Council supports 'green' construction

The Salt Lake County Council approved a resolution Tuesday supporting Mayor Peter Corroon's effort to use environmentally friendly building techniques in all new buildings and remodels of county facilities.

Now, county leaders will craft an ordinance requiring all new buildings and remodels of county facilities to be built with strict green-building standards.

The county will use the criteria from the U.S. Green Building Council's program, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, when constructing new and remodeling current county buildings. Buildings earn points toward LEED certification for elements that improve conservation, sustainability, water and energy efficiency, and indoor environmental quality.

Green building incorporates everything from using recycled materials and natural lighting to solar panels and drought-tolerant landscaping in new construction.