Not to describe the color of a building, but rather, the word "green" is now used to illustrate innovative, environment-friendly and cost-effective ways to build new and refurbish existing structures, East Valley officials say.

The city of Mesa’s Development and Sustainability Department is looking at creating a blueprint of sorts for the future integration of green principles into city building codes.

Although there is no plan to bring a comprehensive green building code to Mesa City Council anytime soon, that doesn’t mean the city is not looking now to ways to build better.

According to Development and Sustainability Department Deputy Director Scott Bouche, the city is looking at developing a green building pilot program when constructing three new fire stations, the first being No. 218 at the northeast corner of Eighth Street and Alma School Road.

Funding for the construction of fire station 218 comes from a November 2008 bond election where voters, by an overwhelming measure, approved two public safety and transportation bonds, as well as Proposition 400. The bonds totaled $169.2 million, according to Mesa Independent archives.

"We are really looking at doing a pilot program," Mr. Bouche said of the city’s intent to develop green building criteria when discussing the topic June 8 in a conference room coined "The Den" at the Mesa City Plaza. "How can we make them more energy efficient?"

What stands now at the future site of Mesa Fire Station 218 is a dilapidated home left vacant for years, but Mr. Bouche says it is a perfect example of what recycling can look like — on a development scale.

"It is kind of like turning nothing to something," he said Monday, June 8 as he walked the grounds of the future fire station site.

Mr. Bouche says through the building phases — which are funding, design and construction — of the three fire stations over the next few years may create new energy efficient and environmentally friendly provisions be added to city code.

"By the time we get to the end of this ... here is what our green building policy is," he explained. "We really want to have something established from this."

Laura Hyneman, city of Mesa special project manager, agrees.

"It is much more holistic, a larger view," she said of what the green building code would represent and what the department hopes to present to Mesa City Council. "It becomes a way of becoming more responsible."

Ms. Hyneman says that through the development process of the creation of these new city facilities new landscaping codes and energy-efficient provisions will be developed.

"This is something that is not just energy efficient, but it is preserving resources," she said. "It will operate at a significant savings over time."

Ms. Hyneman says that while city council has always been receptive to initiatives that save taxpayer dollars, in these tough economic times becoming more efficient is paramount.

"So that all projects in Mesa, no matter how big or small, will come from this list," she said of cost savings that will be built into city projects because of energy efficient and eco-friendly measures made. "We are going through this process and learning lessons."

Mr. Bouche agrees.

"We hope this program will, in time, develop," he noted. "It is almost about changing philosophy."

Gary Bradbury, Mesa assistant fire chief, says the fire department and the city is working together striving to create the most cost-effective and environment-friendly fire station.

"We want to incorporate as many green material and processes as we can," he said of using green building measures for fire station No. 218. "That is where we stand with this process."

The total cost for fire station 218 is $2.5 million, according to Assistant Fire Chief Bradbury. He says there is an additional 2 percent increase to costs associated with building green.

"When you go to the green construction ideas and up to (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification there is additional administration and material costs," he explained. "When you consider taxpayer investment how much green do we put into it?"

The 11,000-square-foot facility will house from eight to nine staff personnel and have three bays for fire trucks and equipment, Mr. Bradbury said.

"What is the cost vs. the cost savings and sustainablilty over time," he explained, but noted typically large cost savings come from larger facilities. "You really get the bang for your buck out of the larger complexes."

According to Mr. Bouche, there are no city-owned buildings that are LEED certified, but hopes that through the construction of these new public safety facilities that will change.

Apache Junction City Hall, 300 E. Superstition Blvd., is the first municipal city hall in the state of Arizona to be LEED- design certified, city officials say.

There are five key areas to LEED certification — sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection, and indoor environmental quality — according to the U.S. Green Council Web site, http://www.usgbc.org.

"The capital facility plan and moving forward (with that plan) was a huge milestone," said city spokesman Patrick Brenner of the city’s move toward green initiatives over the past decade.

In 2000, a capital facilities plan featured the construction of Superstition Shadows Aquatic Center, Apache Junction Skate Park, the Multigenerational Center, City Hall and updates to Apache Junction Public Library and the Apache Junction Rodeo Grounds, according to Mr. Brenner.

A fifth of a cent increase to sales tax provided funding for the 2000 capital facilities plan, Mr. Brenner said.

"Since 1998 the perspective of the community is that this is a more rural, laid-back community ... I think that translates into the fact that establishing sustainability in this community is still very strong," he explained in a phone interview.

And taking that sense of sustainability a step further is what the city of Apache Junction hopes to do, says city of Apache Junction Building safety Manager Dennis Dixon.

"I think that most people’s view is that there is a larger price for building green," Mr. Dixon said in a phone interview. "Basically, I am going to council next Monday to give an overview of a building green project."

Mr. Dixon at the June 15 Apache Junction City Council work session is anticipated to provide a presentation and seek direction from council on whether or not to begin a city-sponsored green building policy, according to a June 4 memorandum.

"Well, it’s important for all of us to build green; it is really taking a life of its own," Mr. Dixon said of the need for sustainable city projects. "Monday night I am going to ask if they (council) would like me to develop that project."

The project would encourage builders to participate in third-party green construction programs for commercial and residential development projects, the memorandum from city staff states.

"To minimize the negative effects a building has on an environment and to enhance the positive effects a building has on the environment," is how Mr. Dixon described what a green building project’s effect is on the environment in which it is constructed.

But what Mr. Dixon hopes the future holds for the city of Apache Junction is a full-fledged green building code requiring all city-owned buildings over 5,000 square feet to be LEED certified.

Mr. Dixon says these tough economic times are a prime example of why building better, smarter and more efficient can save General Fund dollars needed for maintaining city services.

"Ultimately the future of the country, I believe, that there are several communities that will have mandatory green building codes," he explained. "That is the way the world is headed, I don’t know how long it will take for everybody to do it."

Mr. Dixon says developing a LEED-certified building is meeting certain criteria for what kind of materials used, such as air-conditioning units and lighting.

"Right now we are working on a grant application to perform an audit that would help bring down the city’s carbon footprint," he said of a pending grant through the Department of Energy paying for a comprehensive energy audit of city facilities.

The grant application is due no later than June 25.

Mr. Dixon says a common concern of implementing a green building ordinance is the upfront costs, but, over time, those costs are recouped through cost savings from a more efficient cooled, lighted and utility-serviced building.

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