California imposes mandatory ‘green’ building codes

SACRAMENTO
January 13, 2010 6:46am

The California Building Standards Commission has unanimously adopted a first-in-the-nation mandatory Green Building Standards Code requiring all new buildings in the state to be more energy efficient and environmentally responsible.

Taking effect on Jan. 1, 2011, the regulations are expected to achieve major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and water use, the state government says.

The regulations will require that every new building constructed in California reduce water consumption by 20 percent, divert 50 percent of construction waste away from landfills and install low pollutant-emitting materials. It also requires separate water meters for nonresidential buildings' indoor and outdoor water use, with a requirement for moisture-sensing irrigation systems for larger landscape projects and mandatory inspections of energy systems such as heating, air conditioning and mechanical equipment for nonresidential buildings over 10,000 square feet to ensure that all are working at their maximum capacity and according to their design efficiencies.

The mandatory code provisions will now become the baseline of regulated green construction practices in the country's most populous state.

The code also includes more stringent voluntary provisions to encourage local communities to take further action to “green” their buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency and conserve our natural resources.

Like California's existing building code provisions that regulate all construction projects throughout the state, the mandatory green provisions will be inspected and verified by local and state building departments.

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