Southern California Green Real Estate Blog

THE LOS ANGELES GREEN BUILDING ORDINANCE VS. CALIFORNIA?S OTHER GREEN CITIES

May 5, 2008 on 4:39 pm | In Act Locally, Green Building, Green Cities, Green Houses, Greenhouse Gas, REASONS TO LOVE L.A., Solar, Solutions, U.S. Government, Uncategorized, Water |

THE LOS ANGELES GREEN BUILDING ORDINANCE VS. CALIFORNIA?S OTHER GREEN CITIES

Being green means different things in different parts of the country. In places like St. Louis or Seattle, eco-friendly construction standards apply only to city-owned or city-funded buildings. In Boston green construction codes also apply to major commercial or residential developments. New York City has taken very bold steps, with 127 eco-friendly initiatives to green the city by 2030?to date, 14 cities and 1 state - Connecticut - require private developers to meet green building standards.

Locally, in Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa recently signed into law the Los Angeles Green Building ordinance, and it is being heralded as “the most far reaching plan of any big city in America to promote green building practices in the private sector.”

The ordinance would reduce the City’s carbon emissions by more than 80,000 tons by 2012, the equivalent of taking 15,000 cars off the road - this objective surpasses any other major city in the country. (Now if they’d only find a way get 15,000 cars off the road as well.)

Mayor Antonio Villarigosa with Matt Petersen & City Council President Eric Garcetti

Given that greenhouse gas emissions from buildings account for more than 40% of global warming pollution, the Los Angeles Green Building ordinance is a good first step towards building an energy-efficient, climate friendly, sustainable city,? observes Global Green USA President Matt Petersen. ?While certainly not an end destination, it is important that Los Angeles has become the first big city to codify a private sector green building program.?

Above and beyond, Mayor Villaraigosa has pledged to reduce the city’s carbon emissions 35% below 1990 levels by 2030 (Will he stay in office that long - which is longer than Tom Bradley’s mayorial rein - or will this pledge be adopted by forthcoming mayors?). The goal goes beyond the targets set in the Kyoto Protocol and is the greatest reduction target of any large US city. Logistically, a move such as this what necessitate curtailing L.A.?s? coal-dependent municipal utility and a move toward electricity from renewable sources.

The new standards go into effect Nov. 1^st, for commercial projects and for high-rise residential development, and on May 1, 2009 for low-rise residential projects. It applies to existing buildings under certain conditions in redevelopment projects, and it outlines a host of other requirements for builders.

The L.A. Green Building ordinance requires all projects at or above 50,000 square feet - or 50 units - comply with the general LEED-certified standard. The US Green Building Council awards LEED silver, gold and platinum certifications based on the level of environmental sustainability met by a developer.

The City has agreed to work with builders to speed up approvals and to remove obstacles in the municipal code for elements of sustainable building design, such as green rooftops, cisterns and permeable pavement. City officials said about 150 new and renovated buildings, or about 7.5 million square feet, would be covered by the ordinance each year.

“The world,” Villaraigosa said, “is following in our footsteps.”

Mayor Villaraigosa on the subway

(See the previous posting Key Points of the Los Angeles Private Sector Green Building Ordinance for details.)

In six months, the Los Angeles City Council will review and decide whether a stricter standard should be adopted. “We will continue to push the envelope,” said Council President Eric Garcetti. He said he expects that “in a couple of years, every single building over 25,000 square feet will be covered” by the new law. By this summer, he said, the city expects to raise the bar for its municipal construction to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design “silver” — a higher standard that would match San Francisco’s threshold.

L.A.’s Green Building ordinance raises the number of US municipalities that have enacted green building rules to somewhere around 120 and growing. California cities are enacting a variety of green building rules, as we will now share

SAN FRANCISCO

Not considered part of Southern California, but worth mentioning for obvious reasons.

San Francisco mayor, Gavin Newsom, has proposed an ordinance that some consider to be the most stringent green building requirements in the nation.

The ordinance would require commercial and residential projects over 25,000 sf or 75 feet in height to meet the base level of LEED certification starting in 2008. Large commercial projects would have to achieve LEED Silver certification starting in 2009 and LEED Gold staring in 2010. Large residential projects would have to achieve LEED Silver starting in 2010.

