Ensuring sustainable construction and promoting green building practices are an essential component of our Green Vision. An estimated 40 percent of the community’s total energy use and 16 percent of its water goes to buildings. We can change this by building green or retrofitting our existing buildings to reduce energy and water use and incorporate sustainable construction materials. This will significantly reduce our carbon impact. Our goal is big: In 15 years, San José will be home to 50 million square feet of green buildings – the equivalent of nearly 100 buildings the size of San José City Hall.

Whether new construction or retrofitted structures, these buildings will meet high environmental standards, such as achieving a U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) certification. These energy efficient buildings will provide a showcase for local Clean Tech products as well as innovations in green building materials, local commitment to sustainable practices, and the fiscal benefits of building green. The City of San José has already started at home. We recently opened the first greencommunity center, the Starbird Teen Center, and plan to do more. The City also has adopted aggressive standards for requiring green building practices for City facilities and will work with private-sector partners to ensure sustainable commercial and residential construction.

In addition to facilitating new green construction, we will work towards reducing energy use and carbon emissions of existing buildings by encouraging owners to upgrade air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems, retrofit lighting systems, and adopt other green building practices. We will also support innovation in green building materials and systems technology, raise awareness of the benefits of green practices, and provide incentives for individuals who want to build green and use Clean Tech products.

Contact Ashwini Kantak at 408-535-8147 or email at Ashwini.Kantak@sanjoseca.gov for more information.