Green Incentives: New Bill Encourages LEED Silver-Certified Buildings in Philly

Incentives already exist for achieving LEED Platinum and LEED Gold.

Efforts to make Philadelphia greener continue. Currently, for example, having LEED Gold and Platinum certification allows builders within certain zoning districts to increase their height and floor area. Now, those with LEED Silver certification might receive similar zoning bonuses.

Earlier this month, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown introduced a bill,  co-sponsored by Councilman Mark Squilla, that would “provide floor area and height zoning bonuses for developers who meet Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification,” according to a press release.

LEED Platinum certification now allows for an additional 36 feet; LEED Gold, an additional 24 feet; while having LEED Silver would permit an additional 12 feet to the currently zoned building height maximum, as well as increased floor area. The amended table in the Philadelphia Code height incentives would be as follows:

Achieving LEED certification involves using “best-in-class building strategies and practices.” Different LEED certification levels depend on satisfied requirements and earned points in categories like water efficiency, materials and resources, energy and atmosphere, location and transportation, indoor environmental quality and innovation, among others.