Mid-sized buildings would have to complete a LEED checklist but would not be required to achieve any LEED credits or points (the basis for the rating system) until 2009. Starting then, mid-size commercial buildings would have to achieve three LEED credits. The bar would be raised to four points in 2010, six points in 2011 and seven points in 2012.

Small and mid-size residential projects, starting in 2009, would be required to achieve 25 points from GreenPointRated, a rating system of BuildItGreen, a professional nonprofit membership organization that promotes energy- and resource-efficient buildings in California. The hurdle would increase to 50 points in 2010 and then 75 points in 2011 or 2012. The earlier increase would occur for multifamily residential buildings with more than five units.?

Cumulative benefits this ordinance is expected to achieve through 2012 include: reducing CO2 emissions by 60,000 tons; saving 220,000 megawatt hours of power; saving 100 million gallons of drinking water; reducing waste and storm water by 90 million gallons of water; reducing construction and demolition waste by 700 million pounds; increasing the valuations of recycled materials by $200 million; reducing automobile trips by 540,000; and increasing green power generation by 37,000 megawatt hours.

In addition, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has approved a new local subsidy for residents and businesses who install solar power. ?The solar incentive plan provides between $3,000 and $5,000 for a home installation and up to $10,000 for businesses. With existing state and federal incentives, the city subsidy could eliminate more than half the cost of a solar installation.

“It’s groundbreaking,” notes San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting, who assisted in the development the plan. “I think it will help ensure that San Francisco is going to be the solar capital of the world.”

west hollywood map

WEST HOLLYWOOD

Last year, Newsweek magazine proclaimed that West Hollywood is the American city that can lay claim to the most comprehensive green building standards. This tiny city occupies 1.9-square-milea Los Angeles and boasts 37,000 people, making it the city with the highest population density west of the Mississippi. The West Hollywood ordinance, adopted in October 2007, grants special consideration to LEED-certified projects, establishes development standards for all new residential and commercial projects, in addition to remodels and tenant improvements. The only exemptions: duplexes and single-family homes.

West Hollywood

Requiring so many of the city’s real estate projects to meet green building standards puts West Hollywood in the forefront of the move to thrust eco-friendly design closer to the mainstream of architecture and planning.

City officials reveal that thinking about smaller projects was the only way to make a big dent in West Hollywood’s carbon footprint. “We thought it was important to involve everybody [to be part of the solution],” noted councilmember Abbe Land, coauthor of the new ordinance.

A set of rules, developed with the help of Global Green USA, insists that a project has earned at least 60 points (from a menu of 160 possible points) before developers are granted a city construction permit. Points are granted for planting canopy trees (5 points), using exposed concrete floors (5 points), bamboo or other rapidly renewable floors (up to 3 points), Cellulose wall insulation (2 points), Energy Star-certified lighting (3 points), energy-efficient windows and insulation (up to 15 points), tankless water heaters (2 points) and a green roof (8 points). Projects can earn up to 10 points (1 point per kilowatt) for using solar panels. In addition, all developers must meet mandatory requirements, such as reducing to 20 percent the construction waste they haul to the dump, making all roofs solar panel-ready, and using low-volatility paints and Energy Star appliances.

Once they get to 90 points, developers can choose between eight incentives, including expedited permitting and variances, like approval of an extra housing unit.

The new ordinance is tied to existing green building certification standards. Projects receiving a minimum rating of “Certified” with the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) shall be exempt from the point requirements of the West Hollywood Green Building Program.

All projects scheduled for completion after October 1, 2007, must adhere to the provisions of Ordinance 07-762.

It’s been calculated that West Hollywood’s green initiatives will add “roughly 10 percent” to the cost of construction.

The city’s homegrown green plan is already drawing enquiries from other municipalities around the country. Global Green USA, which helped develop West Hollywood’s system, has already received calls from Henderson, Nev., Claremont, Calif., and McKinney, Texas.

SANTA MONICA

The City of Santa Monica has a commitment to “Protecting the environment, improving quality of life, and promoting sustainability.”

Historically, Santa Monica has had green building requirements for commercial, industrial, and residential project of four or more stories. In May, the City enacted new green building requirements to apply to all new construction in the city, including single-family and duplex residential projects.

Some specific requirements include using solar heating to heat pools, limiting turfgrass (traditional sod) planting to 20% of the landscaping, diverting 65% of C&D waste from the landfill, and installing high efficiency irrigation systems.? More detailed info can be found at www.smgreen.org.

