Madison grapples with green

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

From a story by Paul Snyder in The Daily Reporter:

Madison still can’t bridge the gap between its green government and its goal of a green city.

And that may be because the city needs to more clearly define its goals, said Steve Hiniker, executive director of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin.

“If Madison can explain what it’s looking for in terms of development, I think we could be a national leader in green building,” he said.

City administrators spent four years putting together sustainable design committees. They implemented Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards for city-owned building and renovation jobs. They developed programs like Green Capital City, which focuses Madison efforts on environmental practices.

But the city still can’t decide exactly where it wants to go or how it wants to get there.

When recently discussing the Regent Street-South Campus Neighborhood Plan, the city’s Urban Design Commission turned a green eye to the private sector and the possibility of placing LEED standards on new buildings planned for the area.

“It’s a debate we need to have,” said Todd Barnett, an architect and member of the commission, “because I wonder where LEED will be in 10 years’ time. . . .”