The Los Angeles City Council commemorated Earth Day last month by passing an ordinance requiring large privately-built construction projects to meet new “green” building standards. Ordinance 179820 established the Green Building Program and applies to all new construction and renovation projects encompassing more than 50,000 gross square feet that are submitted for plan check after Nov. 1. Residential projects of six or fewer stories have an additional year before they must comply. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ratings system will be used as the enforcement tool. The LEED ratings have different levels of environmentally-responsible building standards for every conceivable type of construction, from single-family homes to hospitals, and including renovations of existing projects as well. One incentive being offered to those going beyond the most basic LEED rating is priority processing of plans and permits. The measure stops short of requiring builders to actually receive LEED certification, a notion that has left some puzzled. “I think that’s yet to be determined whether that was prudent,” said Shelley Billik, vice president of environmental initiatives for Warner Bros. They were one of the first in the area to pursue LEED certification for their 56,000-square-foot renovation, serving as a pilot project for the CI-ratings (commercial interiors) program. Warner Bros. received a “silver” rating, the second-highest “You don’t want to say we complied with the LEED standards you want to say we’ve achieved LEED silver or LEED gold certification,” she said. Project Management Collaborative LLC, an Encino-based firm that oversees design and construction projects, is currently shepherding a 13,000-square-foot retail building in Westwood through the design and plan check process, including trying to achieve a LEED silver rating. Development Impact When asked about the impact of LEED certification on the development process, PMC Field Manager Mitch Brill said “It is going to impact your schedule on pulling the design together.” He points out that this impact may be lessened if the architect has its own in-house LEED accredited consultant. Even though the project is supposedly receiving expedited plan check service, thanks to its “green” status, Brill hasn’t really noticed any difference in processing time. That may be, in part, because the plans were submitted just prior to the end of 2007, when many were rushing plans into plan check to avoid having to comply with beefed-up 2008 building codes. That situation will likely be repeated at the end of this year, this time with developers who are trying to avoid complying with the new City LEED ordinance. The city has created a Green Building Team with the mission, according to the proclamation, being to “encourage innovation, to remove obstacles to green building, and to facilitate the City’s sustainable green building objectives.” The GBT will be comprised of representatives 14 City officials’ offices, starting with the Mayor’s Office which will be the chair of the committee, and will hold monthly meetings. An annual report will be issued along with a Green Building Report Card. This is not to be confused with the Green Team L.A., an initiative of the city attorney’s office, “to help childcare facilities identify and eliminate environmental hazards that put children, families and communities at risk.” In addition to the cost of a LEED-accredited professional who will certify compliance, applicants will also be required to pay an additional $268 processing fee. That’s a small upfront price, say proponents of the ordinance, when the long-term savings are so great. “What green building gives you are facilities that are much more efficient,” said Billik, “so you have a building that’s going to help you in terms of lower operating costs and lower maintenance costs.” The Greater Los Angeles chapter of BOMA (Building Owners and Managers of America) will be hosting a lunchtime seminar about green buildings and LEED standards on June 12 in Glendale. Call (213) 629-2662 for registration information. AT A GLANCE: Green Building Ordinance – All new projects greater than 50 units or 50,000 square feet must show compliance with the LEED Certified level. – Expedited 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 that will meet weekly to review and revise green building policies and specific projects. – Direct City General Managers and department and agency heads to train and certify their staff in green building methods and policies and/or as LEED Accredited Professionals. – Work with the Board of DWP Commissioners to continue to add DWP financial incentives for projects that meet standards. – Recognize exemplary efforts by individuals and companies in the private sector with the Mayor’s Annual Award of Excellence in Sustainable Design & Construction. Adapted from http://mayor.lacity.org/greenbuilding.htm
