Mayor's green-building task force outlines phased LEED-based plan for private buildings

Phil Williams, chair of the mayor's task force on green buildings, presented the task force report and draft recommendations to the Building Inspection Commission, summarizing a phased plan for private-sector buildings that emphasizes third-party verification and established green standards.

Key recommendations include adopting LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or equivalent standards for large projects (defined in the task force materials as 25,000 square feet and over or taller than 75 feet) with an escalated certification timeline through 2012. Mid-size projects (5,000–25,000 sq ft) would begin with a voluntary orientation period and a set of mandatory baseline credits after the orientation period. The task force recommended using recognized third-party certification bodies (such as the U.S. Green Building Council) rather than creating a new city verification regime.

Williams said the task force sought to avoid moving targets for builders and to customize credits to San Francisco priorities such as water savings, stormwater management and construction‑debris recycling. The group also recommended incentives for projects that exceeded the baseline ahead of schedule, though incentives are not part of the ordinance itself. Commissioners asked about solar shading, reuse of materials, noise from alternative energy systems and whether seismic resilience could receive additional credit; presenters pointed to LEED innovation credits as a potential path.