ACP Pubs

Loren Faulkner

What Green Will Mean
August 8, 2008

Governor Schwarzenegger made a television commercial not long ago about the virtues of starting a business in California. Even though our State is probably the most highly regulated in the U.S., his commercial was released before the strictest Green Building Codes in America were signed in to law recently. What can California businesses expect now?

 
To see the actual code, go here: http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/bsc/prpsd_stds/combined_green_et_7_08.pdf

As you will see, you will probably need some help interpreting all the details. One expert sums it up this way:

--The provisions of the California Building Code will apply to the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, repair, use, maintenance removal and demolition of virtually every building in California 

--The code requires green building techniques, such as energy efficiency measures, low- or no- volatile organic compound adhesives, paints and coatings, and high-efficiency air conditioning filters, for all new construction

--The new standards become guidelines starting July, 2009 and will incrementally become code requirements over the next three years

--The new California code requires a detailed building operation and maintenance manual be made available at the time of occupancy to address occupants' behavior

--A few specific regulations include:

--The preservation of natural resources during building, retention of storm water drainage and retention during construction

--100% integration of ENERGY STAR appliances and equipment, detailed energy monitoring (including sub-metering of specific appliances, and hourly tracking of energy use), strict testing during the construction process in terms of internal ventilation, indoor lighting systems and controls and water heating, providing exterior shade for south-facing windows and other sun-angle calculations, minimum energy performance or prescriptive standard design, energy efficient steel framing, energy efficient elevators and escalators, regulations on green concrete, and more

--In short, there rules are going to have a significant impact on the way construction professionals build and the next step is figuring out how to take action.

Welcome to California, where restrictive rules beget even more restrictive rules.

Posted by Loren Faulkner on August 8, 2008 | Comments (0)