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Salt Lake to Impose Green Codes on Public Buildings

SALT LAKE City — Building practices could become a lot greener here after council members endorsed the creation of an ordinance that would require public buildings to incorporate environmentally sustainable measures and practices.

The bipartisan initiative will likely adhere to U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED-certification standards, with future public works projects required to incorporate sustainable design measures and construction practices, officials say.

The proposed ordinance could mandate public projects to incorporate more natural light, efficient HVAC systems and lighting, and enhanced thermal insulation to improve energy efficiency and environmental quality, officials say. The use of low-VOC materials and sound-absorbing surfaces would also enhance environmental quality.

Public projects would likely be required to use renewable sources of energy, officials say.

The move comes a year after Mayor Peter Corroon issued an executive order urging county agencies to incorporate sustainable practices into daily operations where practical.