Scottsdale has led the way on green building initiatives since the 90s - a trend the city continued when the Scottsdale City Council recently adopted the 2021 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code and the International Green Construction Code as mandatory codes.
It's an innovative step toward long-term sustainability - Scottsdale is the first city in the state and one of only a few nationwide to implement such guidelines.
Scottsdale is committed to building and operating facilities that meet stringent construction and efficiency standards, a physical commitment to saving energy, water, and reducing waste consumption.
Many city facilities are built to the LEED standards of the U.S. Green Building Council.
Fire Station 602 in Old Town Scottsdale was the first LEED Platinum certified fire station in the United States.
In addition to steps the city takes to be energy-efficient in its owned buildings, Scottsdale's Green Building Program encourages projects throughout the community to minimize environmental impact and reduce energy consumption.
In 1998, with the support of a green building community ad-hoc committee, Scottsdale adopted Arizona's first voluntary green building program for residential construction - just the fifth city in the nation to do so.
In 2010 and 2012, Scottsdale adopted the International Green Construction Code as a voluntary building code for commercial buildings in the community. In 2016, Scottsdale adopted an updated IgCC as a mandatory building code for commercial buildings that receive zoning bonuses involving increased building height and density. Scottsdale is the only city in Arizona that has IgCC mandatory measures.
Scottsdale continually focuses on smart facility management to reduce energy costs. The city has earned more than $1 million in energy rebates over the past decade through Arizona Public Service's "Peak Solutions for Business" program. through Arizona Public Service's "Peak Solutions for Business" program.
From big vehicles like fire engines and recycling trucks, to small cars needed for city business, Scottsdale's fleet uses 1.4 million gallons of fuel each year - and thanks to our environmentally conscious practices, 30 percent of that fuel has a lower environmental impact. Many of our big trucks run on compressed natural gas, and we continue to evaluate where we can use electric vehicles.
Scottsdale is a member of the Valley of the Sun Clean Cities Coalition, a non-profit organization focused on reducing the use of petroleum-based motor fuel. This organization recently set a national record by displacing 100 million gallons of petroleum fuel, and Scottsdale is proud to be a strong contributor.
