Very exciting for the world of green buildings: Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced that starting January 1, 2011, all new buildings in California, including homes, will have to comply with the new CALGREEN sustainable building standards. The new standards will be the most stringent, environmentally friendly building code standards of any state in the nation.
For all buildings, including residential, the standard will require all new buildings in California to reduce water consumption by 20 percent, divert 50 percent of construction waste from landfills, and install materials that are low pollutant emitters. The California Air Resources Board estimates that the mandatory regulation will result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 equivalent) by 3 million metric tons in 2020. In addition to helping reduce global climate change, this also means healthier home environments with fewer air pollutants, and reduced costs in water and other resources.
The standard is great news for homeowners, as the CALGREEN inspection will cost nothing, compared to other existing green rating systems. Many of the mandatory provisions in the code are already part of the statewide building code, making verification of CALGREEN an easy transition for local building inspectors, and, one could hope, for contractors as well.
The great news for builders is that they will be able to earn a state-recognized green building certification without paying a third party.
Are you in California? We’d love to hear what you, as a homeowner, contractor, or other professional, think about the new code.