sfenvironment.org

Green Building

Incentives Legislation & Initiatives Reports Agencies Partners News & Events Contact Us

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Green Building is an integration of the built environment with natural systems.

"With integrated design and today's proven technology, we can build buildings that actually create more energy than they use...buildings that are not just less toxic, but actually promote the health and well-being of resident, employees and visitors...buildings that purify their own water, clean the air and grow their own food...this is sustainable green design."

From Cradle to Cradle, McDonough and Braungart

Incentives

Priority Permitting - Projects which commit to LEED Gold certification are eligible for priority in permit processing through coordination with the Planning Department, Department of Building Inspection, and Department of Public Works.

GoSolarSF - Rebates for installation of photovoltaic systems are available from the SF Public Utilities Commission. Coupled with California Solar Initiative state rebates and federal tax credits, incentives can pay half the cost of a solar power system installed in San Francisco.

Rebates for Water Efficiency

Rebates for energy efficiency:

• New homes - Multifamily


• New Homes - Single Family


• Existing homes


• New Commercial buildings


• Existing Commercial buildings - San Francisco Energy Watch

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Legislation & Initiatives

• Private Sector Green Building Requirements - Effective November 2008, Chapter 13C of the San Francisco Building Code will require new buildings constructed in the city to meet green building standards, which were developed by the Green Building Task Force. See the Task Force Report below.


• Municipal Facilities: Resource Efficiency and Green Building Standards Ordinance - All municipal projects (new construction and major renovations over 5,000 square feet) are required to achieve LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. To review the effects of this Ordinance, see the SF Municipal Green Building Report 2004-2007 below.

For complete list of Green Building Legislation and Initiatives click here.

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Reports

• Mayor's Task Force on Existing Commercial Buildings Report (2009)
  Recommends a comprehensive strategy to accelerate energy efficiency improvements in commercial buildings. The Executive Summary is also available here.


• Mayor's Task Force on Green Building Report (2007) - Recommended incremental steps for improving resource efficiency in commercial and residential buildings. See "Legislation and Initiatives" section for requirements adopted as a result of this report.


• SF Municipal Green Building Report 2004-2007 - A report to the Board of Supervisors on outcomes from municipal green building requirements. See "Legislation and Initiatives" section for Ordinance language.


• The Cost of Green Revisited - Davis Langdon, 2007


• Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings - by Greg Kats et al. for the California Sustainable Building Task Force


• Green Buildings: Bringing Environmentally Sensitive Design to San Francisco - SPUR, 2001

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Agencies

The Resource Efficient Building Task Force is comprised of representatives from different city agencies to provide communication among city departments on green building issues and policy development, and supports the integration of green building practices into city departments.

Department of Building Inspection oversees the enforcement of San Francisco's Building, Housing, Plumbing, Electrical, and Mechanical Codes, and its Disability Access Regulations; supports green building and is instrumental in implementing green building policies, including green building requirements, simplified solar permitting, and priority permitting for exemplary green buildings.

Planning Department adopts General Plan policies and applies these policies and the requirements of the Planning Code and Zoning Regulations to permit approvals; key partner in establishing Priority Permitting for LEED Gold buildings and incorporating sustainability into future plans.

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) provides water, wastewater, and municipal power services to San Francisco; key agency in promoting water and energy conservation through education and incentives.

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Partners

Build It Green (BIG) - A not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote healthy, energy- and resource-efficient building practices in California. Build It Green administers the GreenPoint Rated residential green building rating system and provides resources including training, outreach support, technical support, and a green materials database.

U.S. Green Building Council Northern California Chapter - A not-for-profit voluntary organization that educates, motivates, and advocates for industry transformation to build and maintain sustainable communities. The chapter currently has about 1,000 members with three affiliate brances in Sacramento, Monterey, and Silicon Valley.

Pacific Gas & Electric Pacific Energy Center - Funded by utlity ratepayer public goods charge (PGC), the PEC offers free educational programs, design tools, advice, and support to create energy efficient buildings and comfortable indoor environments.

American Institute of Architects San Francisco (AIASF) - AIASF is the third largest of the AIA's 300 chapters, representing more than 2,300 members in San Francisco and Marin County. Their mission is to improve the quality of life in the Bay Area by promoting architecture and design.

Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA-SF) - works with SF Environment to find opportunities to improve design, construction, and performance of buildings through trainings, presentations, and stakeholder meetings.

Stopwaste.org - Alameda County's resource for waste reduction and green building; developed statewide model residential green building guidelines in collaboration with dozens of Bay Area government agencies and building industry representatives.

San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) - public-policy think tank that, through research, analysis, public education, and advocacy, promotes good planning and good government. The Sustainable Development Committee supports and reviews green building and other environmental policies and initiatives.

West Coast Green - The nation's largest annual conference dedicated residential green building and to exploring the interface of green building, innovation and technology.

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News & Events

Certified GreenPoint Rater Training
June 8 - June 13, 2009

Come learn about the residential green building standard required by San Francisco Building Code. Come get the training to be able to demonstrate to code officials and to customers that your projects are built to an achievable and substantive green standard.
Click here for more information.

Mayor Newsom Speaks at House Climate Change Committee (May 15, 2008)

News Articles:

• 7.18.08 - State is first to OK Green Building Standards
• 7.6.08 - Fireman's Fund Offers Green Rebuilding Option
• 4.22.08 - LA and SF Vie for Title of Greenest City
• 2.4.07 - San Francisco Joins the Green Trend

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Contact Us

For information on on residential or commercial green buildings:

Rich Chien
richard.chien@sfgov.org, 415-355-3761

Barry Hooper
barry.hooper@sfgov.org, 415-355-3753

For information on municipal green buildings:

Mark Palmer
mark.palmer@sfgov.org, 415-355-3710

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