The Maryland House of Delegates concurred with amendments approved by the Senate last week and Maryland has become the first state in the country to approve the International Green Construction Code (IGCC).
The IGCC has been developed by the International Code Council, in conjunction with the American Institute of Architects; ASTM International; the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers; the U.S. Green Building Council; and the Illuminating Engineering Society to establish a model code focused on new and existing commercial buildings addressing green building design and performance.
Click the title above to read the entire article.
Showing posts with label building. Show all posts
Showing posts with label building. Show all posts
Monday, April 11, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Builders: Septic Bill Represents State Control Over Local Land Use
Builders should always follow the legislative session; however this year in particular there are a number of bills of interest, including the Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2011.
Click the title link above to read an opinion piece on the subject.
Click the title link above to read an opinion piece on the subject.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Maryland General Assembly UPDATE Green Building
Here is an update on Green Building Legislation. If you want more information, please contact me.
MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2010 SESSION
PENDING BILLS RELATING TO GREEN BUILDING
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 215, High Performance Buildings Act – Applicability to Recipients of State Aid
LEAD SPONSOR: Senator Brian Frosh
SUMMARY: Amends the existing High Performance Buildings Act, the law requiring state-owned buildings to meet or exceed a LEED Silver rating or an equivalent, by making the requirement applicable to capital projects that are funded solely or partly by a grant of state aid to specified grantees. Definitions of “Grantee” and “State Aid” are incorporated by reference to the State Finance and Procurement Article, Section 7-406(a)(3) and (5). “Grantee” is defined as a for-profit or non-profit entity or association that receives State aid during a fiscal year, not including a unit of State or local government. “State Aid” is defined as a contribution, grant, or subsidy of $50,000 or more provided through the State operating or capital budget or by the action of a unit of State government from State funds appropriated to that unit, not including reimbursements to providers participating in a State program.
INTRODUCED: 1/21/10
COMMITTEE: Budget and Taxation
ACTION: 2/2/10 Committee Hearing
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0215.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 234, High Performance Buildings Act – Applicable to Community College Capital Projects
LEAD SPONSOR: Senator James Robey
SUMMARY: Amends the existing High Performance Buildings Act, the law requiring state-owned buildings to meet or exceed a LEED Silver rating or an equivalent, by making the requirement applicable to community college capital projects that receive State funds.
INTRODUCED: 1/22/10
COMMITTEE: Budget and Taxation
ACTION: 2/10/10 Committee Hearing
CHAPTER POSITION: Support
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0234.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 224, Plumbing – Greywater Recycling
LEAD SPONSOR: Delegate Dan Morhaim
SUMMARY: Prohibits counties from adopting or enforcing provisions of a local plumbing code that prohibit a system that recycles greywater. “Greywater” is defined as used, untreated water generated by a clothes washing machine, shower or bathtub.
INTRODUCED: 1/22/10
COMMITTEE: Economic Matters
ACTION: 2/3/10 Committee Hearing
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0224.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 705, Energy Performance Ratings – State, County and Municipal Buildings
LEAD SPONSOR: Delegate Dana Stein
SUMMARY: Requires state and local governments to post, in a building’s public area, the Energy Star ratings of government-owned buildings. Effective October 1, 2010 for state government buildings of 100,000 square feet or more. Effective October 1, 2011 for local government buildings and state government buildings of less than 100,000 square feet.
INTRODUCED: 2/4/10
COMMITTEE: Health and Government Operations
ACTION: None
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0705.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 656, Energy Performance Ratings – State, County and Municipal Buildings (Cross-file of HB 705)
LEAD SPONSOR: Senator Mike Lenett
SUMMARY: See HB 705 above
INTRODUCED: 2/5/10
COMMITTEE: Education, Health and Environmental Affairs
ACTION: None
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0656.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 277, Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Solar Energy
LEAD SPONSOR: President Mike Miller (by request of Administration)
SUMMARY: Accelerates the percentage of electricity that utilities must derive from solar energy in meeting the State goal of 2% derived from solar energy by 2022. Increases compliance fee utilities must pay when failing to meet the solar energy requirement.
