20% reduction in indoor water usage! Reusing or recycling construction debris! Mandatory bicycle changing facilities! "Smart" irrigation systems! California is already a green state and we are getting greener! As of January 2011, new buildings within the state will be required to comply with the applicable provisions of California's new Green Building Code - or "CALGreen". CALGreen is a new section within the state's current Building Code and applies to all new residential, commercial, hospital and school buildings. This kind of "green" building code is the first of its kind in the nation. In 2006, the Governor signed Assembly Bill 32 which required the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 - and the CALGreen Code is another way for the state to meet AB 32's "green" goals. CALGreen's mandatory provisions set the "floor" for buildings to go green but also provide two tiers of additional voluntary suggestions if you want your buildings to be extra green. Meeting CALGreen's minimum mandatory provisions will result in your building being labeled as CALGreen certified - and the only cost to be certified is obtaining the certificate of occupancy! Check out the current draft of CALGreen and tell us your thoughts...
By Karina Terakura
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