Green Streets
Awards After November 1, 2020
Green Streets Criteria for Projects Awarded After November 1, 2020
The Iowa Green Streets Criteria promote public health, energy efficiency, water conservation, smart locations, operational savings, and sustainable building practices. The strategies in the following pages enhance affordable housing, community facilities, town centers and whole communities.
Since 2008, the Iowa Green Streets Criteria has influenced the performance of thousands of residences and numerous community facility and Main Street projects across Iowa. This edition of the Iowa Green Streets Criteria builds on lessons learned by the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Enterprise Green Communities and from the growing body of building science research and demonstration projects.
New to this Document
Much of the Iowa Green Streets Criteria in previous versions remains unchanged or has undergone minor changes. A complete reading of the full Iowa Green Streets Criteria should be completed as a reminder of previously existing criteria and to identify new criteria. Some of the more significant changes to the criteria worth extra noting include the following.
- Project Priority Survey, Documentation and Construction Management (Section 1): Additional criteria and greater emphasis has been added on the use of project priority surveys, integrated design, and construction management. Supporting those areas of emphasis are new requirements for incorporating Iowa Green Streets Criteria into formal project specifications.
- Safe Room (Section 1): Depending on the project type, installation of a safe room has been added as a requirement or option.
- Broadband (Section 2): Preparing for and providing access to Broadband service has been added as mandatory and optional criteria respectively.
- Irrigation (Section 4): The prohibition on irrigation has been modified to allow for irrigation utilizing harvested, non-potable water sources.
- Water Quality and Supply (Section 4): A criterion has been added to address water quality issues created by lead service lines as well as other potential pollutants in project water supplies. Also new is a criterion addressing the need for potable water during emergencies.
- Zero Energy and Zero Carbon (Section 5): Several criteria in section 5 have been updated to reflect changing energy codes and the national growth in zero energy projects and decarbonization of the economy.
- Healthier Materials (Section 6): The Iowa Green Streets Criteria mirrors the Green Communities Criteria by adding criterion focused on product ingredient transparency, recycled content, regional manufacturing, and chemical hazard optimization.
- Universal and Healing-Centered Design (Section 7): A mandatory and optional level of universal design is offered with a new universal design required best practices checklist. Also added is an optional criterion focused on healing-centered design.
- Download the updated 2020 Green Streets Criteria document.
- Green Streets Criteria Quick Reference
- Green Streets FAQ
- Green Development Plan & Checklist (Appendix A)[Excel]
- Green Development Plan & Checklist (Appendix A)[PDF]
- Certification of Intent to Comply (Appendix B)
- Certification of Construction Contract Document Compliance (Appendix C)
- Certification of Compliance at End of Construction (Appendix D)
- Energy Performance Certification (Appendix E)
- Project Plan & Spec Book Checklist (Appendix F)
- Stormwater Management Milestone Checklist (Appendix I)
- Applicant Assurances Checklist
- Project Assurances Checklist
- Construction Contractor Checklist
- Electrical Contractor Checklist
- HVAC Contractor Checklist
- Plumbing Contractor Checklist
- Site Engineer Checklist
- Universal Design Checklist (Appendix M)