 |
|
News
Mayor Newsom Signs Strict Green Building Codes into Law
[August 7, 2008]
San Francisco took a major step Monday to cement its reputation as the most environmentally progressive city in the United States, as Mayor Gavin Newsom signed into law stringent green building codes for new construction and renovations of existing structures in the city. The new codes focus on water and energy conservation, recycling and reduction of carbon emissions. They apply to most buildings in the city, including residential projects of all sizes, new commercial buildings over a certain size, and renovations of large commercial spaces. By 2012, city officials estimate the new requirements will reduce carbon dioxide emissions annually by 60,000 tons and save 220,000 megawatt hours of electricity and 100 million gallons of drinking water.
Newsom predicted that the new rules in San Francisco will not be financially burdensome on builders and that they will eventually save money. "It requires a mandate in order to get people to do what's in their best interests sometimes. It's called change," said Newsom, who also predicted the new standards will have "national reach."
The new codes are to be phased in by 2012. Projects will be evaluated on a point system with credit given for materials used in the building, the location of the building site and water and energy efficiencies. Large residential and commercial buildings will be evaluated under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. Medium and small residential construction will use the GreenPoint rating system, which is less stringent.
The city's Office of Economic Analysis estimated that the new codes would cost the city between $30 million and $700 million a year in economic output, as it could lead to higher rents and businesses choosing to locate elsewhere. Newsom called that report inaccurate and predicted the new regulations would actually attract businesses to the city.
That opinion was echoed by Phil Williams, an executive at San Mateo-based Webcor Builders, who sat on the city task force on green building that developed the new regulations. Williams joined Newsom at the signing ceremony, which took place in a South of Market building that has been renovated to the LEED gold standard. The building was constructed by Matarozzi-Pelsinger Builders Inc. and will be the new headquarters of the firm. Daniel Pelsinger, a co-owner of the firm, said the building will serve as a showpiece of green construction for clients.