West Hollywood: Greenest City in the Country

Since its incorporation in 1984, the City of West Hollywood has embraced “Responsibility to the Environment” as one of its core values. Celebrating the notable achievement of furthering sustainability and green practices, the City of West Hollywood and Global Green USA will hold a news conference for the first day of implementation for one of the nation’s first Mandatory Green Building Programs for Private Development (Green Building Ordinance) and unveiling of the Green Building Resource Center on Monday, October 1, 2007 at 10 a.m. at West Hollywood City Hall lobby located at 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard.

"The City has been a leading force in enacting policies to promote the environment. Passage of the Green Building Ordinance continues this legacy and represents a truly collaborative effort between the public and private sectors," said West Hollywood Councilmember Abbe Land, who co-sponsored the item. "Together, we will continue to make West Hollywood a sustainable place to live and work for our future," she continued.

Walker Wells of Global Green USA will discuss Global Green USA’s collaborative partnership to facilitate the development, adoption and implementation of sustainable policies, programs and practices within West Hollywood. The news conference will also feature several companies that work within the City to create increased sustainability and green practices. Sharon Glasser, manager of the Whole Foods Markets LifeStyle Store, and John Jury of Whole Foods Market, Inc. will speak about Whole Foods Market’s core values, which include a commitment to sustainable agriculture, expanding the market for organic products and utilizing wise environmental practices. Ric Abramson, architect of the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation’s Sierra Bonita green affordable housing project, will talk about environmentally conscious approaches to the building’s design.

The Green Building Resource Center located on the second floor at West Hollywood City Hall will provide a sampling of building materials and practices that increase energy efficiency, indoor air quality and water conservation. The display provides information and outreach to homeowners, renters, businesses and developers to aid in making each project in West Hollywood more sustainable. The Resource Center will also provide a manual for the City’s Green Building Ordinance to explain each requirement and methods for achieving them. In upcoming weeks the Resource Center will be supplemented with additional educational materials for people considering sustainable remodels to kitchen, bath, and landscape areas, and much more. The City’s website has also been updated to provide additional information on sustainability and green building at www.weho.org/greenbuilding.

The Green Building Ordinance establishes one of the first mandatory "green building" programs in the country. The Green Building Requirements and Incentives for Private Development Ordinance focus on the following:
Establishes new development standards that apply to all development, including all new residential and commercial projects as well as remodels and tenant improvements;
Develops a point system for new construction with incentives for projects that achieve "exemplary" status; and
Implements "green building" education and outreach program.

The "green" development standards are green building requirements for remodels, tenant improvements, additions and new construction. These standards were incorporated into the Zoning Ordinance so that all projects incorporate elements such as drought-tolerant landscaping, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and energy efficient appliances. (See below for a summary of mandatory items for all projects).

The green building point system will be incorporated in all new structures, with incentives for projects that go above and beyond minimum requirements. The requirements are structured as a point system to allow for maximum flexibility and the points allowed each reflect West Hollywood’s unique opportunities and constraints. Specifically, the point system was designed to emphasize locally-available materials, encourage green elements to be incorporated early into project design and provide flexibility to alter green elements as the project evolves.

For more information, please contact Lisa Belsanti, Deputy to West Hollywood Councilmember Abbe Land at 323-627-7747. For the hearing impaired, please call 323-848-6496.

Mandatory Items for all Projects Including Remodels and Additions
Divert 80% of construction and demolition waste away from landfills.
Label storm drains in the public right-of-way that drain to the ocean.
Provide a roof layout plan showing how future photovoltaic panels could be installed, and provide a conduit from the roof to electrical panel.
Provide a construction air quality management plan.
Interior paints and wood finishes shall be low VOC.
Install Energy Star appliances in residential construction.
Conserve water, minimize drainage to the storm drains, and improve water quality by: providing permeable surfaces in front, side and rear yards, installing drought tolerant landscape and water-conserving irrigation systems, installing low flow showerheads, faucets and water closets, and controlling construction debris.
Provide bicycle parking as required by the code.
Provide area for recyclable materials storage.
Install energy efficient outdoor lighting.
Provide landscaping in new surface parking areas.
Reduce vehicle trips by complying with the City’s Transportation Demand Management programs.
Comply with the revised energy efficiency standards in Title 24 of the Building Code.

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For more information visit www.weho.org/greenbuilding.

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