INTRODUCED: 1/22/10
COMMITTEE: Finance
ACTION: 2/16/10 Committee Hearing
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0277.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 471, Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Solar Energy (Cross-file of SB 277)
LEAD SPONSOR: Speaker Michael Busch (by request of Administration)
SUMMARY: See SB 277 above.
INTRODUCED: 1/29/10
COMMITTEE: Economic Matters
ACTION: 2/16/10 Committee Hearing
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0471.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 479, State Capital Projects – High Performance Buildings – Green Globes Rating
LEAD SPONSOR: Senator Lowell Stoltzfus
SUMMARY: Alters the definition of "high performance building" in the State High Performance Buildings Act to include a building that achieves a rating of at least two Green Globes according to the Green Globes Program as adopted by the Green Building Initiative.
INTRODUCED: 2/1/10
COMMITTEE: Budget and Taxation
ACTION: None
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0479.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 287, Maryland Clean Energy Incentive Act of 2010
LEAD SPONSOR: President Mike Miller (by request of Administration)
SUMMARY: Extends the Clean Energy Incentive Tax Credit, set to expire at the end of 2010, for an additional 5 years. Offers state income tax credit for electricity generated by qualified resources of .85 cents per kilowatt hour, and .50 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity generated from co-firing a qualified resource with coal.
INTRODUCED: 1/22/10
COMMITTEE: Budget and Taxation
ACTION: 2/17/10 Committee Hearing
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0287.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 464, Maryland Clean Energy Incentive Act of 2010 (Cross-file of SB 287)
LEAD SPONSOR: Speaker Michael Busch (by request of Administration)
SUMMARY: See SB 287 above
INTRODUCED: 1/29/10
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means; Economic Matters
ACTION: None
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0464.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 285, Sustainable Communities Act of 2010
LEAD SPONSOR: President Mike Miller (by request of Administration)
SUMMARY: In order to better coordinate and target existing State community revitalization programs to achieve investment in housing, historic preservation, economic growth and transportation development…provides for designation of certain areas in the State as “sustainable communities” eligible for certain State programs. Re-establishes and alters the Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program to be the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit Program. Provides for an additional Sustainable Communities tax credit to commercial rehabilitations that achieve a LEED Gold or equivalent rating.
INTRODUCED: 1/22/10
COMMITTEE: Budget and Taxation
ACTION: 2/17/10 Committee Hearing
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0285.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 475, Sustainable Communities Act of 2010 (Cross-file of SB 285)
LEAD SPONSOR: Speaker Michael Busch (by request of Administration)
SUMMARY: See SB 285 above
INTRODUCED: 1/29/10
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means; Environmental Matters
ACTION: None
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0475.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 355, Energy Companies – Net Energy Metering – Payment for Accrued Generation Credit
LEAD SPONSOR: Senator Paul Pinsky
SUMMARY: Provides that a utility “customer-generator” with a net metering contract or tariff who generates electricity from a renewable source shall be credited at the same retail rate that they pay for electricity consumption. A customer-generator served on a time-of-use tariff shall be credited using time-of-use rates.
INTRODUCED: 1/28/10
COMMITTEE: Finance
ACTION: 2/9/10 Committee Hearing
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0355.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 701, Energy Companies – Net Energy Metering – Payment for Accrued Generation Credit (Cross-file of SB 355)
LEAD SPONSOR: Delegate Sue Hecht
SUMMARY: See SB 355 above
INTRODUCED: 2/4/10
COMMITTEE: Economic Matters
ACTION: 3/2/10 Committee Hearing
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0701.htm
MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2010 SESSION
PENDING BILLS RELATING TO GREEN BUILDING
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 215, High Performance Buildings Act – Applicability to Recipients of State Aid
LEAD SPONSOR: Senator Brian Frosh
SUMMARY: Amends the existing High Performance Buildings Act, the law requiring state-owned buildings to meet or exceed a LEED Silver rating or an equivalent, by making the requirement applicable to capital projects that are funded solely or partly by a grant of state aid to specified grantees. Definitions of “Grantee” and “State Aid” are incorporated by reference to the State Finance and Procurement Article, Section 7-406(a)(3) and (5). “Grantee” is defined as a for-profit or non-profit entity or association that receives State aid during a fiscal year, not including a unit of State or local government. “State Aid” is defined as a contribution, grant, or subsidy of $50,000 or more provided through the State operating or capital budget or by the action of a unit of State government from State funds appropriated to that unit, not including reimbursements to providers participating in a State program.
