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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />• Additional compliance strategies. Another possible route to ensure compliance is by <br />leveraging permitting and inspections processes. However, because construction code <br />is prescriptive and most sustainability criteria is performance-based, there has been no <br />attempt in Minnesota thus far to take either of these two routes: <br />o During permit approval. Because cities approve permits that give the green <br />light for construction, they could explore issuing permits only once design models <br />adequately indicate that sustainability requirements will be met. Incorporating <br />permit approvals that are based on modeled designs of performance would <br />necessitate thorough consideration of expertise and permitting staff needs. <br />o During inspections. Building inspectors could take a bigger role in ensuring <br />sustainability criteria are incorporated during construction. Similar to design <br />review for permits, inspectors evaluate a building based on prescriptive code. For <br />that reason, inspector scope would need to expand to include evaluation against <br />a performance-based model design. <br />• A one-stop-shop for expertise on sustainable building policies. An external <br />collaborator would not only consult on multiple rating systems, but also serve as a single <br />point of communication for technical questions and compliance monitoring for project <br />teams and cities, respectively. This type of group has not yet been established to serve <br />Minnesota cities. However, such a partner with broad expertise, design review <br />experience, and implementation support ability could serve multiple cities while reducing <br />sustainability staff needs. <br />Although sustainable building policies have been around more than a decade in Minnesota, <br />there remain great opportunities for more cities to leverage such policy tools and for better <br />standardization among cities to ease implementation. As cities actively invest in new <br />developments or receive developer requests outside existing zoning rules, they can use these <br />policies to achieve sustainability goals. In the end, the built environment has strong impacts on <br />environmental health and livability, and sustainable building policies are an important tool to <br />build the physical environment that cities want and need. <br />APPENDIX <br />See a table summary of current Minnesota municipal sustainable building policies here: <br />https://www.mncee.org/minnesota-municipal-sustainable-building-policies-guide <br />10