Going Green: One Small City's Big Impact | Newsweek Environment

Small City, Big Impact

Newsweek Web Exclusive

Email To A Friend

Please fill in the following information and we'll email this link.

SPONSORED BY

West Hollywood officials hope that the system is simpler than the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. (Some developers complain about the paperwork required for LEED certification.) Los Angeles architect Anthony Zubick is about to find out. He's designing a three-apartment project in West Hollywood for a French developer that will comply with the city's requirements. Meanwhile, he's also building a home for himself in Los Angeles that he's voluntarily designing to the LEED standards. As it turns out, says Zubick, "the West Hollywood rules are a little more lenient than the LEED program."

Still, West Hollywood officials admit that their city's green initiatives-like others around the country-do drive up building costs. But they insist that the expenditure is eventually made up in reduced utility bills. Melcer figures getting to his green goal will add "roughly 10 percent" to the cost of his seven-condo project. "It is a little bit more costly, but we think the benefit of going green in terms of marketing and the environmental point of view is worth the incremental cost," Melcer says.

The city's homegrown green plan is already drawing enquiries from other municipalities around the country. Global Green USA, which helped develop West Hollywood's system, has already received calls from Henderson, Nev., Claremont, Calif., and McKinney, Texas. Walker Wells, director of the Global Green USA's sustainable communities program, worked closely with West Hollywood and says any city that develops its own plan should work to reflect its own values. But he sees West Hollywood as "a great example of a small place that can make a difference." And that's always exportable.

« Prev Page

The Sierra Bonita Project may be

I was stunned to discover that tenancy of the The Sierra Bonita Mixed-use,affordable housing "Green" Complex ,will be decided by a Lottery...pulling names out of the hat ! West Hollywood is host to thousands of so-called,Russian Immigrants"that already occupy most of the Public Housing,Section 8, Low Income and Senior Buildings in West Hollywood.What chance does a needful,disabled,American Citizen have to move into this Complex,when the "HAT" will be filled with Russian Non-Citizens? These Russians have contributed NOTHING to the American System,yet,they are
handed SSD/SSI, Medicare, Medi-cal, Food Stamps and Housing...that WE have paid for.Meanwhile,the U.S.Government makes it difficult for it's Citizens to access the Benifits that they have paid for.Where is the Fairness in this Lottery?
American Citizens should be placed in this Sierra Bonita Project FIRST...then, pull names out of the hat for the Non-Citizens ! West Hollywood City Hall has used this "Green Building Project"to distract from the fact that they are going to place more "Russian Immigrant Non-Citizens"in their new,low income,affordable apartment building.Doesn't America,including the City of West Hollywood, have a duty to take care of it's own Tax Paying Citizens FIRST?

'

Member Comments

- Reply
- Report Abuse
Posted By: emoqix @ 06/11/2009 5:35:46 PM

I am shocked about the lottery too.

I have been on the waiting list over two years.

Now, the new apartments will be for a lottery.

That is not right.

The people on the waiting should go first!
- Reply
- Report Abuse
Posted By: wehowillie @ 03/15/2009 10:55:35 PM

The Sierra Bonita Project may be

I was stunned to discover that tenancy of the The Sierra Bonita Mixed-use,affordable housing "Green" Complex ,will be decided by a Lottery...pulling names out of the hat ! West Hollywood is host to thousands of so-called,Russian Immigrants"that already occupy most of the Public Housing,Section 8, Low Income and Senior Buildings in West Hollywood.What chance does a needful,disabled,American Citizen have to move into this Complex,when the "HAT" will be filled with Russian Non-Citizens? These Russians have contributed NOTHING to the American System,yet,they are
handed SSD/SSI, Medicare, Medi-cal, Food Stamps and Housing...that WE have paid for.Meanwhile,the U.S.Government makes it difficult for it's Citizens to access the Benifits that they have paid for.Where is the Fairness in this Lottery?
American Citizens should be placed in this Sierra Bonita Project FIRST...then, pull names out of the hat for the Non-Citizens ! West Hollywood City Hall has used this "Green Building Project"to distract from the fact that they are going to place more "Russian Immigrant Non-Citizens"in their new,low income,affordable apartment building.Doesn't America,including the City of West Hollywood, have a duty to take care of it's own Tax Paying Citizens FIRST?

'
- Reply
- Report Abuse
Posted By: lametro1 @ 10/19/2007 5:11:44 PM

Bravo WeHo! It is finally time for green to be the standard. The City of West Hollywood is to be commended for such a thoughtful, user friendly ordinance. Once again West Hollywood is the mouse that roared. Can't imagine a better city on environmental policy than WeHo is right now.