Guidelines Ensure Foundation-Funded Construction Projects Adhere to Latest Green Building Standards

VENICE, FL (July 6, 2006) – Seizing upon an opportunity to help local nonprofits reduce their building operating costs over the long term, Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice's Board of Directors has revised the Foundation's grantmaking guidelines to promote "green" building practices in all Foundation-funded new-construction projects.  The new guidelines, which took effect July 1, 2006, include reimbursement of nonprofit organizations for costs directly associated with designing to the latest green standards as well as the cost of applying for green building certification.

"The Foundation Board recognized a unique opportunity to promote improved building practices across the region while enabling nonprofit organizations to cut building operating costs, act as good stewards of increasingly scarce resources, and promote healthier building environments," said Teri A. Hansen, president and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.  "With the wave of green building products and expertise entering the construction marketplace, the additional cost of building to green standards has dropped considerably, while the benefits are tremendous."

Under the new grantmaking guidelines, the Foundation will award new-construction capital grants only for projects that, upon completion, are certified as green according to the most current Florida Green Commercial Building Designation Standard of the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC).  Once a project has obtained FGBC green certification, the Foundation will reimburse the grantee for the total FGBC project application fee and up to $25,000 for planning and design activities directly attributed to building the project to FGBC green standards.  The grant guidelines are available on the Foundation's Web site at gulfcoastcf.org.

The FGBC is a nonprofit, membership organization dedicated to improving the built environment through a statewide green building program with environmental and economic benefits.  FGBC's certification standards follow the national standards created by the United States Green Building Council, with additional, Florida-specific requirements.

Resources:

Florida Green Commercial Building Designation Standard

Reference Guide for Commercial Building Green Standard

Florida Green Building Coalition