January 19, 2010

California Passes Nation’s First Mandatory Green Building Codes

Posted by Sarah Grilli under Build It Green / Green Point Rated, Building and Design, California Green Builder / Building Industry Institute, Energy, Government, Law, Legislation, and Policy, USGBC / LEED | Tags: , , , , , , , |
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Editor’s Note:  The CGBB is always pleased to have Sarah Grilli contribute, and here is her latest post:

On Tuesday January 12, 2010 California became the first state in the USA to pass a state-wide building code that requires comprehensive sustainable construction and energy reduction. Currently voluntary, the CalGreen Codes are mandatory starting January 2011.

The codes focus on all aspects of sustainable buildings (materials, energy, water, construction and other waste). An important piece of the legislation that media failed to mention, however, is the requirement for building commissioning and post occupancy systems management. This often overlooked piece is seen as a huge victory by the USGBC whose LEED version 3.0 also placed significant emphasis on systems performance elements.

Several California environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club and NRDC along with, Build-it-Green and the USGBC (the two leading CA organizations with private green rating systems) have opposed certain elements of the codes.  A key concern for some of these groups is the fear the new code will allow developers to market a development as “green” by building to code instead of the more stringent private rating systems.  Thus, the new codes may cause marketplace confusion about the definition of a “green” building.

These concerns are legitimate.  The fight to define “green,” is the subject of constant debate.  Take the term “organic” for example.  The federal “organic” label is regularly the subject of litigation and debate.  Is “green” different?

As sustainable building measures become commonplace, the building community and the public will strive to comprehend what elements make a building “green.”  People may still opt for buildings that exceed the State’s green code, but the state now provides an easier option.  As long as the codes are enforced, smaller California communities without any green elements in their building codes will benefit enormously. This is precisely the reason a national energy efficiency building code is needed.

It is possible that “green building” will follow a similar path as “organic,” and the federal government will pass a national energy efficiency building code (See our post on the subject here and a fact sheet from the EPA here). There will always be variations on quality, but at the end of the day what’s most important is that “green building” practices become the norm.

 

June 22, 2009

Green Hospitals

Posted by Sarah Grilli under Building Operations, Building and Design, Conferences / Conventions / Events, Law, Legislation, and Policy, USGBC / LEED | Tags: , , , |
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A key objective of green building is improving the health of building inhabitants.  The US EPA has reported that Americans spend 90% of their time on average indoors, making healthy indoor environments seem like an obvious choice. And building a healthy environment for healing seems like an even more obvious choice.  Centuries ago, didn’t doctor’s instruct the sick to recuperate  in the countryside partially because something about clean air and a non-toxic environment led to healing? Well, it seems that modern medicine has begun to recall this basic remedy, and the push for greening healthcare environments has finally begun to make some inroads.

In San Francisco last month a partner at our firm, Eric Phillips, spoke at the Greening Hospitals Breakfast Form event organized and sponsored by Turner Construction, HDR Architects, Mazzetti & Associates and Bell, Rosenberg & Hughes. The forum was a chance for hospital employees, contractors and design professionals in the healthcare trade to obtain an inside scoop on the newest offerings from organizations  working to facilitate green hospital construction. Green hospital construction faces specific challenges such as 24 hour energy loads, excessive amounts of chemicals and contaminated wastes, and fragile inhabitants. Healthcare facility owners, designers and contractors also have the additional  legal challenges of complying with strict regulations that ensure the safety of their buildings. In California, OSHPD is the agency overseeing all hospital construction, adding yet another hurdle to building healthcare facilities.

Other speakers at the forum included members from The Green Guide for Healthcare (GGHC)  the USGBC, and the The Global Health and Safety Initiative (GHSI). Each of the speakers  explained how their organizations products and services will assist in creating healthy and green healthcare facilities. GGHC is a voluntary self-certifying system that has been available free on-line since its inception in 2003. GGHC launched a comprehensive certifying system, version 2.2 in January 2007, and the operations section of the toolkit was recently updated in 2008. The GGHC is similar to the LEED products and is based on a point based system where each credit includes an intent, referenced standard, suggested documentation, and potential technologies and strategies. It also includes a section with input by a doctor identifying the health impact of each credit.

The GGHC and the USGBC have had an amicable relationship, and currently, they have been collaborating to create LEED for healthcare, a new LEED product specifically aimed at green health care facility design and construction.  LEED for Healthcare is undergoing a second public comment period, but will likely be released in late fall 2009. 

