[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Doylestown 6-4-2019 by Ord.
No. 395. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 76.
This chapter shall be identified at the "Green Points Program
Ordinance."
The purpose of this chapter is to protect the public health,
safety and welfare of Township residents by encouraging the use of
cost-effective and sustainable building materials that conserve fossil
fuels, water and other natural resources, and also to promote the
reuse and recycling of construction materials, and reducing solid
waste.
The green points initiative is a voluntary program intended
to offer financial incentives in the form of reduced building permit
fees for new commercial and residential construction, additions and
interior remodeling. In order to qualify for green points and the
consequential permit fee reduction, the applicant will be required
to meet the requirements for green points. Intent to apply for the
green points initiative will be indicated on the construction permit
application form. Each "green point" is equivalent to a 1% reduction
in the applicable permit fee. In no event, however, may a building
project qualify for more than twenty-five (25) green points. Applicants
shall be required to pay the full amount of the required permit fee
to the Township at the time of application. Before a final inspection
is requested a green points application will be submitted to the Township
for review on a form provided by the Township. Any approved credit
for green points shall be applied in the form of a refund once the
final certificate of occupancy has been issued and all applicable
fees have been paid to the Township. Applications for the green points
initiative credit will not be accepted after a final inspection or
certificate of occupancy has been issued. The following identify the
means to secure green points and the number of points attributed to
each effort.
A.
Nonresidential projects. All nonresidential projects shall be required
to comply with the United States Green Building Council requirements
for a certified LEED project. Points shall be awarded as follows,
once certification has been received and documentation has been submitted
to the Township:
B.
Residential projects.
(2)
Compact land use and water conservation:
(a)
Landscaping:
[2]
Use of rain gardens or engineered swales to filter stormwater
runoff, unless otherwise required per the Stormwater Management Ordinance,[2] the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance,[3] or required of any other governmental agency having jurisdiction
over the project (these points are awarded only if swale is not required
by site plan conditions): three points.
[3]
Planting additional trees beyond required street trees or other
trees required by the Zoning Ordinance,[4] the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance,[5] the Stormwater Management Ordinance,[6] or required of any other governmental agency having jurisdiction
over the project: 1/3 point for each additional tree to a maximum
of two total points (six trees).
(4)
Energy Code measures: The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code
requires certain minimum measures of energy conservation for new buildings,
additions, and remodels. This subsection specifies how points are
to be awarded under this section for incremental increase in energy
efficiency above the required minimum in each of the categories specified
in the table.
(6)
(7)
Solar:
(a)
Passive solar potential preservation and solar space heating
on a wall surface equal to 10% of the unit's floor area or 150
square feet whichever is greater and located on the more southerly
side of the unit: five points.
(b)
Glazing of the south wall surface adequate to provide at least
20% passive solar heating: six points.
(c)
Glazing of the south wall surface adequate to provide at least
40% passive solar heating but only if designed in conjunction with
an appropriately sized thermal mass so as not to adversely affect
cooling loads: 12 points.
(d)
Glazing of the south wall surface adequate to provide at least
60% passive solar heating but only if designed in conjunction with
an appropriately sized thermal mass so as not to adversely affect
cooling loads: 20 points.
(e)
Solar hot water heating: 10 points.
(g)
Active solar pre-plumbing: two points.
(h)
Solar generated electricity with a savings fraction of at least
25%: 20 points.
The aforementioned lists and point eligibility criteria may
be amended from time to time by resolution from the Township Board
of Supervisors.
Any applicant who has an interest in pursuing the green point
initiative may request an interpretation from the Township Director
of Code Enforcement as to the number of green points the project may
be eligible to receive. The request for an interpretation shall be
filed on a form prepared by the Township.
In order to receive green points and thus a reduction in building
permit fees, the applicant shall provide additional third-party certifications,
if required by the Building Code Official, from qualified third-party
professionals appropriately certified in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
certifying that the project is eligible for certain green points.
All costs for the third-party certifications shall be borne by the
applicant.
In the event a court of competent jurisdiction shall declare
any portion of this chapter invalid, such invalidity shall not affect
the chapter in its entirety, as it was the intent of the Board of
Supervisors that the chapter would have been adopted, even if the
offending provision had not been included.
This chapter shall be effective five (5) days after enactment.
