SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California is the first state to introduce
mandatory green building standards after a new policy was
created to achieve a statewide goal of 33 percent renewable
energy use by 2020 and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,
energy consumption, and water use. The building codes, which
take effect Jan. 1, 2011, require all buildings to reduce water
consumption by 20 percent compared to conventional structures.
In addition, nonresidential buildings constructed in 2011 will
need separate water meters for indoor and outdoor use, with a
requirement for moisture-sensing irrigation systems for larger
landscape projects and mandatory inspections of energy systems
for nonresidential buildings over 10,000 square feet. Upon
passing a state building inspection, facilities can be labeled
by their owners as Calgreen compliant. Calgreen incorporates all
code provisions related to health, safety, fire, energy and
structural building requirements already in place, allowing
state and local inspectors to eas