Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Water Efficiency Requirements for New Development and Renovation of Existing Buildings

Tomorrow, at the LA City Council's Energy & Environment Committee, on behalf of the AIA/LA Committee on the Environment and the AIA/LA Building Performance and Regulations committee, I plan read the following letter of support (see below) in response to Council Motion 09-0510.  The letter was voted on and received Board support at the April 2009 AIA/LA Board of Directors meeting.

This proposed ordinance will amend the municipal code establishing water efficiency requirements for new development and renovation of existing buildings in the City of Los Angeles.  

For a copy of the updated ordinance, please click here:  http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2009/09-0510_rpt_atty_4-30-09.pdf

Details of the meeting can be found below:

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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE, SPECIAL MEETING
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2009
ROOM 1050, CITY HALL - 3:00 PM  
200 NORTH SPRING STREET
LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 

Council File # 09-0510 
Board of Water and Power Commissioners and City Attorney reports, Board Resolution No. 009-227 and Ordinance in response to Motion (Garcetti - Perry) relative to the establishment of water efficiency requirements for new development and renovation of existing buildings in the City. (Also referred to the Planning and Land Use Management Committee) 

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April 6, 2009
 
Mr. H. David Nahai
Chief Executive Officer and General Manager
Mr. James H. Caldwell, Jr.
Assistant General Manager – Environmental Affairs
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
111 North Hope Street, Room 1550
Los Angeles, CA 90012
 
RE: Water Efficiency Requirements for New Development & Renovation of Existing Structures.
 
Dear Mr. Nahai & Mr. Caldwell:
 
As the President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Los Angeles (AIA/LA) and on behalf of the AIA/LA Board of Directors, I am writing to express our support for the proposed ordinance, which will incentivize Water Efficiency Requirements for New Development & Renovation of Existing Structures.
 
Both the AIA/LA Building Performance & Regulations Committee (AIA/LA BP&R) and the AIA/LA Committee on the Environment (AIA/LA COTE) fully endorse the new City of LA Water Efficiency Requirements.  We believe that the suggested plumbing fixtures, water factors and cooling towers are achievable and have become standards in green buildings across the nation.  These are tested technologies with many manufacturers offering various models.  
 
In addition, we believe that this new and enforced building code will have a very positive impact on the City of Los Angeles' water resource.  We especially appreciate the non-permitted allowance for retrofits and hope that Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) will continue to support this ordinance with smart and effective plumbing fixture rebates (and other financial incentives).  
 
Finally, we believe that the new requirements will help educate the public on the importance of water conservation.  Thank you for a thorough and thoughtful and much needed Water Efficiency Ordinance.
 
If you have any further questions, please contact Will Wright, Director of Government & Public Affairs for AIA Los Angeles.
 
Very truly yours,
 
John E. Kaliski, AIA
President
AIA Los Angeles

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Will Wright,  Director of Government & Public Affairs
American Institute of Architects / Los Angeles
3780 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800, Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 639-0777 phone | (213)639-0767 fax















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