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Green Legislation
From WikiVerde
Definition
Green Legislation refers to the laws and ordinances passed by national governments and international authorities to propel the maintenance, attainment and development of a healthy and safe ecosystem. Green legislation includes green laws and ordinances which propagate green living, green transportation, energy and fuel efficiency and reduction in emission of greenhouse gases.
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Green Law
A green law can be defined as public law developed to organize municipal urban forestry programs. These laws encompass programs and policies of:
• Formulation and development of citizen tree and landscape commissions
• Regulation of environmental preservation
• Protection, removal and planting of trees including other landscape features on public land.
Since 1990, green legislation has always found a place in a country’s regular legislative programs. But green laws have gained in popularity since the beginning of 1995 with an increase in environmental threats of the greenhouse effect and global warming. Specifically, green legislation is centered in developed countries of United States of America, the European Union, Japan, United Kingdom and Australia. Developing nations of Asia and Africa focus their efforts of green legislation on ‘Green Construction Laws.’
Types of Green Legislation
Construction and Development laws: These laws have been enforced since 1997 mainly to reduce construction costs of energy, fuel and waste. These green laws primarily take the form of zoning ordinances or land development codes. The legislation demands public review including approval of landscape design plans for the restoration, preservation and construction of urban landscapes and green spaces within the frame work of green new development, re-development and construction. Technically, these laws involve the regulation of landscape design, landscape installation, tree preservation and landscape maintenance on private lands.
Construction and development of Green buildings: Green legislation demands that concrete sky scrapers which utilize high energy and fuel resources should be razed off the new construction landscape. These laws argue for the construction of energy and fuel efficient buildings which promote not only a healthy and safe environment but, also advocate a better lifestyle. Green buildings use resources of energy, water, materials and land efficiently and effectively providing for healthier environments for working, learning and living. Developers get to reduce construction costs and consequently save money. Research by the Conservation Society in EU also proves that green buildings are more sustainable requiring less maintenance and being more resistant to earthquakes.
The building law demands that real estate personnel including construction agents realize the concept of green building in all construction and development projects. Failure to comply with the law and ordinances could result in serious consequences including cancellation of building licenses. Green buildings are earth-friendly because the buildings minimize the negative environmental consequences by:
• Lessening changes to the local natural environment
• Using recycled or recyclable materials
• Incorporating renewable and energy efficient power generation systems
• Using water resources more efficiently consequently producing less waste.
Green buildings also provide employees with a healthier indoor work environment by effectively controlling outdoor air ventilation systems. The buildings use alternative paints, finishes, adhesives, furniture and fabrics reducing and even nullifying the formation of negative air.
Commercial Building Efficiency: In August 2007, the US Senate proposed a series of green laws advocating green building efficiency. Sections 9001-9020 of Title IX of the law relate to the energy efficiency of appliances, raising the required energy efficiency for dehumidifiers, washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators. Sections 9021-9030 prohibit the sale of 100 watt general service incandescent lamps. Section 9031 of the act provides funding for home and workplace weatherization. The act also requires federal and international coordination of green building projects.
Land Development Regulations: Comprehensive landscaping regulations were first pioneered in the US. These land development green laws argue for the regulation of changes to existing land preventing complete site clearing and habitat destruction. These laws set technical standards for landscape design, habitat preservation, tree protection, tree removal, storm water management and erosion control. The land development regulations are green laws which advocate development and protection of the environment at a steady pace. They argue for wetland preservation, ground water recharge and land clearing.
Green IT Legislation: Green IT laws were mainly enforced by the regulating body of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) in 2005. The WEEE primarily aimed to make manufacturers, distributors and consumers of all electronic equipment adopt devices which were energy and fuel efficient. It basically argued for the manufacture of environmentally-friendly and safe computers and electronic digital equipment. The law has forced companies such as Dell and HP to dismantle old machines and create a workplace philosophy and strategy which looks at recycling of electronic equipment after the official life cycle of the product has diminished.
Global Warming Bills
In 2003, a series of laws demanding the regulation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions made its way to the international level. The laws specifically are designed to:
• reduce pollution of our air and atmosphere.
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
• fund air, infrastructure at commercial aviation centers.
• make available clean fuels and clean-fuelled vehicles.
• improve enforcement of existing ban on driving vehicles emitting smoke from their tailpipe.
• measure pollution in people i.e. how much pollution is caused by people in their daily lives.
• remove the metal lead from water pipes and fixtures.
The Future
The European Commission Green Paper says that green legislation will only have a positive effect if the people understand and adopt it in daily life. There is no point in setting up regulating bodies if the people ignore such crucial legislation. Recently, the US government hit upon an idea of incentives for commercial developers. Commercial developers who aim for the construction and development of green buildings now are entitled to a green building tax credit. A recent study in EU pointed out that high amounts and levels of noise pollution are an environmental hazard. The causes and effects are still being studied. But the fact remains that the legislation exists and has to be made use by people.
