The Green Building Program provides presentations, trainings, and technical assistance to staff and elected officials of ACWMA’s 17 member agencies in the following areas:

• adoption and implementation of a Construction & Demolition Debris Recycling Ordinance
• adoption and implementation of a Civic Green Building Ordinance, a policy to require that green building practices are incorporated in publicly owned and funded buildings.

Model Documents

We have created model documents, including ordinances, contract specifications and general plan language.

Construction & Demolition Waste Management

• Construction and Demolition (C&D) Debris Recycling Model Ordinance
  In November 1999, the Alameda County Waste Management Authority Board endorsed a Model Construction & Demolition Ordinance requiring contractors to divert at least 50% of their construction waste materials from landfill.
• Model Findings for Alameda County jurisdictions
• Jurisdictions with C&D Ordinances
  Driven by the large amount of construction activity, many cities have adopted C&D Ordinances. Find out what your city's recycling requirements and hauling restrictions are prior to initiating a project.
• Section 01505: C&D Waste Management
  Sample specification for C&D waste management, including a model Waste Management Plan.

Green Building:

• Model Civic Green Building and Bay-Friendly Landscaping Ordinance
  This model ordinance only covers city sponsored projects, defined as any construction project primarily funded or sponsored by the city or on city-owned land.
• Model Green Building Resolution
  The model resolution can be adopted prior to adopting an ordinance, to encourage green building for public facilities, commercial and residential projects whenever feasible.
• Policy Tools for Green Building Ordinances
  There are specific procedures that must be followed when making modifications to the state building code at the local level, including amendment of the California Energy Code, filed with the California Energy Commission, and amendment of the California Building Code, filed with the California Building Standards Commission. StopWaste.Org has developed a summary pathway for adopting standards and have the following resources:
  • Cost Effectiveness Study for Alameda County
    This study develops cost-effectiveness findings used in filing green building ordinances with the California Energy Commission. View the executive summary  or the full report. 
  • Model Findings for Alameda County
    StopWaste.Org developed model findings for use in filing green building ordinances with the California Building Standards Commission.
• Model General Plan Language
  This General Plan language can be adopted as part of a city’s General Plan Amendment process, to ensure that all green building policies are consistent with the General Plan.
• Model Resolution to adopt Residential Green Building Guidelines as Reference Document
  A model resolution for cities to adopt the Alameda County Residential Green Building Guidelines as a voluntary City Reference Document.
• Jurisdictions with Green Building Policies
• Small Commercial Checklist and Verification Key
  Green Building in Alameda County has developed a checklist for small commercial projects looking to build green.