Senate Bill S1168

                                BILL NUMBER:S1168

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the tax law, in relation to providing
a green building credit to all residential buildings

PURPOSE: This amendment would allow residential buildings to be
eligible for the Green Building Tax Credit.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 provides that residential buildings are eligible for the
Green Building Tax Credit

Section 2 provides the effective date.

EXISTING LAW: This is an amendment to Section 19 of the Tax Law, as
added by section 2 of part II of chapter 63 of the laws of 2000. This
bill expands upon the existing Green building tax credit, which is
currently limited only to businesses.

JUSTIFICATION: The buildings in which we live, work, and play protect
us from Nature's extremes, yet they also affect our health and
environment in countless ways. The design, construction, operation,
maintenance, and removal of buildings takes enormous amounts of
energy, water, and materials, and generates large quantities of waste,
air and water pollution, as well as creating storm water runoff and
              

heat islands. Buildings also develop their own indoor environments,
which present an array of health challenges. Where and how they are
built affects wildlife habitat and corridors and the hydrologic cycle,
while influencing the overall quality of human life.

As the environmental impact of buildings becomes more apparent, a new
field called green building is gaining momentum. Green or sustainable
building is the practice. of creating healthier and more
resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation,
maintenance, and demolition. Research and experience increasingly
demonstrate that when buildings are designed and operated with their
life cycle impacts in mind, they can provide great environmental,
economic, and social benefits.

Elements of green building include:
* Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
* Water Stewardship
* Environmentally Preferable Building Materials and Specifications
* Waste Reduction
* Indoor Environment
* Smart Growth and Sustainable Development

Currently, New York State offers tax credits for the construction or
renovation of "green buildings", ranging from 5% to 0% of the cost of
construction or renovation, with additional incentives for the use of
photovoltaic installations (solar panels) and fuel cells. Green
buildings are designed for passive solar heating and cooling, and
require smaller mechanical systems. The design of these buildings
provides abundant natural light, and produces and stores their own


renewable energy. They use non-toxic materials, paints, and finishes,
which greatly enhance indoor air quality. Construction methods are
resource efficient, and materials are chosen to be low in embodied
energy, found regionally and contain recycled materials. Construction
waste is treated as a resource and completely recycled. Green
buildings are sited and designed to blend with neighboring buildings;
they use native landscapes that minimize water use and are designed to
filter and retain storm water.

This bill expands upon the existing Green building tax credit which is
currently limited only to businesses. By allowing residential
homeowners to take advantage of the green building tax credit, this
bill will promote the construction of Green buildings in the State and
assist New Yorkers to build healthier and more energy efficient homes.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  2013-2014: S.1624 - Referred to Investigations
and Government Operations; 2011-12: S.1043/A.1313 - Referred to
Investigations & Government Operations S.2546 (2009-2010) - Referred
to Investigations & Government Operations S.2000 (2007-2008) -
Referred to Investigations & Government Operations

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: It is expected that the cost of this credit will
be $25 million, the same amount as the existing Green building credit
contained in section 19 of the tax law for commercial buildings.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.