On July 17, 2008, California became the first U.S. state to adopt a set of statewide green building codes. The California Green Building Standards Code is aimed toward improving energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and reducing water consumption. The new code is open for public comment until early 2009 and will be mandatory as of 2010.
The provisions of the code apply to the construction of single-family homes, schools, health facilities, and commercial buildings in both the private and public sectors. Under the new rules, all new buildings in California will have to:
- Use 50 percent less water for landscaping
- Use 20 percent less water for indoor water purposes
- Use 15 percent less energy
- Recycle or salvage at least 50 percent of construction waste
- Use low-VOC paints, sealants, and carpets
By following these criteria, a new building would be eligible for a silver rating under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system.
California has empirically been a leader in advancing environmental initiatives, both in the United States and on an international scale. The adoption of this new code has reinforced California’s role at the forefront of environmental policy, paving the way for other states to take up green building standards of their own. According to the president, CEO, and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council, Rick Fedrizzi, "Buildings are our first, best opportunity to reduce energy use and CO2 emissions, and greening them must be a critical component of any policy approach that aims to fight climate change."
Following the adoption of the code, Governor Schwarzenegger also released the Green Building Initiative (Executive Order S-20-04), which heightened standards for state-owned properties. This order mandates that the state’s new construction and major renovation projects must meet LEED Silver certification and that existing state-owned buildings must reduce their energy use by 20 percent before 2015.
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