Fairfax County has embraced the cool counties initiative, which aims to reduce carbon output in America’s counties. Part of the announcement was that the county would increase walkability around transit stations to reduce car use and pollution.
Transit oriented design itself is one way of reducing carbon output, the leading cause of global warming. But the County has taken this one step further by requiring that buildings in the Reston/Herndon Suburban Center (a region used in the Counties zoning guide) be built according the certain green standards.
The amendment would make all buildings in suburban centers, the Tysons Corner urban center, and apartments taller than 4 stories conform. But not all are happy about these green standards as reported by the Fairfax Times:
Several developers testified about the costs of building green during a public hearing on the amendment.
Donald Gibson, senior design manager of JPI, said, “Landowners and builders will spend the money, but will not reap the energy savings from that.”
He said it is costing his development company an additional $2.3 million to attain the LEED Silver certification on an apartment development in the Hunter Mill District. Considering the grim housing market, company officials are not “optimistic they can recuperate the costs,” Gibson said.
The new requirements would mean buildings would have to meet EngeryStar ratings and be certified by the LEED program, which is considered a leader in green building standards.
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