The City says, “The approved measures will lower the cost of home ownership, reduce the burden on the utility infrastructure, curtail the production of greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease the city’s overall water demand.”

Above + beyond, Santa Monica wants to be the nation’s first “Net Zero” city. Through energy efficiency, solar and other renewable energy, the city envisions generating clean energy that matches its total energy consumption.

Energy and Green Building Program Administrator Susan Munves estimated that over 20 years, $1.4 billion is the probable investment required to achieve being a Net Zero city. This is likely to offset utility electric charges which would be higher than the $1.4 billion. The city will only invest a small part of that investment. The City’s primary role is facilitating and project management. The city offers a number of ‘carrots and sticks’ to encourage broad participation.

Santa Monica?s 20 year plan would eliminate electricity produced by coal and natural gas power plants, and all the resulting greenhouse gas emissions.

Santa Monica goes beyond clean electricity to be a city that models clean transportation. Over 80% of the City’s 519 vehicles are either alt-fuel or electric. 100 of Santa Monica’s Big Bus fleet is LNG, which they state is 77% cleaner than diesel. Liquid NG provides a 300 mile range. 88 buses run on B20 biodiesel. Only about 20 older buses run on standard diesel.

OTHER CITIES

Culver City, Beverly Hills, Inglewood, Long Beach, and Redondo Beach municipalities one and all, please enlighten the world to what your city is doing to help the environment.

Sources of information for this article include:

http://www.cityfeet.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?Id=29079

http://www.globest.com/news/1144_1144/losangeles/170228-1.html?type=pf

http://www.newrules.org/

http://www.newsweek.com/id/56565/page/2

http://www.newsweek.com/id/56565

http://www.globalgreen.org/press/releases/2008_04_23_la_earthday.htm

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-green23apr23,0,4351806.story

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/09/BAG3UUBSL9.DTL

http://www.socalgreenrealestateblog.com/index.php?s=san+francisco

http://www.socalgreenrealestateblog.com/?p=25

http://www.cicle.org/cicle_content/pivot/entry.php?id=1048

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According to the Los Angeles Times, expenses the City expects to incur include training city case managers as LEED-accredited professionals and will create one-stop checklists of all available city incentives to guide developers through the green building process. A new cross-departmental sustainability team will also be created under the program, creating a place for developers and city staff to address issues arising on both a project basis and a policy level.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-green23apr23,0,4351806.story

Comment by Los Angeles Times Staff Writer — May 5, 2008 #
West Hollywood is planning $125 million in capital improvement projects that will include the development of three LEED-certified facilities and expansion of the city�s open space. The city has named Heery International as program and construction manager for the facilities, which are part of the West Hollywood 25th Anniversary Capital Improvement Project.

Phase one of the West Hollywood Park master plan will include construction of a 42,000-sf library to replace the city�s existing library, a 2.5 acre expansion of green space, new tennis courts and a 333-space municipal parking garage. Designed to meet LEED Silver rating criteria, the library and the West Hollywood Community Service Center may incorporate a photovoltaic system to convert sunlight into electricity.

The 18,000-sf West Hollywood Community Service Center and parking project will house a community service center, meeting rooms and office space built atop a multi-level, 200-space parking structure. During its construction, Heery will also oversee exterior improvements to the existing, adjacent city hall building.

The third project, phase one of the Plummer Park master plan, will remodel and expand Fiesta Hall into a multi-purpose performance venue, which will accommodate up to 200 people in theater-style seating. The plan also calls for enlarging parking and parkland, including a subterranean parking structure and increasing the park�s green space by 33,000 sf.

http://www.cityfeet.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?Id=29079

Comment by GlobeSt.com — May 5, 2008 #
Noting “the Los Angeles tradition of smog and sprawl,” wearing a green necktie in honor of Earth Day, signed the new law on a sunny terrace flanked by two model condominium high-rises, the Luma and the Elleven, off Hope Street in downtown, which were built to strict conservation standards.

The site of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa�s news conference, the Luma residential project, is a 19-story high-rise in downtown�s South Park neighborhood and has been certified as LEED Gold.

Luma becomes only the second condo complex in California to receive the Gold designation, joining its sister building Elleven, which was LEED Gold certified in October 2007. To reach Gold, Luma has achieved high levels of water and energy efficiencies, improved indoor air quality and drought tolerant landscaping.

http://www.globalgreen.org/press/releases/2008_04_23_la_earthday.htm

Comment by Global Green — May 5, 2008 #
Fascinating…West Hollywood leads the Green building evolution.

