BLUER Checklist Added to Borough Approval Process

Editor's note: The following is a press release from BLUER

Leaders United for Emissions Reduction (BLUER) is pleased to announce that the Green Building Checklist has been added to the Borough’s land development approval process. The West Chester Borough Council voted to approve the checklist on November 16, 2011.

The Green Building Checklist is an educational tool for commercial property owners and developers to improve sustainable practices while they are undergoing the Borough design review and permitting processes. Similar to the LEED checklist, the Green Building Checklist contains a series of questions dealing with energy efficiency, site design, materials, water efficiency and indoor air quality. It features a link to over twenty websites with valuable information on these topics.

The checklist will apply to a wide range of projects proposed within the Borough including public, private, commercial and multi-family housing.  It will also be used by the Planning Commission to help develop more sustainable construction projects.

This initiative by BLUER was undertaken as an action item in their Climate Action Plan and is an important step in reducing CO2 emissions: nationally, 39% of CO2 emissions are generated by buildings, and within the Borough, building electricity use accounts for 49% of the CO2 emissions.  

The West Chester Borough Leaders United for Emissions Reduction (BLUER) is an ad-hoc committee formed by West Chester Borough Council in 2006. BLUER's mission is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Borough-wide 10% by 2015. This will help reverse the trend of rising greenhouse emissions and put West Chester on track towards a more sustainable economic and environmental future.  Fore more information, please visit the BLUER website at http://www.wcbluer.org.