Lastly, a representative from the GHSI spoke about their organization which is a collaboration of groups and hospitals who’s goal is to promote healthy environments for healthcare facilities. Launched in California in October, 2007, the GHSI seeks to bring together everyone working within the healthcare sector and provide a resource for these organizations and groups. By working in collaboration they aim to transform and green the way that healthcare designs, builds and operates its facilities and products within those facilities by education, outreach and it even providing concrete assistance such as listing product choices on its website.

These organizations are optimistic that their resources will  make it an easier choice for healthcare designers and builders to build healthy facilities. And judging from the strongly positive audience response at the breakfast forum, this is just the beginning of this emerging field. Stay tuned to the California Green Building Blog for further reporting on this exciting topic.

 

May 5, 2009

New International Green Building Code

Posted by Sarah Grilli under Government, Law, Legislation, and Policy, USGBC / LEED | Tags: , , , |
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The International Code Council (“ICC”) recently announced that it is developing a model green building code for commercial buildings. The new code aims to catapult green building techniques into normal building practice. The code will provide guidance in the areas of water reduction, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, materials and resource reduction, and overall environmental impacts of the buildings.  The ICC stated in its announcement that it is creating the code while recognizing other rating systems. One can only assume it means the preeminent rating system, the USGBC’s LEED. (ICC’s world headquarters are located in a LEED certified building.) The ICC has also previously developed a residential green building code, ICC 700, which was released on 1/30/09.

The press release issued by the ICC for the new commercial code asks for comments from those working in the field during the drafting process. Comments can be sent to the following address: GreenBuildingCode@iccsafe.com. The ICC also stated that individuals can become even further involved by becoming members of the Sustainable Building Technology Committee, which they allege will play a key role in development of the code. If you are interested in joining the committee, click here.

This new ICC code will be yet another resource for governments to add to their toolbox, and hopefully it will provide even more incentive to cities and countries throughout the world to draft building codes with mandatory green building practices. Some may even decide to adopt the code in its entirety. Stay tuned: this blog will provide a summary of the code once it is released and will follow any standards that adopt all or part of its provisions.

 

April 24, 2009

Carbon Emissions – The Great Debate

Posted by Sarah Grilli under Carbon, Just Plain Cool | Tags: , , , , |
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In honor of Earth Day this week, NPR broadcasted a live debate hosted by Intelligence Squared; the motion on the floor:

“Major Reductions in Carbon Emissions are Not Worth the Money.“

If you are not familiar with Intelligence Squared, they are a fantastic organization that hosts Oxford style debates live in New York City that are broadcasted to a national audience on NPR. The Oxford format is interesting because the audience weighs in at the outset of the debate and once again after completion, and the “winner” is the side that is able to sway a higher percentage of attendees’ minds.

This heated earth day debate include heavy hitters on both sides:
For the motion: Peter Huber, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute; Bjorn Lomberg, Copenhagen Business School professor and author of The Skeptical Environmentalist; and University of London professor Phillip Stott.
Against the motion: L. Hunter Lovins, founder of The Rocky Mountain Institute and author of Natural Capitalism; Adam Werbach, the youngest ever president of the Sierra Club and San Francisco native; and British journalist Olive Tickell.

I won’t give away the winner because both sides make insightful comments so the debate is definitely worth listening to yourself.

And if you are intrigued by the topic of carbon emissions, another interesting article to read is a NYTimes article on renown scientist Freeman Dyson that has recently sparked controversy and produced a significant amount of feedback from readers.

 

April 11, 2009

Lauded: California’s Green Building Codes

Posted by Sarah Grilli under Building and Design, Law, Legislation, and Policy, USGBC / LEED | Tags: , , , |
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The Sunday New York Times columnist, Thomas L. Friedman, well-known for his books The World is Flat, and, Hot, Flat and Crowded, is a notorious proponent of green practices. In a recent article, Mother Nature’s Dow, Friedman quotes Hal Harvey, CEO of the foundation ClimateWorks , who states that there are 5 key elements that will ensure the planet is on a forward trajectory in the fight against carbon emissions. The first element Harvey lists is building codes, and he cites California’s Green Building Codes as an example.

As discussed in a previous blog article here, California’s Green Building Codes are currently voluntary, but have been praised as a positive step and an example for other states to emulate. Currently, the Building Standards Commission (“BSC”) is working on a subsequent version of the code that will be mandatory. The codes have been well-received by most Californians, however, some groups would like to see significant changes prior to enactment of the mandatory version. One of these groups is the Northern California Chapter of the US Green Building Council. As a member of the green codes committee, I have been assisting the NCC in their efforts to provide input and recommendations to the BSC during the ongoing drafting process. Currently, the green building code is a separate section of the building code, however, because green building techniques need to be implemented throughout an entire building, the NCC USGBC’s position is that the green codes should eventually be integrated into all sections of the building code.  The group also wants the code to include language that clearly states that it is only setting a floor for green building measures; local cities and towns are not restricted from enacting more stringent legislation. Additionally, to avoid any perception that mere compliance with the code will result in a green building, they suggest changing the name to the Environmental Standards Code.

