They may be an ocean apart, but initiatives in Cincinnati and the U.K. are producing a similar vibe about what can happen when civic leaders get serious about green construction, retrofitting, and their potential environmental and economic benefits.

Two recent news items illustrate the point. One, by Ecohome magazine, summarized a report by the Cincinnati chapter of the American Institute of Architects that compares features of the LEED for Homes and NAHB National Green Building Standard. The report was commissioned by the city, which offers 15-year city and county tax abatements for new houses certified to LEED for Homes’ Silver or Gold standard and valued at $515,000 or less. The value limit is lifted for new homes certified to LEED Platinum. In addition, Ecohome notes, a 10-year tax abatement period also is offered for residential remodeling projects as small as $2,500 that meet LEED certification standards.

In Wales, meanwhile, the government recently announced a program that aims to improve energy efficiency in 6,000 homes by March 2011 and expand retrofit training programs through qualified contractors. The program, with a first-year budget of $46 million, is expected to deliver 156 training days for every $1.43 million spent by the government and will focus intensely on retrofits of exterior-wall insulation and solar power and heat pump installations for homes in many of Wales’ underserved communities.

“Making homes more energy efficient will reduce Wales’ carbon footprint, as the direct and indirect consumption of energy from buildings generates approximately 40% of all carbon emissions in the U.K. It will also help Wales to meet its target of 3% annual reductions in emissions from 2011 onwards,” Environment, Sustainability and Housing Minister Jane Davidson said of the program, which is in line with the Welsh Assembly Government’s embrace last year of a relatively strict set of energy efficiency, water-consumption, and sustainability requirements.

Adding a ratings standard?

While Cincinnati’s tax abatement program – which began in January 2008 and has seen more than 28 LEED-certified houses built, with more in design or under construction – is really just another approach to adding economic leverage to green objectives, the comparison study it spawned is the first of its kind undertaken by the municipality.

In its report, released in January, the AIA Cincinnati committee studying the two ratings programs noted that charts prepared to illustrate similarities and differences between their ratings credit and credit categories show far more similarities than disparities, even though the recommended strategies for achieving results don’t always match.

In the end, one difference the committee did focus on was LEED for Homes’ requirement that projects meet Energy Star performance and testing.

From the report:

“LEED and NGBS are comparable in more ways than they are dissimilar. There are minor differences that should not be major criticisms of either rating system. However, the mandatory minimum performance level and mandatory site testing are major differences. LEED certification is predicated on meeting Energy Star performance and testing. This includes meeting a minimum energy performance level that is approximately 15% below national averages. This also includes required energy modeling, site testing for envelope leakage and ductwork tightness, and mandatory site visual inspections by an accredited third party to prove the measures are in place.

“The committee recognizes that most homes seeking NGBS certification will probably include the optional site testing and also meet in effect the performance levels of Energy Star. However, it is realistic to expect that there will be some projects that will try to avoid the extra costs for performance upgrades and site testing. To lessen this possibility, the committee recommends the city require Energy Star certification along with NGBS certification.”

The city has yet to rule on the recommendation.