22020517-006: Resolution on Austin Energy Green Building and Safe Building Materials — original pdf

Recommendation

BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Resource Management Commission Recommendation No. 20220517-006 Resolution on Austin Energy Green Building and Safe Building Materials Whereas, Americans spend as much as 90% of their time indoors; and Whereas, many building materials are made of, or coated with, toxic chemicals, whose harm can be magnified in modern energy-efficient buildings with decreased ventilation; and Whereas, many of these chemicals have dangerous qualities, as they can be carcinogenic, neurotoxic, developmental and reproductive toxins, asthmagens and respiratory sensitizers, endocrine disrupting chemicals, acutely toxic, and aquatically toxic; and Whereas, since many of these more toxic building products are widely used in apartment and tract- home construction, resulting in more exposure for lower-income residents and people of color; and Whereas, The Ratings Guidebook for the Austin Energy Green Program for Commercial Construction has not been revised since 2016 and Ratings Guidebooks for the Austin Energy Green Program for Single Family and Multifamily Residential have not been revised since 2020; and Whereas, Substantive changes to the International Building Code were codified in 2021 requiring alignment with the Austin Green Energy Program; and Whereas, Advances in sustainable building materials, improved quality and market pricing provide an opportunity for increased use in construction projects; and Whereas, Austin seeks to lead by example to persuade other local and state governments and programs around the country to promote the use of sustainable materials and improve indoor air quality in buildings. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Resource Management Commission of the City of Austin that the commission creates a Safe Healthy Building Materials Working Group that Austin Energy will staff: 1. Create a working group of stakeholders, facilitated by Austin Energy staff, to take actions to increase the use of safe, healthy, sustainable building materials (considering the full lifecycle of materials) and curtail the use of toxic building materials in the community. Strategies shall include, but not be limited to adjustments to the relevant Single Family, Commercial, and Multifamily Green Building programs. 2. The working group shall strive to include: professionals in the building industry; Austin Energy Green Building staff; environmental health experts; tenant advocates; and others as recommended by the Resource Management Commission. 3. The working group shall forward recommendations and a timeline for future actions to the Resource Management Commission of the City of Austin by October 1, 2022. Commissioner Jonathon Blackburn, Chair; Commissioner Kaiba White, Vice Chair; Commissioner Charlotte Davis; Commissioner Shane Johnson; Commissioner Paul Robbins; Commissioner Louis Stone; Commissioner Dana Harmon; Commissioner Lisa Chavarria 8-0 Vote: For: None Against: Abstentions: None Off Dais: None Vacancies: District 7 Attest: Natasha Goodwin, Staff Liaison Absences: Commissioner Sam Angoori; Commissioner Rebecca Brenneman