by Gavin Newsom
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In the quest to create new green jobs, we have the opportunity to take existing jobs and make them green.
Every city has architects, engineers and construction divisions. In conventional circumstances the activities these employees undertake can
burn considerable natural resources. But in San Francisco, we’re
working to turn these traditional municipal positions into
environmental champions.
The City and County of San Francisco now has over 120 architects,
engineers and construction managers who have upgraded their knowledge
and skills to become LEED Accredited Professionals. LEED, which stands
for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a program of the
US Green Building Council that recognizes the environmental performance
of buildings and building professionals.
With this cadre of accredited professionals, San Francisco has over
40 LEED registered municipal projects in the pipeline and more on the
way. Our new LEED certified staff will help us build and maintain a new
greener San Francisco:
- San Francisco’s Department of Public Works leads the way with 59
design professionals now LEED accredited. DPW projects include 10
libraries, two hospitals, several office buildings and two museums
including the LEED Platinum California Academy of Sciences—the largest
and most-visited LEED Platinum building in the world.
- San Francisco’s Planning Department has 21 LEED Accredited
Professionals managing entitlements for both residential and commercial
green buildings, now required by our building code.
- San Francisco’s Public Utilities Commission, with 15 LEED APs is
creating a new headquarters building slated for LEED Platinum, and the
new Tesla Water Treatment Plant is under construction targeting LEED
Silver. SFPUC also manages energy retrofits in public buildings.
- San Francisco Recreation and Parks is renovating multiple
recreation centers to be LEED Silver, and the arboretum nursery in
Golden Gate Park is slated for a LEED Platinum upgrade.
- San Francisco’s Redevelopment Agency completed the first LEED
Silver certified municipal project, the Plaza Apartments, for the
formerly homeless with on-site supportive services.
- San Francisco International Airport is renovating Terminal 2 to achieve a LEED Silver certification.
- The Port of San Francisco has two LEED Gold targeted projects
underway including the EcoCenter at Heron’s Head Park and the new
Exploratorium Museum, plus a new cruise ship terminal is on the drawing
boards.
San Francisco is well-positioned to design, build and maintain our
buildings to save energy, water and taxpayers’ money. With the help of
our LEED professionals we are reducing our City’s carbon footprint, and
creating healthy indoor environments for employees and visitors.
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