Another concerned group, the NRDC, recently sponsored legislation, AB 828, that parallels some of the items the NCC USGBC is advocating. The bill also seeks to require more input of other state agencies in the drafting process, such as the Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission.

Be sure to check back with this blog to stay updated on these efforts and the final version of the regulations. And if you are highly interested in the codes, or if you have ideas to impart to the BSC, attend one of their open meetings, typically announced on the events page of the BSC website.

 

April 1, 2009

Green California Leadership Awards! Expo Report – Part II

Posted by Sarah Grilli under Awards / Competitions, Conferences / Conventions / Events, Innovators, Just Plain Cool, Water | Tags: , , |
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For many, a highlight of the Green California Expo was the announcement of the Green CA leadership awards.   The awards cut through the green rhetoric and showcase what sustainable efforts are actually being implemented throughout the state. One of the educational sessions I attended at the Expo focused on California’s water crisis and the reality of the three year drought we are currently facing. After one speaker presented the potential doomsday scenarios we may encounter, an interesting solution was discussed. A manager from the Orange County Water District described the system they have recently enacted to avert any possible tragedy from water shortages. In partnership with the Orange County Sanitation District, the OC Water District has created a wastewater purification program called the groundwater replenishment system. Check out photos and an article about the system in Time Magazine here.

The system has been up and running for about a year now and allegedly has already exceeded its economic payback projections. There is a lot of promise with this technology, especially in the water-dependent region of Southern California. However, not everyone is convinced, the speaker noted that in other districts, the system has been met with resistance. Maybe the skeptics will feel better if they think of Ghandi as they drink their recycled water – legend has it he drank his own urine because it purified his soul. Whether you support the system or not, the District has certainly gained enough respect to win this award. Be sure to take a look at the full list of winners here as there are many other worthy recipients.

 

March 30, 2009

Report from the 2009 Green California Expo – Part I

Posted by Sarah Grilli under Awards / Competitions, Conferences / Conventions / Events, Green Economy, Innovators, Law, Legislation, and Policy | Tags: , |
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If you find yourself surrounded by hybrid, hydrogen, and electric cars, row after row of solar panels, methanol fuel cells, waterless urinals, high efficiency HVAC systems, and low voc paints – you are either in a clean techie’s daydream – or at the Green California Expo sponsored by Green Technology Magazine.  I was recently at the latter. Despite the economic situation, innovators of sustainable products, legislative agencies, and environmental advocacy groups proudly showcased the underpinnings of a green revolution. The attendees buzzed with energy as they soaked up inspiration from the morning keynote speakers, wandered among the exhibitors, and attended classroom break-out sessions.   

One interesting educational session was led by Noel Perry, founder of Next10, a nonprofit group that has been funding some of the leading studies on the correlation between environmental policies, employment rates, and total sector economic growth in California. (See the reports page of this blog for a full analysis of one of Next10’s studies). The panel speakers discussed the state’s key piece of environmental legislation, AB32, a bill signed into law in 2006 which mandates a reduction in the state’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 (about 30%). The bill authorizes the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to create a detailed action plan, or scoping plan, which was completed last December. This legislation makes California the first state in the nation to enforce a comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction plan that reaches across all sectors of the economy. The full text of the 140 page scoping plan can be found here.  The presenters assured the attendees that California maintains every intention of moving forward and achieving the items set forth in the scoping plan, regardless of the economic climate. The panel believed, relying on CARB’s own studies as well as those by Next10, that implementation of these measures will assist in stimulating economic growth throughout the state of California. And this exact ideology was the backbone for the mood I walked away with that permeated throughout the Expo: optimism with a touch of urgency – urgency that sustainability must be a part of the dialogue of rebuilding not only California, but our nation.

… Stay tuned for Part II - a summary of the Green California Leadership awards announced at the Expo!

 

January 23, 2009

San Francisco’s Green Building Codes: The New Requirements Under Chapter 13C

Posted by Sarah Grilli under Build It Green / Green Point Rated, Building and Design, Law, Legislation, and Policy, USGBC / LEED | Tags: , , , |
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San Francisco has emerged as a leader in the Bay Area by enacting a comprehensive set of green building standards that include aggressive mandates. On November 3, 2008, a new chapter of San Francisco’s Building Code, Green Building Ordinance, Chapter 13C went into effect. The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection also released an administrative bulletin, AB-093 on September 24, 2008 to accompany the code and provide a comprehensive guide to the new requirements.

