City of Dallas - Green Building Policy for Municipal Buildings (Energy Efficiency Requirements)

June 27, 2024

Summary

In 2003, the Dallas City Council passed a resolution requiring that all new municipal buildings larger than 10,000 square feet be constructed to meet U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification standards. In 2006 the green building program policy was updated, increasing the requirement for new city-funded public works and transportation facilities under the 2006 bond program to LEED Gold Certification.

The first building completed under this policy was the Jack Evans Police Headquarters, which obtained LEED Silver certification in December 2005. As of 2015, Dallas has 26 LEED certified facilities: 14 silver (includes 1 LEED EB), 10 gold, 1 platinum, and 1 certified. Renovations and rehabilitation projects are also directed to use LEED principles to the greatest extent that they are reasonable and practical.

The Dallas City Council has also enacted green building requirements for new residential and commercial development.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector:	Local
Category:	Regulatory Policy
State:	Texas
Incentive Type:	Energy Standards for Public Buildings
Web Site:	http://greendallas.net/green-buildings/
Administrator:
Start Date:
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:	Solar - Passive Solar Water Heat Solar Space Heat Solar Photovoltaics Wind (All) Biomass Geothermal Heat Pumps Daylighting Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building Hydroelectric (Small)
Energy Reduction Goal/Requirement:	All Proposed projects must use 15 percent less energy than the minimum provisions of Chapter 5 of the Dallas Energy Conservation Code. (Dallas Ordinance 28813 Section 326.2.2.1.3.3 Energy Efficiency)
Green Building Requirement:	LEED Certified.
Equipment Efficiency Requirement:	Systems must be certified by a national, state or local accredited energy efficiency program and approved by the Energy Systems Laboratory. The United States Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR Program.
Renewable Energy Requirement:	See program details.

Authorities

Name:	Dallas City Council Resolution 03-0367
Date Enacted:	01/22/2003

Name:	Dallas Green Construction Code
Date Enacted:	09/26/2012

Name:

Dallas Ordinance 28813 Section 326.2.2.1.3.3 Energy Efficiency

Contact

Name:	Ali Hatefi
Organization:	Department of Public Works
Address:	320 E. Jefferson Blvd Dallas TX 75203
Phone:	(214) 671-0737

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.