Green Development=Red Light?

Many developers and builders shy away from green development because they worry that it sets up too many red lights that slow the process and add to the cost.  Actually, many municipalities around the country are taking the opposite view.  Faced with shrinking budgets and rising utility and maintenance costs for city infrastructure, many cities see that advantages of green--i.e. low impact--development including saving money.  Citiesand urban areas in many states have--or will soon--pass legislation requiring at least commercial buildings to be built to green standards.  And many counties are not only requiring green commercial development they're rewarding developers and builders who plan green projects. This is done through streamlining the permitting processes and bumping green projects to the head of the line.  Developers and builders can save dollars by reducing upfront time expense.  And cities and counties win because green development reduces infrastructure maintenance costs.
 
Is your city or county behind the curve?  Or are you working with builders or developers who don't get green building benefits?  You might do them--and the world--a favor and share the EPA's new "Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments".  It's a free pdf to download at:  http://www.epa.gov/region4/recycle/green-building-toolkit.pdf.  Help your city/county planners and developers to help the planet!