City subsidy for greener industrial buildings

The city is introducing financial incentives to encourage more environmentally-friendly industrial buildings. Governments across North America are endorsing the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) standards and in many cases requiring them to be achieved in all large new buildings. Hamilton’s program will apply to new or renovated buildings in industrial areas and will be funded from the increases in taxes that result from the construction. “The purpose of the grant program is for the city to share (50/50) the incremental construction cost, consultation, energy modelling and certification fees with the applicant to achieve LEED certification”, notes the report presented to last week’s planning committee by Guy Paparella, the city’s director of industrial parks and airport development. It was ratified at yesterday’s council meeting. The LEED point system rewards improved energy and water efficiency, inclusion of natural ventilation and daylight areas, water reuse, and reduction of construction and demolition waste. Encouraging walking, cycling and transit use are also supported. It has been criticized for giving equal points to minor changes like installing bike racks and major energy reduction measures such as solar panels. Substantial changes to the scoring system – at least in the US LEED standards – are scheduled to take place next year. Hamilton will fund up to four percent of the cost of a new industrial building that achieves a LEED platinum status and lesser amounts for ones classified as Gold, Silver or just Certified. The monies could be additional to those already available for environmental remediation of contaminated building sites. To read more visit www.hamiltoncatch.org