The LEED system is spreading rapidly across the country, with architects and developers competing to offer customers the most eco-chic projects.
Since 2003, L.A.'s public structures, such as libraries and fire stations, have had to be LEED certified if they have more than 7,500 square feet of floor space. But San Francisco has gone a step further, requiring LEED silver certification for any public construction over 5,000 square feet.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday, April 23, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 47 words Type of Material: Correction
Green cities: In an article in Tuesday's California section about Los Angeles' and San Francisco's rivalry over "green city" programs, the name of the director of the Department of the Environment for the city and county of San Francisco was incorrect. He is Jared Blumenfeld, not Blumenthal.
San Francisco also has a higher standard for fast-track permitting: Buildings must be LEED gold to qualify, while the threshold in Los Angeles is silver.
Nancy Sutley, L.A.'s deputy mayor for energy and environment, acknowledged that her city is moving more cautiously, but noted the "sheer scale" of its construction activity compared with its Northern California rival. "We think of San Francisco as a boutique city," she said.
Jared Blumenthal, director of San Francisco's Department of the Environment, counters that among other multimillion-dollar projects, his city is converting a 500-acre former Naval base into 6,500 units of housing that will be certified as a LEED platinum neighborhood development. "Hardly boutique!" he exclaimed.
And with slight condescension, Blumenthal adds, "We are thrilled that L.A. is now going to start reducing its CO2 . . . If L.A. implemented our ordinance, it would have an even greater impact for all Angelenos."
L.A.'s new proposal for private construction, which would take effect in November, is looser than San Francisco's in every category. It would require the equivalent of LEED certification only for buildings of 50,000 square feet or more. In San Francisco, over the next four years, commercial buildings of 25,000 square feet or more would have to meet LEED gold standards, and residential high-rises of that size would have to meet LEED silver levels.
The L.A. plan would cover low-rise residential and single family homes only in developments with at least 50 units. San Francisco's would cover all single-family homes and low-rise developments.
Sutley noted that the Los Angeles ordinance would cover more than twice as much space -- 7.5 million square feet -- as the San Francisco program, which would cover about 3 million square feet. "There were legitimate concerns about overwhelming the system," she said. "We will learn by doing."
