Frisco smart to consider eco-friendly standards
Editorial: Frisco smart to consider eco-friendly standards
07:34 AM CDT on Friday, July 28, 2006
Frisco's talking green again, and we love it.
Six years ago, Frisco became the nation's first city to require eco-friendly building standards for residential construction. The program has been very successful, prompting Frisco to consider similar standards for new commercial construction.
We'll reserve final comment until we see the program details, which Frisco's city staff expects to present to the City Council for review in August. Much like the residential program, though, the commercial program is likely to require developers to more efficiently manage water, energy and waste recycling.
For example, there's talk that encouraging developers to install heat-reflective roofs is a possible option among many that the staff is considering.
We applaud Frisco for continuing to exhibit forward thinking. Frisco has purchased hybrid vehicles for its city fleet, encouraged drought-tolerant landscaping, and established more parks and green space. The city's recycling program, "Keeping Frisco Clean ... with Single Stream," was recently lauded nationally.
While many cities have embraced more rigorous energy standards in newly constructed public-owned buildings, relatively few have pressed commercial developers to be more energy-wise.
Some commercial developers have pursued energy-efficient policies as good business, but many have not, in part over concern that tougher standards would drive up the cost of new construction. We urge developers and Frisco to work closely to make eco-friendly commercial standards tailored to the needs of North Texas a reality.
Frisco officials recognize that they must manage its rapid growth in part by promoting efficient energy use. And they recognize that every bit counts.
In the U.S., buildings account for 39 percent of the nation's total annual energy consumption, which means that energy-efficient construction can make a difference.
For example, since its inception in 2001, Frisco's energy-wise residential construction program has saved the city's 8,000 "green" homeowners more than $430 a year in utility costs each and kept tons of pollutants from the air. So far this year, about 96 percent of new homes in Frisco have been built to green standards.
As Frisco continues to demonstrate, it's not only easy being green, it's smart.
DMN Suburban Editorial Board
What's your home worth? Find out here
Search all Prosper or Frisco Homes for sale
07:34 AM CDT on Friday, July 28, 2006
Frisco's talking green again, and we love it.
Six years ago, Frisco became the nation's first city to require eco-friendly building standards for residential construction. The program has been very successful, prompting Frisco to consider similar standards for new commercial construction.
We'll reserve final comment until we see the program details, which Frisco's city staff expects to present to the City Council for review in August. Much like the residential program, though, the commercial program is likely to require developers to more efficiently manage water, energy and waste recycling.
For example, there's talk that encouraging developers to install heat-reflective roofs is a possible option among many that the staff is considering.
We applaud Frisco for continuing to exhibit forward thinking. Frisco has purchased hybrid vehicles for its city fleet, encouraged drought-tolerant landscaping, and established more parks and green space. The city's recycling program, "Keeping Frisco Clean ... with Single Stream," was recently lauded nationally.
While many cities have embraced more rigorous energy standards in newly constructed public-owned buildings, relatively few have pressed commercial developers to be more energy-wise.
Some commercial developers have pursued energy-efficient policies as good business, but many have not, in part over concern that tougher standards would drive up the cost of new construction. We urge developers and Frisco to work closely to make eco-friendly commercial standards tailored to the needs of North Texas a reality.
Frisco officials recognize that they must manage its rapid growth in part by promoting efficient energy use. And they recognize that every bit counts.
In the U.S., buildings account for 39 percent of the nation's total annual energy consumption, which means that energy-efficient construction can make a difference.
For example, since its inception in 2001, Frisco's energy-wise residential construction program has saved the city's 8,000 "green" homeowners more than $430 a year in utility costs each and kept tons of pollutants from the air. So far this year, about 96 percent of new homes in Frisco have been built to green standards.
As Frisco continues to demonstrate, it's not only easy being green, it's smart.
DMN Suburban Editorial Board
What's your home worth? Find out here
Search all Prosper or Frisco Homes for sale
posted by Beth at 6:56 PM
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