Mayor Greg Ballard Announces Green Building Incentive Program

Under the direction of Mayor Ballard, the Office of Sustainability has partnered with the Department of Code Enforcement to develop a green building incentive aimed at encouraging more sustainable buildings in Indianapolis.

“Green buildings are an important component of a more sustainable Indianapolis. With this new green building incentive, our desire is to increase the number of green, or sustainable, buildings in Indianapolis, moving us closer to being one of the most sustainable cities in the Midwest,” said Mayor Greg Ballard.

The green building incentive program is designed to incentivize property owners and developers to renovate and/or construct new buildings in a sustainable manner, and is the first of its kind in Indianapolis. The program allows for building projects to receive up to a 50% rebate on all building permit fees associated with the green project. The incentive encourages building owners and developers to integrate sustainable design techniques and practices into building projects.

To qualify for the rebate, projects must meet specific criteria that equate to measurable benefits to building owners, occupants, and citizens of Indianapolis. The criteria, although principally based on LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, a rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council), do not require a building to be LEED-registered or LEED-certified. However, a building project that is seeking LEED-certification of any level will qualify for all or part of the rebate.

Kären Haley, Director of the Office of Sustainability, states, “In 2009, we announced the creation and availability of the Green Supplemental Document. Now, with the green building incentive, we are catapulting green building forward in Indianapolis. This green building incentive puts Indianapolis on par with other major cities in the U.S. who are encouraging green building techniques.”

Allyson Pumphrey, Project Manager of Green Buildings and Green Infrastructure, noted, “Green buildings benefit the building’s occupants because they typically use less energy and water and thus have lower operating costs than traditional buildings. They also reduce storm water runoff, reduce construction waste, and utilize renewable materials and energy sources, all of which benefits our local environment.”

The incentive rebate becomes effective on August 1, 2010. All building projects that pursue building permits on or after August 1, 2010 are eligible to receive the rebate.

For more information on the criteria, process, and rebate qualifications, visit the Office of Sustainability website at www.sustainindy.org. Specific information about the green building incentive can be found here: http://sustainindy.org/green-building-incentive.cfm.

To learn more about Mayor Ballard’s vision of making Indianapolis one of the most sustainable cities in the Midwest, visit www.sustainindy.org