Buildings and Energy

Verdant Hills integrated high-performance building checklists and energy-resource referrals more consistently into planning, permitting, and development-review processes. Additional businesses and larger properties participated in benchmarking or utility-supported efficiency programs. The City also completed preliminary recommendations for aligning local Green Building Code requirements with updated state standards and community climate goals.

The City will advance Green Building Code updates following implementation of the new state building code. Verdant Hills will also expand technical resources for existing buildings, strengthen connections to financing and incentives, and encourage property owners to use benchmarking results to prioritize improvements.

Verdant Hills launched a limited permit-fee incentive for qualifying heat-pump, electric water-heating, and related electrification projects. Updated City resources help property owners understand equipment options, incentives, electrical requirements, and the importance of pairing electrification with efficiency improvements. The City also strengthened referral partnerships with utilities, energy advisors, and financing programs.

The City will evaluate participation in the incentive program and identify opportunities to improve accessibility and effectiveness. Verdant Hills will also explore targeted outreach and group-purchasing approaches that can reduce upfront costs for residents, rental properties, and small businesses.

Verdant Hills incorporated solar-readiness questions into early development discussions and continued supporting coordinated solar-purchasing opportunities. Updated educational materials provide clearer guidance for homeowners, renters, businesses, and institutions considering rooftop or community solar. The City also worked with installers to keep its technical recommendations aligned with changing equipment, incentives, and installation practices.

The City will evaluate whether selected solar-ready practices should be incorporated into formal development standards or Green Building Code updates. Verdant Hills will also continue promoting group purchasing, community solar, and financing options that make renewable electricity accessible to a wider range of residents and businesses.

Verdant Hills implemented a second group of municipal energy improvements and incorporated audit recommendations into the capital improvement program. Building-automation adjustments, efficient equipment replacements, and operational changes reduced avoidable energy use while improving comfort and maintenance. Detailed studies identified potential pathways for replacing fossil-fuel heating equipment at selected facilities.

The City will advance design and funding for its first major municipal building-electrification projects. Verdant Hills will also continue improving building controls, energy-data tracking, equipment scheduling, and plug-load management across the municipal portfolio.

Verdant Hills adopted a municipal building-electrification policy and began applying it to major equipment replacements, renovations, and facility-planning decisions. The City completed an initial portfolio roadmap that groups potential projects by timing, feasibility, cost, operational importance, and emissions-reduction potential. Life-cycle cost and incentive analysis are now incorporated earlier in project development.

The City will use the policy and portfolio roadmap to advance priority projects and prepare future capital budgets. Staff will also establish indicators for tracking completed evaluations, electrification investments, avoided fossil-fuel equipment replacements, and changes in municipal thermal-energy use.

Verdant Hills completed or began construction of its first solar installation developed through the municipal facility-screening process. The City also formalized solar-feasibility review for new facilities, major renovations, and significant roof projects. Updated financial analyses identified additional sites that may become viable as incentives, electricity prices, roof schedules, and project costs change.

The City will monitor the performance and financial results of the initial installation and use those findings to guide future projects. Verdant Hills will also advance the next group of candidate sites and consider opportunities to combine solar with battery storage or resilience improvements where appropriate.