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5. Local actions have regional, national and global implications. Eugene does not exist in isola- tion; it is part of a larger community of interests. Similarly, local issues cannot be separated from their broader context. The City will recognize the relationship between local, regional, national and global issues in its policy and program development. The City will also assume a leadership role in developing model environmental programs and innovative approaches to economic devel- opment that reflect this linkage to the regional, national and global communities. The principles of sustainability recognize the interdependence of the built and natural environments; pro- viding the framework and tools to build and operate facilities in an efficient. healthy, and ecologically responsible manner. Green buildings seek to harness natural energy flows an~1 T~iological processes, re- duce or eliminate reliance on fossil fuels and toxic materials, and imprm`~ reso ce efficiency. Specifi- cally, sustainable principles-when applied to the design, construction,A maintenance and operation of buildings-encompass the following broad topics: efficient mana~nient of cr~ergy and water resources, management of material resources and waste, protection of envu•onmental qualih~, protection of health and indoor environmental quality, reinforcement of natural s't•sreins,~~u~d integrating the design approach. Purpose The purpose of a Citywide policy on sustainable buildings into de strate the City aI~ t:ugene's com- mitment to environmental, economic, and social stewardshii~; t« yi savings to the ity's taxpayers through reduced operating costs, to provide healthy work envi ronn ents for staff and visitors, and to con- tribute to the City's goals of protecting, cow crying, and enhanci.n~ ~i~e. region's environmental resources. Additionally, the City is in a position to set ~r cona unity standard of sustainable buildings practices. ~~ " Policy Considerations -What Activities x'e~l~iclurlocl, What's the Standard, How Will the Policy Be Implemented, What are the~Exemptionfi ~" Because of the wide varietti~ ot~ buildings and progr'an activities across the City organization, there are a number of specific issues that ne«i to be addressed ,ensure that a sustainable building policy is effec- tive. Questions that must. be resol~~cd include the typ . and~size of buildings to be covered, the potential for different funding somccs to support <. en buildins*,practices and the extent of the City's ability to control decisions ~n btril~lin~~ hr~ojccts. ~" W.hatAetivities are Included' The~Citv'~ een building folic} ~~ouldappi~ to pity-owned and operated buildings and, to the extent prac ica 1 •" i~ty-financed bu i 1 d i n 4~ activ it ~. While some local governments, including the City of Port- land, also a c'atrrpass "non-building" acuities such as parks, open space, and street and utility infrastruc- ture in an overall~~n-een building lolicy, this policy recommendation for the City of Eugene focuses on buildings, address~rr`~ these othe "activities only to the extent that they support individual buildings. Cur- rently, City departments r•espor>ble for these other City activities are committed to adopting best man- agement practices within e~rch functional area. As there is currently no accepted standard to evaluate sustainability in these areas that is comparable to the LEED Green Building Rating System, the inclusion of these non-building activities in a sustainable building policy is likely to have limited environmental benefit over the "best management practices" approach now in place. The City's green building policy can be expanded in the future if a more robust system for evaluating the sustainability of these non- building activities becomes generally accepted. It is recomnicnded th~rt the sustainable building police apply to all City-u1~ned and opcratrd huildin~~s, re~ardl~ss ofi Fund responsihilih~. f lo~ti~ever, there rna~ be practical limitations on the <rhilit~~ to in~~c>[ in sustainable huildin~.*, mca~ures ghat are more than t}~pirrl construction or operations costs.. dcpeniiin~~ on restrictions t~f different fuudin<~ sources. nn example nri~ he funilin~~ antler a tc<Icral i~ro~,ram th<~t hay 2