INTRODUCED: 1/21/10
COMMITTEE: Budget and Taxation
ACTION: 2/2/10 Committee Hearing
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0215.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 234, High Performance Buildings Act – Applicable to Community College Capital Projects
LEAD SPONSOR: Senator James Robey
SUMMARY: Amends the existing High Performance Buildings Act, the law requiring state-owned buildings to meet or exceed a LEED Silver rating or an equivalent, by making the requirement applicable to community college capital projects that receive State funds.
INTRODUCED: 1/22/10
COMMITTEE: Budget and Taxation
ACTION: 2/10/10 Committee Hearing
CHAPTER POSITION: Support
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0234.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 224, Plumbing – Greywater Recycling
LEAD SPONSOR: Delegate Dan Morhaim
SUMMARY: Prohibits counties from adopting or enforcing provisions of a local plumbing code that prohibit a system that recycles greywater. “Greywater” is defined as used, untreated water generated by a clothes washing machine, shower or bathtub.
INTRODUCED: 1/22/10
COMMITTEE: Economic Matters
ACTION: 2/3/10 Committee Hearing
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0224.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 705, Energy Performance Ratings – State, County and Municipal Buildings
LEAD SPONSOR: Delegate Dana Stein
SUMMARY: Requires state and local governments to post, in a building’s public area, the Energy Star ratings of government-owned buildings. Effective October 1, 2010 for state government buildings of 100,000 square feet or more. Effective October 1, 2011 for local government buildings and state government buildings of less than 100,000 square feet.
INTRODUCED: 2/4/10
COMMITTEE: Health and Government Operations
ACTION: None
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0705.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 656, Energy Performance Ratings – State, County and Municipal Buildings (Cross-file of HB 705)
LEAD SPONSOR: Senator Mike Lenett
SUMMARY: See HB 705 above
INTRODUCED: 2/5/10
COMMITTEE: Education, Health and Environmental Affairs
ACTION: None
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0656.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 277, Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Solar Energy
LEAD SPONSOR: President Mike Miller (by request of Administration)
SUMMARY: Accelerates the percentage of electricity that utilities must derive from solar energy in meeting the State goal of 2% derived from solar energy by 2022. Increases compliance fee utilities must pay when failing to meet the solar energy requirement.
INTRODUCED: 1/22/10
COMMITTEE: Finance
ACTION: 2/16/10 Committee Hearing
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0277.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 471, Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Solar Energy (Cross-file of SB 277)
LEAD SPONSOR: Speaker Michael Busch (by request of Administration)
SUMMARY: See SB 277 above.
INTRODUCED: 1/29/10
COMMITTEE: Economic Matters
ACTION: 2/16/10 Committee Hearing
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0471.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 479, State Capital Projects – High Performance Buildings – Green Globes Rating
LEAD SPONSOR: Senator Lowell Stoltzfus
SUMMARY: Alters the definition of "high performance building" in the State High Performance Buildings Act to include a building that achieves a rating of at least two Green Globes according to the Green Globes Program as adopted by the Green Building Initiative.
INTRODUCED: 2/1/10
COMMITTEE: Budget and Taxation
ACTION: None
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0479.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 287, Maryland Clean Energy Incentive Act of 2010
LEAD SPONSOR: President Mike Miller (by request of Administration)
SUMMARY: Extends the Clean Energy Incentive Tax Credit, set to expire at the end of 2010, for an additional 5 years. Offers state income tax credit for electricity generated by qualified resources of .85 cents per kilowatt hour, and .50 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity generated from co-firing a qualified resource with coal.
