Looking to lead by example

COSTA MESA — When it comes to building design, the wave of the future may well be waterless.

That's waterless — as in landscaping with cactus gardens that don't need much irrigation, or waterless urinals that save thousands of gallons per year. But cutting down water use is only one of the strategies Costa Mesa city officials are pursuing to make the city more "green," encouraging public and private buildings that are more friendly to the environment.

At City Hall, a team of builders, planners and other staff members created a plan to make existing facilities more efficient, and to make sure any new city buildings will meet the standards of the U.S. Green Building Council, which rates developments on how well they conserve water and energy, use recycled materials, and accommodate transportation alternatives like bicycles or hybrid cars.

"There's so much that I think we as a community and as a country need to do to protect the environment," Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Katrina Foley said. She and Councilman Eric Bever, who could not be reached for comment, suggested creating programs to offer incentives for private projects to be green.

Foley also wants the city to lead by example. The council in August will vote on several green-building issues, including a policy requiring city facilities to be more environmentally friendly and a program to encourage developers and homeowners to incorporate efficient appliances and recycled materials into their plans.

No new city facilities are immediately in the pipeline to be built, but plenty of ideas have been floated to make the city hall complex on Fair Drive greener.

City building official Khanh Nguyen is proposing solar panels to cover some roof areas at City Hall and the nearby fire station. He estimates they could generate up to 75% of the power needed at the complex, and with a state rebate the city should break even on the installation costs in six to seven years.

Another idea is a "green roof" for part of City Hall, which is due for a roof replacement anyway. Movable planter boxes, probably containing succulents that don't require much water, would be placed on the roof and spaced apart by paths and benches. Visitors could enjoy the plants, Nguyen said, and the city could measure whether the move improves insulation.