Legal Preparedness for Green Buildings and Construction

Abstract:     
Legal preparedness for green buildings and construction involves a sector that is the largest single contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings are highly dependent on energy use in both pre and post-construction phases. In this context, developing countries need to focus on holistic approaches that ensure stronger performance standards for new buildings, while developed countries might be challenged with retrofitting older designs. Legal best practices for green buildings and construction in this compendium include an analysis of New Mexico’s Sustainable Development Testing Site Act. This law sets standards for a number of sustainability criteria, for instance proper sewage treatment systems, in order to obtain testing site permits. Another case study details the 2011 Kenyan National Construction Authority Bill, which establishes the new National Authority for Construction. This institution will coordinate the involvement of several Ministries involved in construction, and aims at a stronger regulation of the construction sector in Kenya. This section also describes green building rating systems in Japan.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 6

Keywords: sustainable development, buildings,construction, energy, policy, act, bill, green, rating, CASBEE, Kenya, Japan, New Mexico

Accepted Paper Series