State is first to OK green building standards

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 7/18/8 | Matthew Yi, Chronicle

[SmithL]

California on Thursday became the first state in the nation to approve green building standards to cut energy and water usage, a move that officials say will help the state meet its ambitious goals to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

The plan, adopted by the California Building Standards Commission, requires that all new construction - from commercial buildings to homes, schools and hospitals - reduce energy usage by 15 percent, water use by 20 percent and water for landscaping by 50 percent. A voluntary form of the code is scheduled to kick in on July 1, 2009.

"There is no statewide standard in the nation such as our green building standard," said commission chairwoman Rosario Marin. "In fact, we're the first one in the world, and we anticipate others to follow us."

The rules do not specify how to make the reductions, but ideas range from installing energy-efficient appliances and increasing natural lighting to using low-flow toilets and planting drought-resistant vegetation. The code will be voluntary while the commission works on a mandatory regulation, which the panel hopes to have in place by end of 2010 or beginning of 2011, Marin said.

Environmental groups and the California Building Industry Association applauded the 11-member commission's 10-0 vote Thursday to approve the standards as a good first step.

Making buildings more efficient will be an important piece in helping California meet its ambitious goal under AB32, a landmark law to fight global warming by reducing the state's greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2020.

...The commission's action came after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed legislation last year that would have instituted a green building code for the state, arguing that the commission, not the Legislature, should draw up the regulation.

[Devilinbaggypants]

Let me see if I have this right...they have to build green friendly houses but they can’t cut the underbrush back because of some rat. So consequently because of the IMENSE forest fires that plague the state year after year California produces more green house gases then the rest of the country combined. Thanks California for being the leader!

[robomatik]

san francisco is chocked full of visionaries. /sarc

[AlaskaErik]

Didn't the City of San Francisco build a green building that's too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter? Hope the greenie weenies are lovin’ it.

[Coffee200am]

Reduce amenities...vwala! Green!

[dblshot]

“all new construction - from commercial buildings to homes, schools and hospitals - reduce energy usage by 15 percent, water use by 20 percent and water for landscaping by 50 percent.”

Excuse me but these are NEW buildings so what is the baseline that they use to determine if you have reduced energy and water use? Some bureaucrat is going to pull a number out of his er, bottom drawers so to speak?

[twistedwrench]

Middle picture, near the bottom appears to show part of
the tracks of California’s high speed rail system.

[GOP Poet]

Great point. So very true. The People's Republic of California is alive and well and getting more and more restrictive to us drivers and homeowners. My home was blocks away from a recent prominent fire and many of us were shaking our heads at why the last time the extremely flammable chaparral was last cleared and tamed in the 1955 fire. It was a wild fire made worse and nearly uncontrollable by the lack of very controlled burning backs or trimming thanks to the libbies.

[BigBobber]

So let’s see if we all understand this. If Schwarzenegger builds a 20,000 sf mansion in Brentwood with low flow toilets and CFL lights, that’s OK, but if we build a 2,000 sf house with regular toilets that will not be OK?

Because our little house is not green enough.