LA County is Considering Three Ordinances that Promote Green Building

(R2007-02988, R2007-02985, R2007-02984)

LA County could see a new era of green building practices that:

· Combat global warming

· Lower utility bills

· Reduce environmental waste

· Stimulate investment in renewable energy

· Conserve and recycle water

HELP ensure these well-crafted ordinances are approved as written,

so we can begin to improve our built environment and help scale back global warming.

Ordinances call for:

· Green Building standards measured under established third-party guidelines and verifications (such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system and Build It Green’s GreenPoint Rated system)

· Drought-tolerant and native plants landscaping

· Low Impact Design (LID) providing on-site storm water and runoff management to reduce pollution and runoff during storms

Attend an upcoming Scoping Meeting, and let your voice be heard:

1^st Supervisorial District - Gloria Molina Tuesday, March 25^th - 6:00-8:00pm East Los Angeles County Library 4837 3^rd St., Los Angeles 90022	4^th Supervisorial District - Don Knabe Monday, March 31^st - 6:00-8:00pm Adventure County Park 10130 S. Gunn Ave., Whittier 90605
2^nd Supervisorial District - Yvonne B. Burke Thursday, March 27^th - 6:00-8:00pm A.C. Bilbrew County Library 150 E. El Segundo, Los Angeles 90061	5^th Supervisorial District - Michael Antonovich Wednesday, March 19^th - 6:00-8:00pm Altadena Senior Center 560 E. Mariposa Rd., Altadena 91001 Monday March 24^th - 6:00-8:00pm Santa Clarita Sports Complex 20880 Centre Point Pkwy., Santa Clarita 91350 Saturday, March 29^th - 3:00-5:00pm Larry Chimbole Community Center 38350 Sierra Highway, Palmdale 93550
3^rd Supervisorial District - Zev Yaroslavsky Wednesday, March 12^th - 6:00-8:00pm Las Virgenes Municipal Water District 4232 Las Virgenes Rd., Calabasas 91302

For more information and to view the draft ordinance visit: http://www.planning.lacounty.gov/spGreenBuildingProgram.htm

Green Building has proven to be cost-effective and vital to combating Global Warming.

SAMPLE LETTER

Department of Regional Planning

Ordinance Studies Section (13th Floor)
320 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Fax: 213-626-0434

Email: zoup@planning.co.la.us

Dear County Planning Commission,

RE: R2007-02988, R2007-02985, R2007-02984

We are pleased that Los Angeles County planning staff has prepared a set of Green Building Ordinances that would require green building standards in County unincorporated areas, as well as drought-tolerant landscaping and low impact development.

These measures will lower energy use, help reduce global warming and reduce pollutants in storm water runoff.

I am concerned about high utility bills, declining water supplies and global warming.  These ordinances will:

- Lower utility bills

- Conserve and recycle water

- Reduce storm water runoff

- Reduce pollution

- Improve indoor air quality

- Reduce global warming

I am impressed that a small amount of money up front can reduce utility bills for years to come, yielding a return at least ten times the initial investment.

Thank you,