Starting in November, Los Angeles will begin enforcing a new ordinance, one that significantly reduce carbon emissions into the air. Today, the Los Angeles City Council voted to approve the new measure that will "reduce the use of natural resources, create healthier living environments and minimize the negative impacts of development on local, regional and global ecosystems." It will also...

• Lower more than 80,000 metric tons of carbon emissions in Los Angeles annually by 2012. That number is equal to 15,000 cars off the road (sorry, no traffic relief on this one)
• It affects more than 150 new developments a year by making buildings that are 50,000 square feet and more use U.S. Green Building Council standards.
• "Tens of millions of square feet in city buildings will be going green. Two-thirds of everything built by 2050 will be affected by this ordinance," Councilman Eric Garcetti said.
• In an attempt to go a step further and catch up with San Francisco's proposal, which goes to a vote next month, city council requested a report back due in six months seeking a possible "stiffening" of the ordinace to buildings that are at the minimum 25,000 square feet (this was a good move).

• It will also affect projects that include 50 or more dwelling units.

  "We have to look at how the city can create cottage industries that stimulate green-building materials, green-building jobs and actually take advantage of the population base we have here, the demand that we have for this kind of product, and start influencing new neighborhoods to develop in a way in which we look at this comprehensively," Councilman Ed Reyes is quoted saying at KNBC.

  The ordinance also might speed up the permit and paperwork process for developers who go beyond the minimum requirements that address issues such as efficiency of water and energy use, building materials, site location, air quality, natural lighting and heating control.

  Photo by Uncleweed via Flickr