Syracuse ranked No. 17 on National Geographic’s 2006 Green Guide list of greenest – or most environmentally friendly – cities in the United States. New measures taken by the Syracuse Common Council could potentially boost the city’s rating even higher on future lists.

The council recently passed an amendment that will require green standards for all city-owned public buildings, which include taking steps to improve energy efficiency, decrease pollution and promote healthier living spaces.

The legislation, which applies to new construction and major renovations, will go into effect in October. It holds Syracuse buildings to silver standards on the Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Buildings can be certified as certified, silver, gold and platinum.

The standards recommend everything from using new technology such as solar panels to building with recyclable materials.

The Common Council’s legislation is part of a nationwide trend led by local governments and independent organizations to improve both the environment and living conditions for community members.

‘It’s a very significant step for any city to make such a commitment,’ said Ed Bogucz, executive director of the Syracuse Center of Excellence, which is dedicated to building green. ‘It positions Syracuse as one of the leading cities in the country that is thinking about these fundamental and critical issues of human activity on the climate.’

Bogucz listed better air quality and lighting among the benefits of green buildings. Studies have shown improvements in office productivity by people working in green buildings and the performance of students in green schools, Bogucz said.

‘Even places like Wal-Mart are adopting green building approaches for both environmental and business reasons,’ he said. ‘Customers coming into a green building will be more inclined to spend more money because of how subtle factors like lighting affect them, even though they may not realize it.’

In the 2006 Green Guide, cities with a population of more than 100,000 were scored in 11 categories, from air quality to green design. The best score was 11- up to one point in each category. Only Eugene, Ore., scored more than nine points.

Syracuse scored 6.66 in the survey, and the Green Guide emphasized its smoking ban, good air quality and commitment to reducing greenhouse gases.

‘Syracuse is doing a good job with taking steps to make itself more environmentally friendly,’ said Sarah Eckel-Dalrymple, Central New York project coordinator for Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a non-profit advocacy organization. ‘But there is always more we can do.’

CCE formed a coalition with numerous other groups, including the League of Women Voters and Parents for Public Schools, to lobby the Common Council about green building standards, Eckel-Dalrymple said.

‘The Common Council members were very receptive to our proposals,; Eckel-Dalrymple said. ‘They understand why it’s important to have green building standards. It was just a matter of going through the process to get the legislation passed.’

Green standards have largely been set by the U.S. Green Building Council, a non-profit organization that promotes ‘buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work,’ according to usgbc.org. USGBC encompasses more than 11,000 member organizations and maintains 75 regional chapters dedicated to green building.

The building council developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, which has become one of the most prominent guideline systems for green building, said Kevin Stack, an adjunct instructor at State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. LEED rating systems exist for a variety of building types, including schools, homes and new construction projects.

Eugene, Ore., The Green Guide’s winner in 2006, has wholeheartedly embraced such building standards. The Eugene City Council adopted resolutions to use LEED standards in new city building projects and on major renovations and also encourages private developers to follow LEED.

According to Bethaida Gonzalez, president of the Syracuse Common Council and dean of University College, the council is already in the process of reviewing architectural proposals for seven city-owned buildings that will be rehabbed during the next 10 years.

‘The city has committed to a green agenda for more than five years – city hall is already a green building,’ Gonzalez said. ‘LEED standards will be built into the design requirements for these renovated buildings.’

But city-owned public buildings are not the only local facilities undergoing green renovations. The Syracuse CoE, led by Syracuse University, is a collaboration of more than 140 firms and institutions working to create new technologies to be used in green buildings. The center, which was created by New York state in 2002, provides opportunities for students at numerous colleges and universities to work on projects with faculty members, Bogucz, the director, said.

The center is currently undertaking a multimillion dollar project that will help improve living standards on the west side of Syracuse. Students will be involved in renovating houses to improve their energy efficiency, as well as improving the outdoor environmental quality, Bogucz said.

‘This is a one-of-a-kind experience for students and faculty to have a potentially extraordinary impact on the quality of life in part of Syracuse,’ Bogucz said. ‘It is truly scholarship in action.’

Stack, who is LEED accredited, lives in an environmentally friendly green home and owns a construction company called Northeast Natural Homes. His company built the first LEED certified home in New York state, as well as the only LEED certified building in Onondaga County.

Stack said he emphasizes the importance of green building in his classes at ESF and students tend to be very receptive to these concepts.

‘Because the LEED system incorporates third-party verification into certifying buildings, we’re proving that we want to be held accountable and have thought about things like the materials used in building,’ Stack said. ‘A lot of corporations that are hiring people are asking for LEED accreditation. It’s a great background for graduating students to have.’

Published on October 1, 2007 at 12:00 pm