11-10-2012, 05:06 PM
State and Local Government Green Building Ordinances in California
State and Local Government Green Building Ordinances in California.pdf (Size: 93.42 KB / Downloads: 90)
In recent years, California has taken the lead in promoting “green” building ordinances. These measures can increase energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease other harmful environmental impacts. Numerous local governments in California have implemented such measures, and in 2010, the State adopted the nation’s first statewide green building standard. This document discusses the statewide code as well as the various approaches to green building ordinances that local jurisdictions have taken.
CALGREEN Code
The statewide code, known as CALGREEN Code (available here), applies to all new buildings constructed after January 1, 2011, and requires that they be built using environmentally advanced construction practices. The Code updates Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, also known as the California Building Standards Code. In addition to setting mandatory requirements, the Code includes more stringent optional provisions permitting developers to meet heightened standards, known as Tier 1 and Tier 2. CALGREEN Code § A4.6 (residential) and §A5.6 (nonresidential) include detailed criteria for meeting these tiers. Cities at their discretion may adopt Tier 1 or Tier 2 as mandatory or adopt and enforce other standards that are more stringent than the CALGREEN Code.
Prescriptive Measures
While the independent rating systems discussed above offer flexibility for developers, some cities have chosen to prescribe specific green building measures in lieu of or in addition to required ratings. These requirements address the particular resource needs of a community, and include measures such as the installation of water-saving plumbing fixtures, solar panels, or the use of energy-saving EnergyStar appliances.
Incentives
Many ordinances that codify mandatory green building requirements also provide incentives that encourage developers to meet or exceed the required standard. These incentives can take the form of rebates or reimbursements, or preferential treatment as expedited permit review, expedited inspections, or even permit variances such as increased floor-area-ratio (FAR) or unit density