LEED Ordinance Could Get Final Okay in Pittsburgh

A bill that would require all publicly-financed development in Pittsburgh to be certified green comes up for a final vote tomorrow in City Council. Sponsor Bill Peduto says he introduced the legislation in January and other cities have since surpassed Pittsburgh in their green building requirements. Peduto says his measure would require developers who receive TIF's (Tax Increment Financing), to achieve at least the silver level of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. A TIF is public money invested in a development based on the future increased property taxes that project will likely mean to the municipality, the county and the school district.

Peduto says the bill is a step in the right direction, but other cities like Boston and Dallas have gone further, requiring that all new major developments meet green standards.