The committee’s recommendations, finalized this week, also call for incentives for construction projects that surpass minimum standards, financial assistance to reduce energy and water use in existing buildings, education programs to help homeowners and commercial building owners cut their energy consumption, and changes to city code that would encourage high-density development, especially downtown. Committee members also want all new Boise city government facilities to achieve to “green” certification.

The committee will present its proposals to Mayor David Bieter within the next two weeks. An extensive public involvement process – including discussions with developers, builders, neighborhood associations and environmental organizations – will follow before the mayor submits his final recommendations to the Boise City Council later this fall.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the work of this citizen committee,” Mayor Bieter said. “They’ve come up with a comprehensive and carefully thought out set of recommendations that directly address our community’s contributions to global climate change. Our task now is to seek broad community input to fine-tune those steps before putting them into practice.”

Among the committee’s 21 recommendations:

• Require all new residential construction to achieve a minimum energy efficiency level equal to EnergyStar Northwest requirements with certifications obtained from third-party inspectors.

• Initiate a program to achieve a net zero energy use in new residential construction by 2030.

• Require 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) requirements to be exceeded by a minimum of 20 percent for new commercial construction.

• Provide financial incentives and priority processing at all levels for performance-based energy- and water-use reductions above minimum requirements for new commercial construction.

• Explicitly allow sustainable practices through amendments to the Boise City Code, including allowances for solar photovoltaic panels on all existing and new homes; outdoor clotheslines at all new and existing homes; water-wise landscaping throughout the city; and alternative methods for storm water infiltration, e.g., permeable paving.

• Provide incentives for all development that include, but are not limited to, density bonuses for sustainable practices above minimum code levels, including siting, energy efficiency, densities, water efficiency, transportation, renewable energy, and green roofs.

• Encourage high-density development, especially in the downtown area, by rewriting the zoning code to encourage high density; establishing an impact fee district unique  to downtown Boise; and reviewing all governmental charges, fees and assessments that apply to downtown development to determine their appropriateness for the encouragement high-density development.

• Require all new municipal buildings be designed to meet LEED Silver standards. LEED Gold standards are preferred.  Particular attention will be paid to maximizing energy reduction credits.  Buildings greater than 10,000 square feet shall be required to obtain LEED certification.

• Implement citywide sustainable purchasing policies, including EnergyStar appliances and equipment, recyclable materials, and items with recycled content.