A few weeks back I wrote on California's new proposed statewide Green Building Code. This code would be voluntary starting next year and will ratchet to mandatory by mid 2010 to 2011.
It's a huge deal for design and building industries, and for regional and local governments that are either green building leaders or laggards. More on that below.
The code, announced July 17 by Rosario Marin, chairwomen of the California Building Standards Commission, would require that all new state construction be 15 percent more energy efficient 20 percent more water efficient and up to 50 percent more efficient with landscaping water design.
Some quick updates:
- It's a work in progress. Basic code language has been updated as late as July 30.
- Looks like it has the strong backing of the California Building Association Industry (CBIA)
- The announcement was met with resistance at most and indifference at the very least from the US Green Building Council, the group behind the national LEED building standards.
- The code when legally enacted will retire nation-leading green Title 24 standards with stricter energy standards
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As it now stands, cities or counties must file with the California Building Standards Committee before before the new code becomes law for their
green building ordinances to become effective.
The upshot: the new state green building code has the potential to overrule stricter local green building regulations or less-stringent local exceptions, unless the regional or local government files first with the state for an exception.
Sounds like some interesting negotiations will be occurring on this...
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