Proposal, dubbed the “Zone Green” initiative, would streamline implementation of energy-efficient retrofits for existing buildings and the construction of new green buildings. On February 29, 2012, the City Planning Commission heard testimony on the Department of City Planning’s “Zone Green” zoning text amendment. Planning is seeking to remove regulations that impede property owners from installing energy-saving retrofits in existing buildings and that discourage the development of new energy-efficient buildings. The proposal would broadly exempt from the zoning resolution’s height, floor area, and lot coverage limits certain types and amounts of external insulation, horizontal and vertical sun-control devices, rooftop greenhouses, wind turbines, and solar panels.  (more…)