Palo Alto Municipal Code Part 3 Local Modifications to CHAPTER 2 - DEFINITIONS

Section 202 of Chapter 2 of the California Green Building Standards Code is amended to include the following definitions:

ALL-ELECTRIC BUILDING / SITE. A building or parcel of land whose sole source of energy is electricity and contains no combustion equipment or plumbing for combustion equipment.

CPAU. City of Palo Alto Utilities Department.

CALGREEN INSPECTOR. A person certified as a CALGreen Inspector/Plans Examiner through the International Code Council (ICC), demonstrating knowledge and application of Green Building concepts during plan review and inspection. For projects that require a CALGreen Inspector/Plans Examiner verification, the Inspector must be contracted directly with the owner and may not be a contractor or employee of the design or construction firm.

CERTIFIED ENERGY ANALYST. A person registered as a Certified Energy Analyst with the California Association of Building Energy Consultants as of the date of submission of a Certificate of Compliance as required under Section 10-103 of Building Energy Efficiency Standards for residential and non-residential buildings.

GREEN BUSINESS CERTIFICATION INC. (GBCI™). Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI™) is an independent third party organization that provides certification, credentialing, and verification services for green building and sustainability programs, including serving as the official certification body for LEED projects and professional credentials.

LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (LEED®). The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) is a green building certification program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council that provides a framework for green buildings through a point based rating system that evaluates building performance across multiple sustainability categories. Projects shall follow the U.S. Green Building Council’s standards for selecting the appropriate LEED® rating system.

LEED AP WITH SPECIALTY. An advanced professional credential signifying expertise in green building and a LEED rating system. To earn a LEED AP with specialty, candidates must first pass the LEED Green Associate exam. The exams measure knowledge about green building, a specific LEED rating system and the certification process and are ideal for individuals who are actively working on green building and LEED projects.

MODEL WATER EFFICIENT LAND-SCAPE ORDINANCE. The California Department of Water Resources Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.

SALVAGE. Salvage means the controlled removal of items and material from a building, construction, or demolition site for the purpose of on or off site reuse, or storage for later reuse. Examples include air conditioning and heating systems, columns, balustrades, fountains, gazebos, molding, mantels, pavers, planters, quoins, stair treads, trim, wall caps, bath tubs, bricks, cabinetry, carpet, doors, ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, electrical panel boxes, fencing, fireplaces, flooring materials of wood, marble, stone or tile, furnaces, plate glass, wall mirrors, door knobs, door brackets, door hinges, marble, iron work, metal balconies, structural steel, plumbing fixtures, refrigerators, rock, roofing materials, siding materials, sinks, stairs, stone, stoves, toilets, windows, wood fencing, lumber and plywood.

SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL (AKA 50-50-50 RULE). Any project that affects the removal or replacement of 50% or more of the linear length of the existing exterior walls of the building, 50% or more of the linear length of the existing exterior wall where the plate height is raised, or 50% or more of the existing roof framing area is removed or replaced, over a 3-year period is considered a substantial remodel. (Refer to Section 301.1.2.)

SQUARE FOOTAGE. For application of green building requirements, “square footage” refers to all new or altered square footage, including basement areas (7 feet or greater in height), as calculated based on outer boundary of proposed construction area, including exterior walls.

U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL (USGBC). The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainability in building design, construction, and operation through market transformation initiatives and the development of green building standards, most notably the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification program.

(Ord. 5678 § 2 (part), 2025)