Green Code Moratorium Defeated

The Home Builders Association in coordination with the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s Business Friendly Task Force successfully lobbied against a “temporary moratorium” on the use of Richland County’s current Green Code Standards. The proposed moratorium initially offered by Councilwoman Val Hutchinson was soundly defeated at last night’s Zoning Public Hearing of Richland County Council.

Hutchinson had offered a motion which had received first reading on April 3rd "that would establish a temporary moratorium on the use of the Green Code Standards…in order to give staff time to address potential inconsistencies and ambiguities that may be found with that Section, and to advertise for a Public Hearing in conjunction with the Zoning Public Hearing on April 24, and that once the Public Hearing is advertised, to apply the Pending Ordinance Doctrine…"

The Land Development Council of the Home Builders Association opposed this action by County Council for the following reasons:
- A moratorium is an excessive measure and is not necessary to amend the Green Code Standards. Any proposed amendment should be forwarded to the Development Roundtable and the Planning Commission for a recommendation, which is current procedure and required by state law.
- The use of the Pending Ordinance Doctrine is an abuse of the process and allows for a dangerous precedent for any future business development in the County. The development community needs to know what the rules are and not be subject to changes due to the personal agenda of any one individual member of County Council.

To her credit, Hutchinson offered the motion at the Hearing to deny second reading of the moratorium and directed the Development Roundtable to offer recommendations “to address potential inconsistencies and ambiguities that may be found with that Section “back to the Planning Commission and Council no later than July 10th. Hutchinson’s motion was adopted unanimously.

Paradime Construction, Inc. Completes First Home In Certified High Performance Home Program

The Green Building Council of Greater Columbia is pleased to announce the first certification of a house in the new Certified High Performance (CHiP) Home program. The builder is Paradime Construction, Inc., a Home Builders Association (HBA) and Green Building Council member company. The house, located in Columbia, SC, reached the Bronze Level in the program.

“We are pleased to offer this certification program in Columbia,” said Green Building Council Chairman, Peter D. Williams. “It is a low-cost solution to build or remodel to a national standard, and assures the buyer that they have invested in a high performance home.”

The CHiP Home program is administered by the Green Building Council of Greater Columbia, which is a council of the HBA of Greater Columbia. Homes in the program are third-party verified to ensure that they meet the criteria as outlined in the ANSI-approved 2008 National Green Building Standard™ (Icc 700-2008). The Standard takes many aspects of the structure into account including energy, water and resource efficiency, lot design and preparation, and indoor air quality. Minimum levels of compliance must be met in each area for a home to be worthy of a certification.

For more information on the CHiP Home program, please visit the Green Building Council of Greater Columbia’s website at www.columbiagreenbuilders.com or call (803) 256-6238. For more information on Paradime Construction, Inc. and this home, visit their website at www.colahome.com or call (803) 600-4237.