Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our office is open to visitors by appointment only. Please call or email from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
703-324-7136 TTY 711
12000 Government Center Pkwy, Suite 533
Fairfax, VA 22035
John Morrill
Director

Fairfax Green Initiatives Planning, Zoning, and Green Building Action Items

Within the Fairfax Green Initiatives #1 and Fairfax Green Initiatives #2 matrices there are a number of action items related to planning, zoning, green building, and development. These items are summarized below. This information will be updated periodically and the date of the most recent update will be noted for reference.

Planning For Environmentally-Sustainable Development

Summary: The Development Process Committee will discuss and consider whether county staff should review and report back on the costs and benefits of comprehensive plan and zoning changes that would incentivize and support more environmentally sustainable development.

Location in Matrix: Fairfax Green Initiatives #1, 2a

Lead Department (Partners): Department of Planning and Development

Action To Date: As part of the Zoning Ordinance Modernization (zMOD) project, a new Zoning Ordinance, adopted in March 2021, includes new uses to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure and solar projects at residential, commercial and County facilities.

Additional Comprehensive Plan and Zoning changes may be identified in the ongoing CECAP planning process.

Status: Ongoing


Building Design and Code Changes

Summary: The Development Process Committee will discuss and consider whether county staff should review and report back on building design and code changes that could lead to greener and more energy efficient buildings throughout the county.

Location in Matrix: Fairfax Green Initiatives #1, 2b

Lead Department (Partners): Land Development Services, Government Relations

Action To Date: As directed in an April 2021 Board Matter, Land Development Services (LDS) is seeking adoption of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and energy provisions of the International Residential Code (IRC) into statewide building codes during the 2021 code development cycle. LDS has also established a new Voluntary Green Building Recognition Program to acknowledge designers and contractors who voluntarily build green in Fairfax County.

Status: Ongoing


Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE)

Summary: The county will complete the work required for C-PACE adoption by July 2019, with implementation by the end of 2019.

Location in Matrix: Fairfax Green Initiatives #1, 4d

Lead Department (Partners): Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination

Action To Date: Fairfax County's C-PACE program launched in February 2020.

Status: Complete


Residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (R-PACE)

Summary: The Environmental Committee will expedite consideration of R-PACE or other financing options to support energy use reductions in residential real estate.

Location in Matrix: Fairfax Green Initiatives #1, 4e

Lead Department (Partners): Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, Government Relations

Action To Date: Implementation requires the passage of enabling legislation in the General Assembly. Staff will continue to monitor and provide updates on legislative activity to the Board. The 2021 General Assembly passed budget language that directs the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) to establish a work group to assess the feasibility of creating a Virginia R-PACE program. DMME was required to submit a report with its findings to the General Assembly no later than December 1, 2021.

Status: Ongoing


Stronger Green Building Policies for County Facilities

Summary: The County Executive will report to the Board of Supervisors on how best to strengthen green building policies for county facilities.

Location in Matrix: Fairfax Green Initiatives #1, 6a

Lead Department (Partners): Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, Facilities Management Division, Fairfax County Park Authority, Fairfax County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination.

Action To Date: The 2021 update to the Operational Energy Strategy (OES) includes a target that all new construction and major renovations over 10,000 square feet beginning planning and design in 2021 meet net zero energy standards, unless the Board is informed why it cannot meet such standards by the 30 percent design phase. The Sustainable Development Policy will be revised to align with the OES targets. DPWES continues to evaluate and implement new strategies to meet these targets.

Status: Complete


Incentivize and Accelerate Green Building

Summary: The Land Use Policy Committee will consider directing the Department of Planning and Development to identify and report on ways to encourage and incentivize developers and builders in the county to adopt or accelerate residential and commercial green building practices.

Location in Matrix: Fairfax Green Initiatives #2, 6d

Lead Department (Partners): Department of Planning and Development, Land Development Services

Action To Date: The Department of Planning and Development and Land Development Services have determined that the creation of a Fairfax County Green Building Profile would duplicate existing third-party certifications and rating systems, and as such, the agencies suggest such a profile not be developed.

Status: Complete

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