NEW GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM
On April 22, 2008, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined City Council
President Eric Garcetti and Councilmembers Jan Perry, Ed Reyes and Bill Rosendahl to
sign the Green Building Program into law. The Program is expected to reduce the City's
carbon emissions by more than 80,000 tons by 2012, or the equivalent of taking 15,000
cars off the road.
The ordinance establishes a series of incentives and requirements for developers
to meet USGBC LEED® standards. Effective May 29, 2008, the Standard of
Sustainable Excellence gives builders voluntarily committing to pursue LEED Silver certification or higher priority processing through the Department of City Planning and
Expedited Services through the Bureau of Engineering. These incentives are in
addition to the existing Priority Plan Check processing through the Department of
Building and Safety and Priority Service Planning through the Department of Water and
Power. The project team must include a LEED AP, demonstrate how the project will
achieve LEED Silver certification or higher, register with the USGBC, and attain formal
certification.
Effective November 1, 2008, the Standard of Sustainability applies to nonresidential
projects 50,000 square feet or above and residential projects 50,000 square
feet or above and seven stories or more. These projects must meet the intent of LEED
at the Certified level. After May 1, 2009, residential projects 50,000 square feet or
above, 50 units or more, and six stories or less must also meet the intent of LEED at the
Certified level. The project team must include a LEED AP and demonstrate how the
project meets the intent of LEED at the Certified level, but is not required to register with
the USGBC.
The Green Building Program also establishes the Green Building Team. This
cross-departmental Team fosters conversation between developers and City staff
regarding policy-related issues posing obstacles to building green. Regular public
meetings occur on the first Wednesday of every month. The Team will conduct public
outreach, provide policy recommendations, train City staff, review the Standards, and
produce an annual Green Building Report Card.
President Eric Garcetti and Councilmembers Jan Perry, Ed Reyes and Bill Rosendahl to
sign the Green Building Program into law. The Program is expected to reduce the City's
carbon emissions by more than 80,000 tons by 2012, or the equivalent of taking 15,000
cars off the road.
The ordinance establishes a series of incentives and requirements for developers
to meet USGBC LEED® standards. Effective May 29, 2008, the Standard of
Sustainable Excellence gives builders voluntarily committing to pursue LEED Silver certification or higher priority processing through the Department of City Planning and
Expedited Services through the Bureau of Engineering. These incentives are in
addition to the existing Priority Plan Check processing through the Department of
Building and Safety and Priority Service Planning through the Department of Water and
Power. The project team must include a LEED AP, demonstrate how the project will
achieve LEED Silver certification or higher, register with the USGBC, and attain formal
certification.
Effective November 1, 2008, the Standard of Sustainability applies to nonresidential
projects 50,000 square feet or above and residential projects 50,000 square
feet or above and seven stories or more. These projects must meet the intent of LEED
at the Certified level. After May 1, 2009, residential projects 50,000 square feet or
above, 50 units or more, and six stories or less must also meet the intent of LEED at the
Certified level. The project team must include a LEED AP and demonstrate how the
project meets the intent of LEED at the Certified level, but is not required to register with
the USGBC.
The Green Building Program also establishes the Green Building Team. This
cross-departmental Team fosters conversation between developers and City staff
regarding policy-related issues posing obstacles to building green. Regular public
meetings occur on the first Wednesday of every month. The Team will conduct public
outreach, provide policy recommendations, train City staff, review the Standards, and
produce an annual Green Building Report Card.
The Green Building Plan is an integral part of the Mayor's Green LA Plan which was unveiled in May 2007. The aggressive and bold plan calls for the City to reduce its carbon footprint by 35% below 1990 levels by 2030. The goal goes beyond the targets set in the Kyoto Protocol and is the greatest reduction target of any large U.S. city.
Key Points of the Private Sector Green Building Ordinance
- Require that all new projects greater than 50 units or 50,000 square feet show compliance with the LEED Certified level.
- Expedite processing through all departments, if LEED Silver designation is met.
- Initiate an ongoing review of city codes to ease use of environmentally sound and superior materials and processes.
- Create a cross-departmental Sustainability Team to review and revise green building policies and specific projects. They will meet weekly so that the development community can enjoy ongoing interaction with City staff.
- Direct City General Managers and department and agency heads (namely Planning, Building and Safety, Public Works, Water and Power, Transportation, and CRA) to train and certify their staff in green building methods and policies and/or as LEED Accredited Professionals. This training should be ongoing and appear in each departmental annual budget.
- Work with the Board of DWP Commissioners to continue to add DWP financial incentives for projects that meet green building standards.
- Create and confer the Mayor’s Annual Award of Excellence in Sustainable Design & Construction to recognize exemplary efforts by individuals and companies in the private sector.
For more information contact:
Krista Kline - [email protected]
Urban Planning & Design Coordinator
Mayor's Office of Commercial & Residential Development