Dallas, Texas – April 9, 2008 – The City of Dallas approved a comprehensive Green Building ordinance for all new commercial and residential buildings. The Real Estate Council (TREC), a leading commercial real estate trade organization, participated in the City’s Green Building Task Force to help craft the ordinance and strike a necessary balance between a progressive green building program and a program that does not deter future economic development. 

The ordinance is implemented in two phases.  Phase One separates commercial buildings into two categories: (1) Buildings under 50,000 square feet and (2) buildings at or above 50,000 square feet. 

For smaller buildings in Phase One, developers must meet certain prescriptive standards, including energy, water, cool roofs and outdoor lighting. 

For larger buildings in Phase One, developers must submit the appropriate Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) checklist and meet a minimum of 85 percent of the points required for LEED certification with a particular emphasis on energy and water efficiency. Formal certification with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is not required.  

In Phase 2, all new buildings must meet 100 percent of the minimum points required for LEED certification.  Similar to Phase 1, formal certification with the USGBC is not required.  

A resolution accompanies the ordinance that asks the City Manager to work with the Green Building Task Force and come back with recommendations for the inclusion of existing buildings and a meaningful incentives package for developers who are willing to exceed the minimum green building requirements.  These recommendations shall be submitted by October 1, 2008. In addition, the City Manager must report back to the Council no later than six months prior to Phase Two regarding the progress of Phase One, including adequacy of City staff to administer the program and viability for Phase Two as written.  

TREC will continue to work with the Task Force to provide industry perspective. TREC members and others who assisted with efforts on the Green Building Task Force are Roger Gault of The Gault Company; Jeff Good of Good Fulton & Farrell; Trey Morsbach of Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.; Barry Howard of Fairfield Residential, LLC; Murray Newton of Koll Development Company; Kevin Sellers of Hill & Wilkinson; Neal Sleeper of Cityplace Company and Macey Davis of TREC. Also serving on the Task Force were other industry representatives, residential builders and the Home Builders Association (HBA), commercial developers, multi-family developers, LEED accredited professionals, green building consultants, USGBC representatives and City of Dallas staff.  

Macey Davis, director of public affairs for TREC, said, “Giving the commercial real estate industry a unified voice in order to effect positive change in public policy is a critical part of TREC’s mission.  Our goal during this process was to ensure that the ordinance supported Mayor Tom Leppert’s vision of making Dallas a greener city while maintaining flexibility and not becoming cost prohibitive. We believe that balance has been accomplished in the Green Building ordinance approved by the City Council.  We enjoyed the opportunity to work with City staff and other industry leaders on the Green Building Task Force and we look forward to future participation.” 

About TREC and TREC Foundation
Founded in 1990, The Real Estate Council is comprised of 1,600 commercial real estate professionals representing more than 500 companies in the Dallas area and 10,000 employees. Through The Real Estate Council Foundation, grants and professional assistance are provided to local organizations focused on community revitalization and affordable housing. With a grant of $1.5 million, TREC is currently spearheading efforts to build a deck park over Woodall Rodgers Freeway. TREC Foundation has also been instrumental in creating the Urban Land Bank, providing $250,000 in funding and $4.9 million in pro bono legal and title services. Learn more about TREC and how to join at www.recouncil.com or by calling (214) 692.3600.