Building, Planning, & Engineering

• Building & Planning
  Forms and Handouts

• Green Building &
  Your Project

• Green Building:
  Did You Know?

• Carol's Green Feature

• Town Requirements
  for Selling Property

• Public Works

• Building Permit FAQs

• Planning FAQs

Often, when the term "Green Building" comes up, images of aesthetically-challenged structures that lack warmth, comfort and light come to mind. However, there is no such thing as "green architecture;" design expression utilizing sustainable building elements is as limitless as traditional architecture.

Also, there are no rules to building green; it does not have to be "all or nothing." You can integrate as many sustainable elements as you desire into your design to contribute to a healthier environment and a more durable, high-quality, energy efficient space for you and your family.

What exactly does it mean to "build green"?
Green Building (or sustainable building) means considering the environment and impacts to it when designing and building a structure. There are many elements to building green, including architectural design that maximizes natural light and ventilation, installing energy efficient fixtures and equipment, and selecting recycled and/or non-toxic construction materials. In general, homes constructed using green building practices are energy efficient, resource conserving, have better indoor air and light quality, and utilize construction materials wisely.

Do sustainable building features/practices cost more than traditional ones?
Some green design features can cost more, however this is generally in the short term. Once maintenance and operation costs (increased durability, energy savings, etc) are factored in, green homes often cost less over time. There are low-cost green building features and strategies and you can incorporate them into your design while maintaining a tight budget.

Planning ahead is key.
Being informed and aware of green building options is a key component of the project design phase. The decisions made in design have impacts for the life of the project. It is important to develop a clear idea of your project's vision, goals, and priorities and how you can integrate sustainable features into the design.

Where to start?
The Town of Portola Valley has adopted the use and distribution of both the San Mateo Countywide Guide: Sustainable Buildings booklet and the San Mateo Countywide Sustainable Buildings Checklist. The Sustainable Buildings booklet offers detailed, well-organized and easy to understand information on green building strategies and how to integrate them into your project design. Sustainable features involving building siting, wood framing, exterior treatments, plumbing and electricity, and non/less toxic materials among others are clearly addressed by category so that you can quickly identify sustainable elements for each aspect of your design. The Sustainable Buildings Checklist is designed as a compact summary of the various green options you have at each stage of project design. Both of these documents are available in hardcopy at Town Hall or by clicking the above PDF files. Another great place to start is at San Mateo County's www.recycleworks.org which is an incredibly comprehensive site for sustainable building (with many links including green building material suppliers), recycling, workshops, green building events, and more.