Comment by Plumb Lucky — May 5, 2008 #
Offset Your Confusion: Take the Easy Steps to Go Carbon Neutral
by Barent Roth
Residential Program Coordinator

Carbon Offsets can be a great way to offset the all of the remaining greenhouse gas emissions we can’t reduce, but right now there is a bewildering array of offsetters. Below are the simple steps to help you understand how to lower your Ecological Footprint through Carbon Offsets:

Step 1 - Double check that you have done everything you can to reduce your emissions. Remember “the low hanging fruit is in effi ciency.”

Step 2 - Consider what you want to offset - your commuting, your plane trip, your home, your party, etc.

Step 3 - Calculate your emissions. Most Offsetters have an emissions calculator at their website and don’t require you to purchase anything to use it.

Step 4 - Compare Offsetters. This is the hard part. As David Sazuki says “No all Carbon Offsets are created equal”. Using trees to offset emissions has come under scrutiny because of an issue known as “Permenance”. Eventually the trees will die and release all of the carbon they have sequestering. Another issue is “Additionality”, meaning are your dollars going to an additional offsetting project or are they simply padding the offsetters bottom line. The best thing we can do as consumers is look for transparency and third party verifi cations. Below are few offsetters to get your research started: http://www.carbonfund.org; http://www.climatefriendly.com; http://www.myclimate.org; http://www.nativeenergy.com

Step 5 - Offset. Enjoy the fact that you are doing what you can to mitigate your contribution to global warming. Remember, carbon offsets also help drive corporate action on climate change and infl uence long-term public policy.

Resources: David Sazuki Foundation - How to go Carbon Neutral; The Daily Grist - A Guide to Offsetting Your Carbon Emissions;
Carbon Offset Price Comparison

Comment by Barent Roth — May 8, 2008 #
About Global Green
Started in 1994, Global Green USA is the American arm of Green Cross
International, which was founded by President Mikhail S. Gorbachev to
foster a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future by
reconnecting humanity with the environment. Global Green USA is the
only national environmental non-profit headquartered in Southern
California and is one of 29 national affiliate offices around the
world. It addresses three of the greatest challenges facing humanity:
eliminating weapons of mass destruction; ensuring access to clean
water; and combating global warming.

Please visit our main site at http://www.globalgreen.org for more information
on our activities and to learn more about what you can do to help
protect the
environment.

Many thanks,
The Global Green USA Team

–
Global Green USA
2218 Main Street
Santa Monica Ca. 90405
310-581-2700
http://www.globalgreen.org

Comment by GGUSA — May 8, 2008 #
L.A. standards are weaker than San Francisco’s because they do not require an outside audit to verify promised greenhouse gas reductions.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-green23apr23,0,4351806.story

Comment by Philip A. Williams — May 8, 2008 #
Green Future for Commercial Buildings

WASHINGTON � Climate change is in the political crosshairs, with presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle advocating policies to reduce greenhouse emissions, particularly carbon dioxide.

That could mean big changes for commercial real estate, since buildings account for 29 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions, said Andy Ehrlich, senior vice president of B&D Consulting, a national advisory and advocacy firm based in Washington, D.C.

He spoke to commercial practitioners at Wednesday�s Commercial Legislative and Regulatory Subcommittee at NAR�s Midyear Meetings.

Congress has already created an agency in the U.S. Department of Energy to evaluate ways in which commercial buildings could reduce emissions and save energy. In addition, a proposed bill (S. 2191) would require commercial buildings to reduce energy use by 30 percent beyond the standard currently espoused by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). After 2019, standards would get even tighter.

The bill would also offer incentives to states to update their building and energy efficiency codes.

The goal of the legislation, according to Ehrlich, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately two-thirds by 2050. Most scientists estimate that this level of reduction would be sufficient to prevent significant climate change, said Ehrlich.

Even without regulation, higher fuel prices and growing tenant demand are greatly increasing the demand for green buildings in the U.S., said Ehrlich. While green buildings account for only about 2 percent of new commercial construction today, he estimated that by 2010, that percentage could increase to as much as 10 percent of new construction.

