Green campaign wins green light
Aug 29 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Stephen Wall San Bernardino County Sun, Calif. It's not just outspoken environmentalists who are extolling the virtues of green technology. The four-part "Green County San Bernardino" program rewards environmentally friendly developers and homeowners with monetary savings and faster processing of building applications. Supervisors approved the program by a 4-0 vote. Supervisor Josie Gonzales was absent. County building permit fees will be waived for anyone who wants to install solar panels, wind turbines, tankless water heaters and energy efficient air conditioning systems in existing buildings. Builders who meet green-building criteria will receive priority when their projects are reviewed by planning officials. New county buildings and major renovations of existing county facilities will need to comply with energy-efficiency standards. The county will create a Web site -- www.greencountysb.gov -- that will provide residents and businesses with tips on how they can "go green." The proposals approved by the board were applauded by environmentalists and developers. The program is a continuation of the county's efforts to foster sustainable growth while being a good steward of natural resources, said Paul Biane, board chairman. He announced the initiatives on Monday at a news conference. Biane said the county needs to partner with cities in order to have a bigger impact on protecting the environment. "We are trying to lead on these issues, but we can't do it without the help of our cities," Biane said. "You have to do a lot of little things to have a lot of impact."
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