Communities Take Initiative to Combat Climate Change

[jpak]

http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=48052

While the federal government moves slowly to support renewable energy and energy efficiency, cities and towns across the U.S. are adopting green building ordinances or creating funds to encourage energy efficient building design and increase integration of renewable energy systems.

Last month, the town of Epping, New Hampshire, passed a town ordinance that requires all new commercial buildings to meet specific energy efficiency guidelines and rewards developers who install renewable energy systems on the buildings. The green building "performance zoning" is the first of its kind in New Hampshire.

Now town officials from around the state are contacting the Epping Planning Board to get advice on implementing similar ordinances. According to Epping Town Planner Clay Mitchell, the town did not want to wait for leadership in Washington to act.

"I'm happy to be blunt about it -- given the lack of leadership on the federal and state level, it's time for the towns to step up to the plate and this is a great way to do it," Mitchell said.

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