Press Conference Dec.11 – City to Incentivize Higher Levels of ‘Green’ Building

Media Advisory
From Councilmember Laure Quinlivan
City of Cincinnati
For Immediate Release: December 10, 2012
Contact: Ashley Patrick, 513-352-5303

City to Incentivize Higher Levels of ‘Green’ Building
Councilmember Laure Quinlivan Sponsors Changes to Cincinnati’s LEED Abatement Program

The City of Cincinnati leads the region with the most energy-efficient buildings.  With the most generous tax abatement in the country for LEED Certification, the City encourages residents and commercial developers to build ‘green.’  To incentivize people to invest in the most energy-efficient building they can afford, Councilmember Laure Quinlivan sponsored changes to the city program’s structure.

“My family invested in building a LEED Gold home in Cincinnati in 2011, so I’m aware of how tweaking our LEED program will benefit consumers and our entire community,” says Quinlivan.  For use in a story, members of the media may download a video documenting construction of Quinlivan’s green home at http://vimeo.com/22485890.

Cincinnati home and commercial builders will join Quinlivan and other city leaders at a press conference Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 10:30am, at the LEED Silver home of Heather and James Kinsman in Northside.  Representatives from the City’s Community Development Department and Economic Development Division will be able to answer questions about the amendments to residential and commercial abatements, respectively.

“I think this change by the City will convince people to invest a little more upfront to get to a higher LEED level,” says Marc Hueber.  His company John Hueber Homes built the first two LEED homes in the state of Ohio and has built 22 LEED homes in Cincinnati.  The company is also renovating historic properties on Race Street in Over-the-Rhine to LEED standards.

“The City of Cincinnati’s LEED tax abatement is an innovative model—and currently unparalleled in scope—to support energy and resource efficiency in homes and buildings,” says Doug Widener, Director of Community Advancement for USGBC National.  “The program serves as a model for other cities and the proposed changes ensure that it remains at the forefront of such municipal efforts nationally while continuing to drive conservation and innovation locally.  I applaud the City of Cincinnati for its continued efforts.”

Quinlivan’s Strategic Growth Committee oversees environmental issues and will act to implement the abatement program changes in its Dec. 11 meeting at noon.

Event:                   Press Conference

Date:                     Tuesday December 11, 2012

Time:                    10:30am

Location:             Heather & James Kinsman LEED Silver residence in Northside, 1650 Glen Parker Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45223

Photo from the Kinsman Residence blog http://www.glenparkergreenhome.com/.

(12-10-19 redirect from lohre.com)