The new chapter of the building code includes sustainability requirements for new construction and substantial remodel work in both the residential and commercial context. The regulations incorporate elements of the USGBC’s LEED rating system as well as the GreenPoint rating system for residential construction and make several of these voluntary systems mandatory practice. San Francisco’s new codes  promote energy reduction and sustainable practices but also focus on stringent requirements in two particular areas: water efficiency and waste reduction. Recognizing a key environmental challenge the city faces is scarcity of water, the chapter focuses on water reduction and efficient use by requiring certain buildings to meet standards and develop ways to maintain site imperviousness, prevent post-development peak discharge rates,  protect existing on-site stream channels, capture rainwater, recycle gray water, and choose to plant specific vegetation that reduces run-off.  Another major element the city chose to focus on is reducing the amount of waste that is generated during the actual construction process by mandating strict on-site separation of materials for recycling and composting. For a complete detailed summary of the specific requirements of Chapter 13C check out the full article here:

SF Green Building Code Analysis

San Francisco has taken a strong stand by enacting this new chapter into their building code and cities and towns on the verge of creating their own green building ordinances will most likely look at Chapter 13C as an innovative and aggressive benchmark.

 

November 19, 2008

The Time for Green

Posted by Sarah Grilli under Energy, Green Economy, Law, Legislation, and Policy | Tags: , |
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Throughout the last generation we have all frequently heard advocates make the case for reduction of our country’s greenhouse gas emission levels and propose a shift in our energy policy away from oil and towards renewable energy. Most recently, on the campaign trail, Obama pledged to invest $150 billion over the next 10 years in sustainable energy. He asserts that an 80% reduction of our country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 is achievable and avers that investment in the following three areas will be imperative: creation of hybrid and alternative fuel automobiles, increased production of renewable energies, and implementation of a country wide cap-and-trade program. The plan incorporates sustainable building measures such as requiring all new buildings to be carbon neutral by 2030, retrofitting the government’s old buildings, constructing new federal buildings that are energy efficient and winterizing homes for low-income families. You can find the full text of the Obama energy plan on his campaign website, http://www.barackobama.com/. John McCain also supported a cap-and-trade system and US emissions reductions. His plan is laid out on his campaign site, http://www.johnmccain.com/. Al Gore’s plan is similar to the Obama plan and acknowledges that buildings contribute to 40% of the US’ emissions. Gore, however, does not believe in funding for “clean coal” technology as Obama does. The Gore plan can be found on-line at http://www.wecansolveit.org/, and http://www.algore.com/, also see his Op-Ed column in last week’s Sunday NY Times.

After the outcome of the election on November 4th, news media throughout the country published articles projecting that an Obama presidency will consummate what proponents argue is a dire need for the US adoption of green policies. Wherever you look the cry for green change is in the air. Many environmental groups and organizations have grasped the moment to provide our nations leaders with advice on how to seize this potential:

The Center for Progressive Reform: http://www.progressivereform.org/penstroke.cfm

National Resources Defense Counsel: http://www.nrdc.org/media/2008/081104.asp

Environmental Defense: http://www.edf.org/article.cfm?contentID=8761

Union of Concerned Scientists: http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/obama-administration-new-0156.html

Republicans for Environmental Protection: http://www.rep.org/opinions/speeches/89.html

Even SF Mayor Gavin Newsome weighed in: http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/11/4/211442/450?source=weekly

Additionally, many of these same organizations and politicians highlight a key point that investment in these areas will not only create a cleaner country for future generations, but will have the added benefit of stimulating the economy and providing Americans with jobs that cannot be outsourced in an increasingly global economy.

Reading these plans and articles, however, is like wading through a sea of idealism, so many magnificent ideas and lofty goals, but little guarantee that any of them will come to fruition. So, despite the exciting potential and our new President’s promises, our optimism remains guarded, with a touch skepticism creeping in with the current economic downturn and the steep road that lies ahead in actualizing these goals. The moment is not only hopeful, but pivotal. The message of emissions reduction and energy conservation is prolific on the nation’s airwaves, and paramount in the public’s mind. The leaders have lauded green jobs as a solution, at a time where many of us need a solution more than ever. We are at a critical point in our nation’s history, a point where potential is abound, where green policy intersects with mainstream American values and the creation of jobs. Now, not only are the green community’s eyes on the government, but the eyes of the nation as a whole. We stand together and wait for what will come, and hope that some day in the not to distant future we will finally be able to say, the time for green has truly arrived.

