City passes 'green' ordinances

TAMPA -- Two years after introducing the idea, the Tampa City Council today gave preliminary approval to measures that will bring eco-friendly buildings and policies to the city.

Among other things, the new rules allow building permit rebates for green construction, pledge to have Tampa designated as a Florida Green Local Government by October 2010, and require reducing irrigated turf in the landscaping of new projects from 50 percent to 25 percent by 2013.

Janet Zink, Times staff writer