INTRODUCED: 1/22/10
COMMITTEE: Budget and Taxation
ACTION: 2/17/10 Committee Hearing
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0287.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 464, Maryland Clean Energy Incentive Act of 2010 (Cross-file of SB 287)
LEAD SPONSOR: Speaker Michael Busch (by request of Administration)
SUMMARY: See SB 287 above
INTRODUCED: 1/29/10
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means; Economic Matters
ACTION: None
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0464.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 285, Sustainable Communities Act of 2010
LEAD SPONSOR: President Mike Miller (by request of Administration)
SUMMARY: In order to better coordinate and target existing State community revitalization programs to achieve investment in housing, historic preservation, economic growth and transportation development…provides for designation of certain areas in the State as “sustainable communities” eligible for certain State programs. Re-establishes and alters the Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program to be the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit Program. Provides for an additional Sustainable Communities tax credit to commercial rehabilitations that achieve a LEED Gold or equivalent rating.
INTRODUCED: 1/22/10
COMMITTEE: Budget and Taxation
ACTION: 2/17/10 Committee Hearing
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0285.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 475, Sustainable Communities Act of 2010 (Cross-file of SB 285)
LEAD SPONSOR: Speaker Michael Busch (by request of Administration)
SUMMARY: See SB 285 above
INTRODUCED: 1/29/10
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means; Environmental Matters
ACTION: None
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0475.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 355, Energy Companies – Net Energy Metering – Payment for Accrued Generation Credit
LEAD SPONSOR: Senator Paul Pinsky
SUMMARY: Provides that a utility “customer-generator” with a net metering contract or tariff who generates electricity from a renewable source shall be credited at the same retail rate that they pay for electricity consumption. A customer-generator served on a time-of-use tariff shall be credited using time-of-use rates.
INTRODUCED: 1/28/10
COMMITTEE: Finance
ACTION: 2/9/10 Committee Hearing
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0355.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 701, Energy Companies – Net Energy Metering – Payment for Accrued Generation Credit (Cross-file of SB 355)
LEAD SPONSOR: Delegate Sue Hecht
SUMMARY: See SB 355 above
INTRODUCED: 2/4/10
COMMITTEE: Economic Matters
ACTION: 3/2/10 Committee Hearing
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0701.htm
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Organization and Preparation Can Make or Break Your Case
I came across a post from another blog that I found useful. When a construction company or owner comes into my office with a potential dispute, they save themselves time and money if their project has been well documented and such documents are well organized. In some instances it can make or break your case.
Thanks to Timothy Hughes for these basic tips. Click on the title link to read more.
Thanks to Timothy Hughes for these basic tips. Click on the title link to read more.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Is the housing market recovering?
Is the housing market recovering? For Toll Brothers, Inc. a regional construction company, it seems to be. "We have definitely progressed from one year ago,” said Toll Brothers CEO Robert Toll." It's fourth quarter results have jumped approximately 42%. The positive sentiment amplifies that of Reston-based Comstock Homebuilding Cos. Inc. (NASDAQ: CHCI) which returned to profitability during the third quarter and said the homebuilding industry is on the mend.
Will the rest of the construction industry follow? Probably, but it's too soon to tell how quickly.
Click on the title link to read the article in the Baltimore Business Journal.
Will the rest of the construction industry follow? Probably, but it's too soon to tell how quickly.
Click on the title link to read the article in the Baltimore Business Journal.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Green Building Insurance. Are you Protected?
Any construction professionals interested in green construction should be aware of the risk associated with contracting to build a green building.
For example what if you contract to build a stucture that meets the certification process of an outside entitiy, such as US Green Building Counsel but cannot deliver the level specified? What is your liability? Will you be covered by insurance?
This is an emerging area which we will keep you up to date on but I have posted a link to an industry insider which is insightful on the subject.
For example what if you contract to build a stucture that meets the certification process of an outside entitiy, such as US Green Building Counsel but cannot deliver the level specified? What is your liability? Will you be covered by insurance?
This is an emerging area which we will keep you up to date on but I have posted a link to an industry insider which is insightful on the subject.
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