We will be sure to keep you updated on the sustainable decisions that the nation’s new leadership makes, but in the meantime, please tell us what you think about the measures set out in the plans and articles above. What do you think will actually be realized?

 

November 7, 2008

California’s Green Building Standards Code

Posted by Sarah Grilli under Building and Design, Law, Legislation, and Policy | Tags: , , , |
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On July 17, 2008 California became the first state in the nation to adopt a set of “green” building codes.  http://www.bsc.ca.gov/prpsd_stds/default.htm. The code was drafted by the California Building Standards Commission as a result of governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s directive to the Commission on October 14, 2007 vetoing AB1058. The governor opined that it was “imperative to expedite the greening of California’s building standards” and stated that green standards should be incorporated into the 2010 building code. After extensive meetings between policymakers, industry insiders and environmentalists, the current set of standards were agreed upon and will first be introduced as voluntary in the upcoming January 2009 version of Title 24, the California Building Code. The Commission claims a voluntary introduction will make the transition easier on builders as they can gradually incorporate the measures into their practice over the next couple of years before they actually become mandatory and because they will not effect projects currently under construction. The state agencies adopting sections of the voluntary code include the Building Standards Commission (BSC), California Department of Housing and Community Development (HDC), Division of the State Architect (DSA), and the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD). If a project is under the jurisdiction of one of the above mentioned agencies, a builder must determine what sections of the codes the agency has adopted by using the checklist supplied in chapter 11 of the code.

The code’s self-proclaimed purpose is to “improve public health, safety and general welfare by enhancing the design and construction of buildings through the use of building concepts having a positive environmental impact and encouraging sustainable construction practices.” Sustainability measures in the following five categories are discussed in detail: planning and design, energy efficiency, water efficiency and conservation, material conservation and resource efficiency, and environmental air quality. According to the code, a green building should achieve more than a 15% reduction in energy usage from the state’s already mandatory energy efficiency standards. Some of the energy reducing techniques the code specifically mentions include the installation of Energy Star appliances, HVAC systems that include demand response software, use of landscaping for thermal loss protection and maximum shading, installation of sufficiently sealed building joints and openings, orienting buildings to provide maximum exterior shade for south facing windows, and proper training of building maintenance staff. Also included is the incorporation of on-site renewable energy such as the use of solar, wind, or geothermal sources to power the building’s energy needs. Water efficiency and conservation measures mentioned include installation of plumbing that meets a 20% reduced flow rate, as well as installation of graywater irrigation or rainwater collection system. Further measures include the use of recycled, bio-based and regional materials, certified wood products and materials with a long service and reduced maintenance life. Lastly, to build a structure with positive environmental air quality, the code suggests the use of low VOC paints, sealants and adhesives, along with the use of proper ventilation.

Although the code is currently voluntary, the Commission chair stated that she hopes builders, cities, and towns will act on their own to exceed these measures. If California is to meet the stringent emission reduction standard set out under AB32, the Global Warming Solutions Act (a 30% reduction by 2020) changes in the building code are essential. Studies have shown that buildings are responsible for 30%-40% of the emissions produced in the US, and they consume up to 70% of electricity generated. Accordingly, some environmental groups see the voluntary codes as a weak solution to this pressing issue. See the Sierra Club comments at http://sierraclubca.blogspot.com/2008/05/weak-green-building-rules-make-bad.html. Many cities throughout California, including San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego and Los Angeles, however, have already acted to incorporate green building measures into their respective building codes. For example, starting in 2009 San Francisco will require all new small scale residential construction to achieve a total of 25 points under the GreenPoint rating system, and by 2010 it will require all high rise residential projects and commercial buildings over 75 feet in height to achieve LEED silver certification.  The question remains weather builders in other California cities and towns will utilize the voluntary standards before they are required. Some builders are already taking the code seriously and suggest industry insiders need to get up to speed on the new codes as soon as possible, and most industry groups such as the AIA and the US Green Building Counsel applaud California’s forward looking initiative.

Link to USGBC Counsel Comments: http://www.acppubs.com/article/CA6579525.html?q=California+Voluntary+Green+building+codes;

Link to AIA: http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek08/0725/0725n_code.cfm.

The California Green Building Blog will follow the contractors and towns that choose to implement and require additional green building standards, and any further changes to the building codes to incorporate green measures, so please check back with us frequently in order to stay on top of this exciting emerging issue!

 

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