City Considers Green Building Ordinance - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif.- The Pacific Grove City Council will vote on a green ordinance this week for businesses and homes in the city, but the new law may cost developers a little more money. The new ordinance is the same law adapted by Monterey. In fact, the building official is the same for both Monterey and Pacific Grove.

Monterey adopted a green building ordinance about a year and half ago requiring new construction and renovations in the city to follow some environmentally friendly guidelines, "Over the past year and a half over a 1000 plus buildings are greener because of the program," said Building Official John Kuehl

But going green can sometimes cost a little extra at first Steve Ramirez manages a construction site in Monterey he showed Central Coast News some of the new requirements for building in Monterey.Ramirez said some of the extra costs to build green are electrical but in the long run can save home owners and business owners money on their monthly energy bills, "The percentage of florescent and incandescent lighting, timers motion sensors anything to save energy," said Ramirez.

So what does this mean for Pacific Grove? According to Kuehl, Pacific Grove could have the same ordinance in place by the first of the year. For people concerned about the historical value of business and homes, the green building ordinance is flexible, "The last thing that we want to do is damage the historic fabric of this city. We want to encourage restoration in stead of demolition," said Kuehl.

Submitted by Shannon Hogan, Central Coast News