�There�s no perfect bullet to reducing green house gases; we�re all going to have to take part, including the owners and managers of commercial real estate,� he concluded.

� By Mariwyn Evans for REALTOR� magazine online

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2008051506?OpenDocument

Comment by Mariwyn Evans — May 16, 2008 #
Come See How Concrete Can Benefit Your Bottom Line

Registration ends soon!

The 2008 NAHB Concrete Technologies Tour June 1 - 3 gives you an inside look at some of the biggest names in concrete�CEMEX, James Hardie, Superior Walls, PolySteel, Carolina Bomanite and more.

Inside manufacturing facilities and on project sites, you’ll learn the many ways concrete can give your homes an edge in today’s down market. Between insulated concrete forms, decorative concrete, precast concrete, and more, get an insider’s look at what’s available and how to incorporate the multitude of concrete building options into your projects.

Concrete housing starts are expected to jump significantly in 2010, according to the Portland Cement Association (PCA). The Concrete Technologies Tour will make you an expert in all the things concrete can do.

Not only will you leave Charlotte knowing the differences in concrete’s production and building trends-and all types of cement-based materials, but you can have the chance to participate in the Green Building Verifiers Workshop, meet others in the industry, and learn about how concrete can increase your business.

Don’t miss out! Register today at http://www.nahb.org/ConcreteTour.

Build Green, Build Strong�Build with Concrete!

Comment by Concrete Tour — May 16, 2008 #
A small drip, even five drips per minute, from a leaky home or office faucet can waste more than 250 gallons of water annually and boost water bills. The American Water Works Association’s Water Wiser Drip Calculator can help you calculate your home’s or office’s water loss.

For more information, please visit http://www.awwa.org/awwa/waterwiser/dripcalc.cfm

Comment by American Water Works Association — May 28, 2008 #
Los Angeles a bike-friendly city? You bet — with pedal power on the rise, finding a cool biking organization, challenging trail, zany cycling club or rad bike shop is becoming a cinch. You could even say it’s as easy as, well, riding a bike!

Commuter, mountain, track or racing bikes, you name it, Orange 20 has you covered, and Stan C thinks that TJ and his crew run the best damn bike shop in LA: “headset & crankset installation, two tubes, rim tape, brake cables and white housing for 50 bucks? Sweet deal.” Meanwhile, Joy L tells us that H & S Bicycles always has something going on, “like a hangout for the local BMX hood rats.” We hear they even have some fun electric bikes, too.

http://www.yelp.com

Comment by Yelp - Los Angeles — May 30, 2008 #
C.A.R. GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK: WHAT ARE VOC PAINTS?
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted by a wide array of household products, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics, and craft materials, including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions.

Concentrations of many VOCs may be 10 times higher indoors than outdoors. Many green-minded consumers are using low VOC products in their remodeling projects and may ask if a home for sale has incorporated low VOC products.

Comment by C.A.R. GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK — May 30, 2008 #
There is an intuitive case for green ROI � energy efficient buildings perform better, have lower vacancies, less velocity and attract top rental dollars as they also tend to be class A or trophy structures. But where it counts for many developers–in financing, in cap rates–green building does not have a measurable impact. Right now, said Steve Gossett Jr., vice president of development for Transcend Equity, “there is no direct correlation between financing and green development.” The debate is still active in the finance community over whether a green building is lower risk and thus deserving of a lower cap rate, said Nicholas Stolatis, director of Strategic Initiatives for TIAA-CREF Global Real Estate.

Comment by RealShare Green Building — June 5, 2008 #
Pennsylvania is pushing for two green building bills. The first of the two bills are House Bill 2200, an energy savings bill written to ensure energy efficiency and conservation programs as well as smart meter that will help manage electricity use. The second is Special Session House Bill 1, which is the clean energy-funding bill which will provide $850 million of investments in green buildings, renewable energy and energy investments.

Comment by Casey Freeman — June 16, 2008 #
2211 Michelson in Irvine is the first building in California and on the West Coast to be certified for Silver status in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Core & Shell (LEED-CS) development program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the nation�s leading advocate of sustainable design.

The 12-story, 266,605-square-foot office tower is strategically located in the heart of the Irvine Business Complex, two blocks east of John Wayne Airport.

Comment by HINES — July 2, 2008 #
The Net Zero homes bill AB2112, sponsored by Global Green and authored by Assembly Member Lori Salda�a (D- San Diego) was passed by the California State Assembly on May 29, 2008.

The term “zero net energy building” describes a building that implements both energy efficient design features and clean onsite energy generation that combine to result in no net gas or electricity purchase annually. The Net Zero homes bill is now being reconciled with similar legislation (AB 1065 introduced by Asm. Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View) to try and produce a comprehensive measure for a vote on the Senate floor later this summer.

Comment by Matt Petersen — July 7, 2008 #
Hollywood�s largest multifamily project is the mixed-use project Blvd6200, greenlighted by the Los Angeles City Council in July 2007. The 1.1 million sf project, adjacent to the Pantages Theatre, will provide more than 1,042 units of new rental housing, of which 10% are affordable, as well as live-work units. The $400-million mixed-use project will provide 40,000 sf of live/work/office space; 175,000 sf of retail/restaurant uses; 12,000 sf of open, public plazas; and adequate underground parking for all uses, including the Pantages Theatre. The Clarett Group is the developer of the project, which is situated on a seven-acre site that spans both sides of Hollywood Boulevard at Argyle Avenue east of Vine Street.

Comment by Holliday Fenoglio Fowler L.P. — July 22, 2008 #
Ironically, while traditional detailing is once again all the rage, modern renditions of historic styles — or for that matter, copies of 1920s revival styles, which were themselves copies — seem both less erudite and less charming than the originals. Decorative features such as columns, arches and moldings are misused, overused or carelessly thrown together in ways old-time practitioners would have found laughable. This problem is merely troubling in modest tract houses, but epidemic in expensive custom homes, whose larded-on detailing is at once overblown, graceless and clumsily proportioned — much closer to Victorian-era pastiche than to the refined revival styles of the 1920s and 30s.

Comment by Arrol Gellner — August 1, 2008 #
The General Services Administration, the largest commercial property tenant in Washington, D.C., is revising how energy efficiency factors into its leasing decisions. The government agency will require more of the buildings it leases to have an energy-star rating as determined by the federal government’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. It also will place greater emphasis on renewable energy when considering competing offers. The changes would enhance a GSA ruling late last year that requires most federally-leased space to have a lower level Silver rating from the environmental program.

Comment by General Services Administration — September 4, 2008 #
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has signed into law what experts are calling the most rigorous green building codes in the nation.

New regulations mandating greater energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and lower carbon emissions, are set to take effect before the end of the year. The new standards will apply to residential projects that are taller than 75 feet, new commercial buildings over 5,000 square feet, and renovations on buildings over 25,000 square feet.

Among the ordinance�s many provisions, buildings will be required to allocate space for recycling centers, to cut the amount of potable water used for landscaping by half, and to improve stormwater management. The incorporation of renewable energy systems is also a focus.

�If we want to get serious about addressing the root causes of global warming, then let�s draw down the empty rhetoric and start taking concrete actions,� Mayor Newsom stated recently. �A lot of people don�t realize that their homes and businesses create a significant portion of our carbon footprint � .�

Comment by Builder Online — September 4, 2008 #
Under the Helio Green Energy Plan (TM), HeliomU installs and owns the solar system, and you agree to buy its power.

There is no upfront payment. The plan starts at a discount from today’s highest tiered rates, and escalates at less than historical market rates. (The rate presented at the workshop was 26 cents/kWh, with an escalator of 4.5%.) After 6 years, you have the option to buy out of the contract or to renew it. HeliomU takes care of monitoring, maintenance, parts, and repairs.

For more information, contact HelioPower’s Vanessa Wendling at 1 (866) 765-2755.

Comment by Helio Power — September 9, 2008 #
For over 16 years, the work of Eric Watson, Architect has primarily been designing traditional houses and small buildings in the New Urbanist resort communities of Florida’s Panhandle “Design Coast.” In recent years, Watson’s Tampa, Florida practice has broadened to include designs for houses in other parts of Florida, Coastal South Carolina, New England, and the Bahamas. Watson is an active member of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America, as well as The New Urban Guild. For more information about Eric Watson, Architect visit his website at http://www.EricWatson.com.

277 North Front Street
Historic Wilmington, North Carolina 28401
Telephone: 1.800.486.2118
Fax: 910.763.3191
http://www.columns.com

You are currently signed up to receive Chadsworth’s Columns Specials and Product introductions.

Comment by Eric Watson — October 13, 2008 #
Green Key Real Estate is the first, and only, green real estate brokerage in the San Francisco Bay Area that is working towards solving environmental and social problems.

We share your values and goals for helping make the Bay Area sustainable by incorporating green principles and practices into all aspects of our real estate business.

http://www.greenkeyrealestate.com/

Comment by Green Key Real Estate — October 18, 2008 #
The Chevy Volt is a plug-in electric vehicle that will drive up to 40 miles without ever using a drop of gasoline — which, according to government data, would be enough to handle approximately two-thirds of American commuters’ daily drives. The first vehicle in GM’s “E-Flex” family, the Volt will be powered by an electric motor, which draws its energy from on-board batteries. The batteries, in turn, will be re-charged by a small internal combustion engine that will run on gas, diesel or ethanol. When not in use, the batteries will be re-charged by simply plugging the Volt into a standard electrical outlet.

Comment by Gloria Huang — November 15, 2008 #
Would it surprise you to know that solar thermal (hot water generation) has a much faster financial breakeven and payback? Did you know it can be effectively used across the continental U.S.? Would it be of interest to you if the time needed for solar collection each day only required approximately four hours and had little-to-no issues due to shading, shadowing or low-light conditions?

If so, how about the idea that your cost for a solar thermal system can be as low as one third that of a photovoltaic system and very, very possibly last twice as long?

Comment by Richard Carter, Green Energy Cafe — December 3, 2008 #
Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Thursday outlined his administration’s economic recovery strategy, including a $10-billion investment in infrastructure-related capital projects this fiscal year. The infrastructure projects are part of a nine-point plan Bloomberg said would
“help us retain and create as many jobs as possible now and 400,000 jobs over the next six years, in all five boroughs,” focusing on entrepreneurship
and green businesses.

Among the capital projects in fiscal 2009 are digging the number 7 train extension to Hudson Yards, building five new public libraries and opening the first section of the High Line, a park developed from a defunct elevated railway line in Manhattan. “For the past year, we’ve been pushing Washington to focus the federal stimulus on ‘ready to build’ infrastructure,” said Bloomberg. “In all fairness, they’ve finally come around.” He said his administration looks forward to working with Congress and President
Barack Obama, “not just on the stimulus package, but on re-thinking the entire way we fund infrastructure projects in this country.”

Comment by GlobeSt.com — January 17, 2009 #
SEPA Releases “Decoupling Utility Profits from Sales”
New White Paper Outlines Options for
Addressing Utility-Solar Disincentive

Washington, D.C–The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) is pleased to announce the release of the white paper, “Decoupling Utility Profits from Sales: Issues for the Photovoltaic Industry,” providing valuable insight into a regulatory policy option that addresses the business disincentive that some investor-owned utilities face when their customers install a solar electric system and, as a result, purchase less electricity from the utility. Decoupling changes the way a utility’s revenues are structured so that profits are no longer explicitly tied to electricity sales. The full report may be downloaded for free at http://www.solarelectricpower.org.

Comment by Josephine Mooney — February 2, 2009 #
Special announcement for
Santa Monica Residents
Would you like to share what you are doing to help the environment? Are you a Santa Monica resident? If you answered yes to both questions this is for you.

Natalie Horton, the producer of Be Green with City TV is looking for Santa Monica residents that are doing their part to help the environment.

They are shooting the first episode this coming Monday the 9th, and need your help. So if you are composting or have you just installed solar panels or energy star appliances or any other green lifestyle changes, help inspire others. Please contact Natalie Horton ASAP.
Email nataliejhorton@gmail.com
Call (310) 780-8737

Comment by Natalie Horton — February 14, 2009 #
Ms. Pavley goes to Washington
Senator Fran Pavley will head to Washington, D.C. in early March to ask the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to grant California a waiver allowing it to limit greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles.

While serving in the Assembly, Senator Pavley authored AB 1493, which imposed new emissions requirements on cars sold in California. But the Bush Administration blocked the measure by denying California’s request for a waiver allowing it to set stricter pollution standards than the federal government.

Shortly after taking office, President Barack Obama directed the U.S. EPA to reconsider the waiver request. If the U.S. EPA grants the waiver, as expected, California and 13 other states stand ready to enforce tailpipe limits on climate warming exhausts.

Senator Pavley appears with Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger at press conference applauding
President Obama’s decision to reconsider waiver.
Senator Pavley is also working on implementation of her other landmark climate change law, AB 32, which requires California to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
The senator is in a good position to continue her effort to lower greenhouse gas emissions. She has been named chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, and hopes to chair a select committee on AB 32 implementation as well.

Comment by Senator Fran Pavley — February 27, 2009 #
President Obama Visits So Cal Edison Electric Vehicle Research Center
“It’s always nice to get out of Washington a little bit — recharge your batteries,” President Obama said Thursday. “You know a little bit about that here.”

President Obama recently spent time at Southern California Edison’s “garage of the future” — its Electric Vehicle Technical Center in Pomona. As reported in the Los Angeles Times, the President further unveiled details of the competitive $2.4 billion grants program to make plug-in electric vehicles more widely available.
At the facility he saw a few vehicles from major automakers in the test program. The Center also houses the utility’s impressive fleet of mainly RAV4 EVs — with over 17 million miles driven collectively. While in sunny Southern California, the president also made a stop in Hollywood to appear on the Jay Leno show. Leno’s vehicle collection is almost as famous as the host himself. Naturally the conversation turned to plug-in hybrid EVs!
Leno aside, Plug In America congratulations Ed Kjaer, SCE’s director of electric transportation, and his team including Dean Taylor and Shannon Law, and all of the utility’s EV experts.

Comment by Linda Nicholes — March 22, 2009 #
Assembly Bill 212 - Net Zero Energy Buildings

Global Green is sponsoring landmark green building legislation in California. The legislation, Assembly Bill 212, would require that all new residential buildings below a certain size be built as zero net energy homes starting in the year 2020. The term “zero net energy building” describes a building that implements both energy efficient design features and clean onsite energy generation that combine to result in no net electricity purchases annually.

Zero net energy buildings have an array of benefits including: drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions and significantly reducing the burden of rising energy costs on consumers. AB 212 was introduced by Assembly Member Lori Saldana of San Diego will face its first hurdle in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee on April 13th.

Comment by Matt Petersen — April 6, 2009 #
As the Center for Urban Future pointed out on Wednesday, a survey of the total number of LEED-certified buildings in cities around the country reveals that New York ranks sixth, with 41 LEED projects, behind Chicago (70), Portland (63), Seattle (55), Washington (47) and San Francisco (44). LEED, standing for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a designation conferred by the U.S. Green Building Council that assigns points for various sustainability measures included in buildings, and while it is not the be-all, end-all arbiter of whether a building is “green” or not, it is fairly well regarded in the design and construction industries.

The simple tally of LEED projects, of course, does not say all that much on its own. And indeed it is likely that New York would be far higher if ranked on LEED projects by square footage, as multiple major office buildings and residential towers have received the designation.

Comment by NEW YORK OBSERVER — May 8, 2009 #
Choosing a Low-Carbon Car

The June issue of SOLAR TODAY, published by the American Solar Energy Society, is now online.

In “How to Choose a Low-Carbon Car, 2009,” SOLAR TODAY’s Seth Masia offers advice on what to look for when evaluating the new low-carbon hybrids and electric-drive vehicles that are arriving in showrooms.
http://www.solartoday-digital.org/solartoday/200906/

Comment by Brooke Simmons, ASES — June 1, 2009 #
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will award a contract to a partnership of commercial building professionals and industry stakeholders to serve as the High-Performance Green Building Supporting Consortium in support of DOE’s commercialization of high-performance building technologies. DOE released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) May 29 and will select the consortium later this year.

The consortium is an aspect of DOE’s Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI), which aims to produce market-ready, net-zero energy commercial buildings by 2025. The consortium will help DOE achieve the goals of the initiative by collecting information on current and next generation technologies for building components and systems. It will also give DOE access to its members’ technical expertise, will communicate the emergence of new technologies to the commercial building community, and will promote the demonstration of high-performance building technologies. Selection of the consortium was one of the requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

Comment by U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy — June 18, 2009 #
As members of the Empire State Building Team, we identified several additional challenges to achieving the energy savings we knew were both possible and cost-effective. We believe these will also need addressing if our country wants to ramp up its building energy retrofit activity with the necessary speed and to the necessary scale.

Comment by Eric Maurer Caroline Fluhrer and Aalok Deshmukh — June 25, 2009 #
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