Newsom announced the proposed ordinance in November infront of 555 Mission St., Tishman Speyer's under-constructionoffice building, for which it hopes to LEED Silver certification.The ordinance requires large projects--commercial and residentialprojects over 25,000 sf or 75 feet in height--to meet the baselevel of LEED certification starting in 2008. Large commercialprojects would have to achieve LEED Silver certification startingin 2009 and LEED Gold staring in 2010. Large residential projectswould have to achieve LEED Silver starting in 2010.

Mid-sized buildings would have to complete a LEED checklist butwould not be required to achieve any LEED credits or points (thebasis for the rating system) until 2009. Starting then, mid-sizecommercial buildings would have to achieve three LEED credits. Thebar would be raised to four points in 2010, six points in 2011 andseven points in 2012.

Small and mid-size residential projects, starting in 2009, wouldbe required to achieve 25 points from GreenPointRated, a ratingsystem of BuildItGreen, a professional nonprofit membershiporganization that promotes energy- and resource-efficient buildingsin California. The hurdle would increase to 50 points in 2010 andthen 75 points in 2011 or 2012. The earlier increase would occurfor multifamily residential buildings with more than fiveunits.