Northbrook Gives Rebates for LEED-Certified Homes

To promote Green building techniques in public and private sector construction projects, the Village of Northbrook has a great incentive program - giving rebates for LEED-certified homes.  Even during the depths of winter, Chicago real estate and new homes are looking a little greener in 2010.

Northbrook uses the LEED rating system to distinguish different levels of sustainability in construction projects. In exchange, for building green, there is a rebate for Covered Permit Fees (permits issued by Northbrook’s Building & Development Department for new buildings, additions, demolitions, alterations and site work) based on the LEED rating of the project.

Bonus: if you’re one of the first LEED-certified buildings in a property class, the permit fee is completely waived at 100%!

What is LEED?  The U.S. Green Building Council (“USGBC”), an organization comprised of the nation’s foremost leaders from the building industry, is committed to promoting the development of buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. To this end, the USGBC has developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (“LEED”) Green Building Rating Systems, which are performance?oriented rating systems for both new construction and existing buildings based on generally accepted energy and environmental principles.

Permit rebates are yet another financial incentive for homebuilders to build to LEED standards.  Here is a link to Northbrook’s Green page, where Green Building Incentives are covered. Or click here to view the full Northbrook green building incentive policy.