Bill would require LEED for school projects


State Reps. Jefferson Smith and Jules Bailey want every Oregon public school retrofitted to achieve LEED silver certification.

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State Reps. Jefferson Smith and Jules Bailey want every Oregon public school retrofitted to achieve LEED silver certification.

HB 2203 aims to upgrade all public schools within 10 years in order to encourage productivity and health in Oregon’s children, as well as to create jobs.

Smith and Bailey spent Monday afternoon with the House Committee on Education discussing a package of legislative bills designed to put people back to work by upgrading existing schools and building new ones. One of those bills, HB 2203, would require any project using state-backed general obligation bonds issued under Article XI-P of the Oregon Constitution for construction, improvements, remodeling, equipping, maintenance or repair of a building to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver certification or an equivalent rating.

Smith and Bailey believe HB 2203 would create jobs and help cash-strapped school districts repair their buildings. They say the bill could help accomplish another state goal: increasing sustainable performance in state-operated buildings.

Read more at the Daily Journal of Commerce.

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