The Dallas city council passed the green construction ordinance in April of 2008. This ordinance is proposed to reduce the amount of water and energy the city consumes by lowering the acceptable amounts used in new construction of commercial buildings and homes. The new ordinance will make changes to the Dallas plumbing code to reach the goals that have been set by the city.

The city of Dallas has not always been known for being an environmentally conscious city. In the days of big oil, the city was a conspicuous consumer of its number one product. Everyone in Dallas drove a car or truck, and normally, the larger the car or truck the better. This change is the first in a series to make the City of Dallas carbon neutral by the year 2030 and into one of the greenest cities found in America. Today, the city has one of the largest fleets of clean vehicles in the nation.

The first phase of the ordinance began on October 1, 2009. This phase requires that home builders build homes that are fifteen percent more energy efficient that those built to the base energy code. In addition Dallas plumbing code now requires that new construction meet four of the six water reduction strategies. Heating and plumbing codes will become even more stringent in 2011, when on October 1, all homes must be constructed to the higher standard of LEED and water use reduced by twenty percent.

The ordinance also affects the plumbing codes of commercial construction as buildings of all sizes must reduce their water usage by twenty percent. This reduction remains the same for commercial buildings in Phase 2 of the ordinance.

To reach these goals Dallas plumbing contractors will need to install low flow shower heads, faucets and dual flush toilets. Irrigation systems must be made more efficient and dishwashers and washing machines will be required to use less water. Commercial buildings may decide to use water reclamation systems to cut water usage even more.

Yes, there will be an initial cost difference as contractors scramble to find the fixtures that will be necessary to meet these new code changes. New homeowners and businesses will reap the benefits in lower power and water bills. The actual time to recoup the costs will be short.

Savings will be far more than monetary. This new ordinance will improve the air that Dallas residents breathe and will ensure more clean air and streams in the city for many more generations.

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