Jun 13 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Ellen Gedalius Tampa Tribune, Fla.

Tampa is getting with the green movement.

On Thursday, the city council unanimously gave its preliminary approval to an ordinance that offers incentives to developers that build environmentally friendly buildings. The ordinance also requires new city buildings to be constructed according to green standards, following a policy Mayor Pam Iorio set forward several weeks ago.

City council members have been hashing out ideas for more than a year. On Thursday, the board agreed to:

-- Offer developers a 50 percent building permit rebate on single-family residential construction if they meet certain environmental requirements;

-- Offer developers of commercial and multifamily projects a 20 percent to 80 percent rebate on building permit fees, depending on the level of certification they receive from the U.S. Green Building Council;

-- Set aside money in the budget each year for the program;

-- Encourage developers of multifamily and single-family homes built through the city's affordable housing programs to meet green building standards;

-- Require all new construction of municipal buildings to meet at least Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver standards. LEED awards points based on the type and number of green procedures used in buildings.

The city's ordinance applies to all new construction for city-owned and operated buildings that include at least 5,000 square feet of air-conditioned space.

The council is expected to give its final approval to the ordinance on June 26.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.