Two years ago, the City of Decatur passed a groundbreaking ordinance that that directly impacts the way homes and offices within the City’s limits are built. Known as the High Performance Building Standards, the measure requires all new residential and commercial construction projects to be certified under a green building certification program. In early 2017, the City amended the ordinance to also include “substantial improvements” under the green certification requirement. The goal of this decision was to move the City of Decatur towards a more sustainable future, focusing on high quality and high performing buildings and promoting well-being for all Decatur residents. As a result, the City of Decatur has become a sustainability leader in the metro Atlanta area.

But you may be wondering: how does the City of Decatur’s High Performance Building Standard impact me, my home or my project? Here are the nuts and bolts to help you better understand the Standards: