LA mandates green building

In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the city, Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa last week unveiled an ambitious green building ordinance. The law requires all new buildings over 50,000 square feet to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building standards.

While more than two dozen U.S. cities require that publicly funded building projects pursue LEED standards, only 13 cities and the state of Connecticut require that private developers pursue green building standards.

Los Angeles' green building ordinance creates a Sustainability Team to review and provide guidance to project managers. Developers pursuing a LEED Silver certification receive expedited permit processing through the Planning and Public Works Departments. The city also made a commitment to easing up on codes and regulations for green building attributes such as green roofs.

The ordinance is part of the mayor's GREEN LA plan. The plan includes a goal to reduce the city's carbon footprint by 35 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.