New California building standards go eco in 2010
Green buildings, those that use less energy and water, are going
from a luxury to a requirement statewide since the California
Building Standards Commission passed a new set of green building
standards in July. The new standards are optional for now, but they
will become mandatory for all new construction in 2010.
New California building standards go eco in 2010
Green buildings, those that use less energy and water, are going from a luxury to a requirement statewide since the California Building Standards Commission passed a new set of green building standards in July. The new standards are optional for now, but they will become mandatory for all new construction in 2010.
The standards are for both commercial and residential buildings, and will be required for hospitals, public schools and low-rise residential buildings. Those include condominiums, dormitories, motels, hotels and apartment buildings.
“Once again California is leading the nation and the world in emissions reductions and finding new ways to expand our climate change efforts,” said Commission Chair Rosario Marin. “The commission should be commended for bringing everyone to the table including representatives of the construction and building trades industry, environmental groups and labor organizations, and achieving something no other state has been able to do.”
The new green building standards start with the construction materials. In the standard, developers are asked to use materials that have been produced or harvested in California within 500 miles of the project site. One of the largest uses of energy for a construction project is hauling the materials long distances with diesel trucks or trains. In addition, the standard suggests using plant materials that are rapidly renewable – that grow back within a 10-year cycle – for 2.5 percent of the materials. Other options are to use recycled materials.
While they are building, developers are encouraged to think of ways waste materials can be reused or recycled. Many counties, such as Santa Clara, have facilities where byproducts of construction can be taken. The standards require a minimum of 50 percent of non-hazardous construction and demolition debris to be recycled or salvaged.
Many of the environmentally friendly additions to the buildings will be noticeable to residents by a star logo. One way to cut energy consumption is for builders to install Energy Star appliances and equipment. These include dishwashers and clothes washers that use less water; ice makers that are air cooled; and toilets that use less water. Water can also be reduced with plumbing fixtures that lower the amount of potable water used for daily chores.
For outdoor water use, builders can install irrigation designs that reduce water use by 50 percent; set up water collection systems to gather rain or storm water; or use a graywater collection system. Graywater is water that has been used for such things as showering, doing dishes, laundry and other household chores. It is estimated that 50-80 percent of household wastewater comes from these sources that can be reused for landscaping.
Hollister’s planning staff has not looked specifically at the new guidelines, but they have considered ways to lower the carbon footprint in Hollister in the new general plan and zoning ordinances.
“The general plan has more mixed use but we haven’t to date devoted a lot of resources on LEED [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] certification, but we are kind of trying to deal with the tools we have and the work we need to get done,” said Mary Paxton, Hollister planning manager.
The green standards are on the radar of county planning staff as they focus on their general plan update.
“It’s still pretty new,” said Art Henriques, the county planning director. “It is something the Board [of Supervisors] has asked staff and a consultant to look at as part of the general plan, to have more of a sustainability.”
County staff have not seen many project proposals that utilize the green standards, though that is likely to change.
“It is increasingly becoming of interest in the community,” Henriques said, of green building projects. “But ultimately we will have to see what the state does and see what the Board supports.”
He noted that Pacific Gas and Electric staff will review project proposals and offer suggestions on making them more energy efficient. The electric company offers financial incentives for making single-family homes that meet Energy Star criteria and there is a new program for developers of multi-family homes called the California Multifamily New Homes program.
“In construction of new projects, not just private projects, you have the upfront costs, but now we are looking at long-term life cycle costs,” Henriques said.
In addition to the building standards, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Green Building Initiative directs state agencies to reduce energy use at state-owned buildings by 20 percent by 2015. It orders new state construction and major renovation projects to meet a minimum of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver certification. 13 state buildings currently have LEED certification.
“This is literally a groundbreaking move to ensure that when we break ground on all new buildings in the Golden State we are promoting green building and energy efficient new technologies,” Schwarzenegger said when the standards were released in July.
For more information on green building standards, visit www.bsc.ca.gov/prpsd_stds/default.htm.
