The City of Alexandria has published a proposed Green Building Chapter for its Master Plan. This move is part of an update to the 2019 Green Building Policy, aiming to address the role of buildings in maintaining resilience, health, safety, and well-being for residents.
According to city staff, the new Green Building Plan is intended to improve resilience in response to climate change. The plan is structured around three primary goals: “focusing on the most important and impactful solutions,” “creating more regulatory certainty,” and “reducing unnecessary costs associated with a certification requirement.”
After a public comment period that began in April 2025, staff reviewed input from community members, developers, as well as letters from the Planning Commission and Environmental Policy Commission. This feedback prompted further analysis on issues such as recommended Energy Use Intensity (EUI) targets and renewable energy requirements.
City staff will present the proposed Green Building Plan at the Planning Commission’s public hearing scheduled for January 6. The plan will then be considered by City Council at a public hearing on January 24.
Information about the proposed plan and updates regarding its consideration by city bodies can be found at AlexandriaVA.gov/GreenBuilding.
The city also provides reasonable disability accommodations upon request. Dustin Smith can be contacted at dustin.smith@alexandriava.gov or by phone at 571.447.7606 (Virginia Relay 711). Free interpretation and translation services are available; requests can be made via LanguageAccess@alexandriava.gov or by calling 703.746.3960.
Eco-City Alexandria is described as a collaborative effort aimed at achieving sustainability throughout Alexandria by harmonizing natural resources with existing policies and engaging the community in transparent decision-making.
