Energy Star
Under West Chester’s zoning ordinance (2007), new buildings proposed to be higher than 45 feet must be designed to earn the Energy Star label and, once built, operate to Energy Star standards. The West Chester Borough Council approved the Energy Star requirement in December 2007 on recommendation of the BLUER committee.
The Borough of West Chester is the first municipality in the United States to require Energy-Star compliance of the private sector, according to Energy Star officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. [link to Press Release PDF]
The ordinance for buildings higher than 45 feet requires that developers acquire the "Designed to Earn the Energy Star" label prior to construction. Developers will show they have earned this designation at the time they submit plans for their building permit. After the building has been in operation for a year, developers will apply for and earn the Energy Star label itself. The Energy Star program will present an Energy Star plaque to developers who meet the program’s requirements.
Developers’ first step in the Energy Star certification process is to ensure that the architect of record is an Energy Star Partner. Architects, engineers, energy consultants and others become Energy Star partners after filling out an application available online.
Energy Star’s building certification program is based solely on reaching a particular energy-efficiency goal, which is found and calculated using Energy Star’s easy-to-use on-line Target Finder system. To earn the "Designed to Earn the Energy Star" and "Energy Star" labels, developers must show that their building will be or is within the top 25 percent of similar buildings in terms of energy efficiency. Energy Star has no specific building requirements for developers (such as a minimum amount of insulation, HVAC system specifications, etc.). Instead, developers are simply required to meet their specific energy-use goal using whatever approach works best for them. Developers of higher buildings must continue to comply with the Pennsylvania building code.
Applying for Energy Star certification is free.
BLUER encourages all developers to incorporate the Energy Star program in their building designs to assist us in reducing energy consumption, cutting construction and energy costs, and lowering greenhouse gas generation. The Energy Star programs and tools are free of charge.
