St. Louis keeps up with green and LEED initiatives
A survey of mayors across the United States shows that most cities are adopting policies to encourage sustainable construction and energy efficiency in municipal buildings. The survey results were released at the 75th anniversary meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors held in June.
The City of St. Louis is keeping pace, according to Mayor Francis Slay’s office.
“We have an ordinance which requires that all newly constructed buildings meet LEED Silver standards,” Barbara Geisman, the City’s deputy mayor for development, told AEC St. Louis.
The St. Louis ordinance also requires that LEED principles be included in LEED-New Construction, and that LEED-Commercial Interiors and LEED-Existing Buildings principles be applied during retrofit and renovation projects of current standing facilities, whenever practicable. Sponsored by Alderman Fred Wessels, the ordinance was signed into law by Mayor Francis Slay in 2006.
Three St. Louis public buildings currently under development that will meet at least LEED Silver standards include two new recreation centers and the Animal House, one of the first “green building” animal shelters in the nation. The Lambert-St. Louis airport renovations will incorporate LEED principles for existing buildings wherever possible, according to the Mayor’s office.
Nationwide, nearly nine in 10 of the cities require that new city government buildings be more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable, or anticipate making that requirement in the next year. Ninety seven percent are using more energy-efficient lighting in public buildings, streetlights, parks, traffic signals, or expect to by next year.
