Texas

Incentives/Policies for Renewables & Efficiency

City of Dallas - Green Building Ordinance

Last DSIRE Review: 01/17/2013

Program Overview:

State:	Texas
Incentive Type:	Building Energy Code
Eligible Efficiency Technologies:	Roofs, Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building, Unspecified Technologies
Applicable Sectors:	Commercial, Residential
Residential Code:	Phase 1: New buildings must submit a checklist demonstrating that they meet minimum energy consumption required by the Dallas Energy Conservation code (HERS index of 85 or less) Phase 2: All projects must be LEED-certifiable or equivalent
Commercial Code:	Phase 1: New buildings less than 50,000 square feet must meet minimum energy consumption required by the Dallas Energy Conservation Code; Must utilize Energy Star cool roofs. New buildings more than 50,000 square feet must demonstrate a number of LEED credits; Minimum points are required depending on project type Phase 2: All projects must comply with the Dallas Green Construction Code and be LEED certifiable
Web Site:	http://www.dallascityhall.com/building_inspection/greenBuilding.h...
Authority 1: Date Enacted:	Ordinance No. 27131 04/09/2008
Authority 2: Date Enacted:	Amendment to Ordinance No. 27131 09/28/2011
Authority 3: Date Enacted:	Green Building Ordinance Amendment No.27759 09/26/2012

Summary:

In April 2008, Dallas passed a Green Building Ordinance, which requires all new buildings to meet higher efficiency standards than current building energy codes. Phase 1 runs from October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2011, and Phase 2 begins October 1, 2013.

Residential Buildings
During Phase 1, new residential buildings (1 or 2 family homes) must meet minimum energy consumption required by the Dallas Energy Conservation Code. This is equivalent to a HERS index of 85 or less. In Phase 2, all new buildings must comply with the Dallas Green Construction Code and be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifiable under the LEED for homes standard. Projects may also choose to meet Green Built Texas standards, or another approved green building standard. Buildings do not need to obtain formal certification.

Commercial Buildings
During Phase 1, buildings that have less than 50,000 square feet of flooring must meet minimum energy consumption required by the Dallas Energy Conservation Code. In addition, any roof that has a slope of 2:12 inches or less must qualify as an Energy Star Cool Roof. Buildings that are larger than 50,000 square feet must submit a LEED scorecard demonstrating that they have incorporated a number of LEED credits. The type of project determines the number of points that must be obtained.

LEED New Construction (NC) projects must have 22 points
LEED Core and Shell projects must have 20 points
LEED for Retail must have 22 points
LEED for Healthcare must have 25 points
LEED for Schools must have 25 points
LEED for Homes must have 28 points

Multifamily development may use LEED NC, LEED for Homes, Green Built Texas, or an equivalent green building standard.

For Phase 2, commercial buildings of any size must comply with the Dallas Green Construction Code and be LEED certifiable. All projects must apply for certification under either LEED NC, LEED for Schools, LEED for Retail, LEED for Healthcare, LEED Core and Shell, LEED for Homes, or an equivalent certification under another green building system. For expedited plan review under Phase 2, a project must comply with the minimum standards for the 2012 International Green Construction Code or ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-201. Plans which are eligible for LEED silver ratings or higher, or an equivalent certification under another recognized green building rating system, can also qualify for expedited review.

Contact:

	Zaida Basora, AIA, LEED AP City of Dallas Public Works Department Facilities Architecture and Engineering 320 E. Jefferson Blvd., Room 321 Dallas, TX 75203 Phone: (214) 948-5360 E-Mail: zaida.basora@dallascityhall.com

	Lloyd Denman, P.E. Dallas Sustainable Development & Construction 320 E. Jefferson Blvd. Room 204 Dallas, TX 75203 Phone: (214) 948-4354 Web Site: http://www.dallascityhall.com/building_inspection/index.html

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