia County Builders who want to build 'Green'! Escambia County is instituting a Green Building program whereby a builder who signs up with the county as a green builder with the
"ESCAMBIA COUNTY GREEN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (EGDP)"
and has green projects will get expedited services from the building department. This resolution is set to be adopted in May 2009. Here are the program highlights:
Escambia Green Development Program (EGDP)
· A Green Team comprised of County personnel began meeting monthly and gathering information for the program. The team is searching out ways to use County resources and local private resources to gather information for a program.
· Project managers from a local construction company were invited and attended the December 5th meeting and provided much needed information from the contractor’s point of view.
· The team members desire to have a county booth at the Green Coast Convention to provide the public information, permitting process, expedited permitting and all facets of the county’s program.
· The team developed an “Escambia Green Development Program” resolution for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners in 2009.
· The County is currently a member of United States Green Building Council. A membership application has been submitted to the Florida Green Building Coalition.
· A separate green team has met to determine the best ways to supply green information to the public at the new green central office complex. Individual information centers or carousels will be placed where public counters are located.
· Brochures are being developed which will provide contact information for expedited permitting. (All on recycled paper, of course) Grants for project recognition plaques are also being researched. Green projects will be recognized on the County web page.
· The team has added a Green Building link to the Building Inspections Division web page.
The team has been impressed with the momentum of the program and the willingness of employees and private contractors to assist in the implementation of the program.