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Town moves to mandate Green buildings Babylon Town is leading the way in the state and country in adopting a Green building construction code under a proposed law that will come before the Town Board for approval December 20. The law will require that all new commercial, office, industrial, multiple residence or senior citizen buildings 4,000 square feet or more will have to meet minimum standards set under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED-NC) rating system. The system focuses on water and energy efficiency, air quality and the materials and resources that provide a healthy indoor environment, innovation and design. The LEED program has four levels of compliance, including the less rigorous certified rating that the Town is expected to adopt. Under the program, developers must show that they have addressed such issues as erosion and sedimentation control, adequate site selection, stormwater management, water efficient landscaping and water-use reduction, energy efficient systems, and indoor air quality systems. The project receives credits for each issue addressed in the construction, with a minimum of 26 credits required to meet the minimal standards. Developers must provide the Town with a project checklist showing what they have included in their plans for a Green building. The intent of the proposed legislation is to benefit the community by having resource-efficient and energy-efficient buildings, while also providing the occupants of those buildings with safer and healthier surroundings. “It is time for everyone to understand that we all have a part in the future of this planet, and that we need to save resources,” said Peter Caradonna, president of the Long Island Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. “We need incentive-based planning and I am pleased that Babylon Town is at the forefront of Green building throughout the United States.” Babylon is partnering with the Town of Brookhaven, which has also moved toward the adoption of a similar code. Ron Kluesener, a spokesman for Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone said the object is to be able to learn from each other as the changes progress. One issue that needs to be addressed is how the third-party inspections, required under the code, will be conducted and who will certify the buildings. One proposal is to train and rely upon town building inspectors, while another is to work with independent companies formed to address this growing need. From the builders’ standpoints, the question of how much it will cost to “build green,” was raised. Chris Ferencsik, whose company, Schacker Realty in Melville is building a multi-residential building in Babylon, and who presented testimony at the public hearing held last month, said the additional cost of meeting the new Town code will be minimal, at most. “It is a myth that there are exorbitant costs associated with meeting LEED standards,” said Ferencsik. And, added other developers, when you consider the long-term savings that are produced by having a building that makes efficient use of resources such as oil, electric and water, those savings more than make up for any slight increases that may occur during the construction phase. Adoption of the code is the final phase of a threepart program in Babylon’s Green Building Initiative, launched earlier this year. In July, the Town joined with the Long Island Builder’s Institute, the Long Island Housing Partnership and the USGBC LI chapter in announcing the construction of the first zero energy home, which was built in Wyandanch. In August, the Town became the first on long Island to partner with Brookhaven to mandate that all new homes be constructed in accordance with energy star standards. “The Town of Babylon is to be congratulated for introducing what happens to be the first national standard on the municipal level to adopt the LEED rating system,” said Kathleen Cunningham Faraone of Renewable Energy Long Island. “As advocates for clean energy and stewards of the environment, supporting measures and legislation that foster green building practices is part of our mission.” Also supporting the change was LIPA Chairman Richard Kessel. “Most of us on Long Island live in homes that were built a long time ago, and while we strive to make them energy efficient, it is difficult. Office buildings, multi-tenant building and commercial construction can also be difficult, so the best place to start is from the ground up. Energy efficiency is important to all of us and in my view this is creative... and the Town is making a real contribution in helping to accomplish that. “When you combine these three initiatives with our mission to dramatically reduce emission standards in the Town, it is clear that we are serious about protecting the environment and protecting the health and well being of residents,” said Bellone. “We consider this kind of leadership our obligation to the future.” In other Town news, the board: confirmed membership to the North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company to Kevin McCarthy; Christopher Walsh, Jonathon Cortez, Ryan McGowan, Sherry Waring and Dawn Zelli; issued a dredging permit to John Faracco of 53 Melbury Rd., Babylon for Fosters Creek, Babylon;
scheduled a public hearing for a change of zone request by Giannini Construction from E Business to SCMR residence for property on the south side of Schmeelk Place, east of South Great Neck Rd., Copiague. The hearing will be held 3:30 p.m., Dec. 20 at Town Hall.
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