City officials hope to enhance Sunnyvale's current sustainable-development practices by incorporating a green building program and providing more educational and outreach programs to the broader community.

"Although the community development department is taking a lead in this, all the city departments are involved in the program," project planner Erin Walters said.

Citywide sustainability practices would protect, conserve and enhance environmental resources by using design and construction practices that would significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment, she said.

Staff has explored the issue since the Sunnyvale City Council designated it as a study item in December 2001. A comprehensive policy, which city staff is working on, would include the existing programs and newly created ones to fully address all areas of sustainable development, Walters said.

Part of the staff's research was to determine what sustainable development practices other jurisdictions have adopted.

Darren Bouton, a Sunnyvale resident, is the Green Building coordinator for the city of San Jose and has met with the Sunnyvale planners to discuss details of that program.

"As a resident of this city, I am thrilled that Sunnyvale is moving toward this program," he said.

According to Bouton, in 2001 San Jose adopted the Green Building program, which was created to encourage and facilitate new construction or remodeling of homes or workplaces into spaces that are healthier for the community.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, a green building can be defined as any building that is sited, designed, constructed, operated and maintained for the health and well-being of the occupants while minimizing the impact on the environment. Green buildings promote resource conservation by including design features that encourage energy efficiency, use sources of renewable energy and encourage water conservation.

"Although the program is still in the incubation stage right now, the interest in the marketplace is growing exponentially," Bouton said.

Several cities across the country have adopted some kind of a sustainable-development program, he said. San Jose's program includes a mandatory component for city buildings and a voluntary component for private developments.

"Developers would like cities to lead in this program so that private developments can follow," he said.

The options for the Sunnyvale program currently under development include adopting the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program or developing the city's own sustainable-development program. The program, which applies to new construction or major remodels of nonresidential buildings, is a series of credits (certified, silver, gold or platinum), which would determine the rating of the building.

At a joint study session with the city council members and planning commissioners on Jan. 7, city staff discussed the various options available. A tentative work plan includes preparing a policy for both public and private buildings, developing a program website and conducting more outreach in the community.

Although the city is currently considering a voluntary program for private development, Planning Commissioner Chris Moylan suggested the city make it a mandatory program for both public and private developments.

Since green buildings cost more money, developers should be able to obtain additional financing, said Robert Paternoster, director of community development.

Bouton added that although a majority of lenders still do not acknowledge green developments, there are a few lenders who are starting to take the lead in supporting and encouraging such developments.

Councilman Manuel Valerio suggested at the meeting that the council could probably support or introduce some legislation at the state level to make such loans more accessible to developers.