City of Philadelphia - Energy Standards for Public Buildings

Summary

In 2009, the Philadelphia Office of Sustainability released a six-year plan, Greenworks Philadelphia, to become the greenest city in America. The plan sets 15 sustainability-related targets. Target 1 is a goal to decrease energy consumption by city government by 30% by 2015, compared to 2008 levels. This goal includes transportation fuel consumption. 

As part of this goal, Philadelphia enacted Bill Number 080025 in December 2009. The bill requires all new construction or major renovations to achieve LEED Silver certification if more than 50% of the design and construction costs are funded by the city. "Major renovations" are defined as "major HVAC renovation, significant building envelope modification and major interior rehabilitation that in total directly affect more than 50% of the gross floor area of an enclosed and conditioned building space." This requirement became effective on January 1, 2010. The law also requires that ll new construction in the city to require cool roofs that meet or exceed ENERGY STAR cool roof standards. The city has also begun a number of other initiatives intended to help it meet the energy reduction target. The Greenworks web site contains detailed information on these initiatives and progress towards the target.

The Philadelphia Office of Sustainability has released annual reviews of Greenworks Philadelphia along with an extended sustainability plan in 2016 called Greenworks: A Vision for a Sustainable Philadelphia.