./ Chris Detrick /Tribune file photo
By Taylor Stevens | The Salt Lake Tribune
The West Valley City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to create a new city tool to encourage developers to build sustainable homes.
Under the first-of-its-kind-in-Utah “Residential Sustainability Zone,” interested developers would agree to meet a number of highly specific requirements aimed at ensuring homes conserve water, are energy efficient and generate their own power — such as including Energy Star-rated appliances to decrease energy use and providing an electric car charger in each garage.
It’s part of an effort, City Councilwoman Karen Lang told The Salt Lake Tribune earlier this month, to “fill that niche for people who really are Earth-wise.”
Approval of the new city zone came after a debate among council members and developer Daniel Gutierrez over the mandate to include a Tesla solar roof or a solar power generation system that meets or exceeds its features.
