California Building Standards Commission Announces Nation's First Green Building Standards Code Effective August 1, 2009.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Furthering California's commitment to lead the nation in environmental protection initiatives, the California Building Standards Commission announced that the nation's first Green Building Standards Code became effective August 1, 2009.

"California continues to lead the way in its efforts to reduce the impact buildings have on our environment. This new code encourages the use of renewable, recyclable, and recycled material in the building process, requiring all California buildings to be constructed with the environment in mind," said Dave Walls, Executive Director of the Commission. "While the new code is voluntary, it is the first step toward meeting the Governor's 2010 objective."

The code, the culmination of a two-year effort by the administration, encourages the reduction of a building's potable water use by 20 percent and a reduction beyond California's Energy Code, which is already one of the most stringent codes for energy efficiency in the nation. Additionally, the new code establishes methods for significant improvements in water usage for plumbing fixtures, has measures for specific household and landscape water conservation reductions, and establishes a two tiered 15 or 30 percent energy savings above current levels for all buildings through a combination of more efficient appliances and windows, better insulation, and other performance enhancing measures. This code also identifies improvements to air quality, resource conservation, and suggests various site improvements such as parking for hybrid vehicles and better storm water plans.

While expediting the greening of California's building standards in 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger directed the commission to work with other state agencies to develop mandatory green building standards applicable to all occupancies in the state as part of the 2010 California Building Standards Code. The code has been designed to pave the way for further advances in the development of cutting-edge green building standards in an effort to meet the challenges of global warming identified by the governor as a critical issue. The Governor applauded the commission for adopting the first-in-the nation code on July 17, 2008.

The California Building Standards Commission along with the International Code Council (ICC), the California Building Officials (CALBO), and state agencies such as the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) plan to participate in various public-private partnerships for future green building training and educational outreach efforts throughout the state.

August 1 also marks the effective date of new amendments to some of California's other building codes:

* The Office of the State Fire Marshal (SFM) made revisions to the 2007 California Building Code and 2007 California Fire Code for the annual supplements. In its amendments, the SFM has taken extraordinary measures to ensure that this supplement represents the best in fire and life safety considerations.

* Access for persons with disabilities remains a high priority in California, and the building codes will now include several revisions intended to parallel the current federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements for accessible design. These amendments enhance the public health and safety standards for homes, public schools, public accommodations, and hospitals as well as other occupancies throughout the state.

* The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), a significant partner in the development of the California Green Building Code, is striving for uniform green construction practices. HCD's 2007 code supplement includes many of the same measures and in addition, specifies a mandatory effective date.

* The approval of cross-linked polyethylene flexible plastic pipe, commonly known as PEX will now provide a safe, durable and economic option to plumbing standards. The statewide adoption of PEX follows the certification of an environmental impact report (EIR) that carefully reviewed the PEX material to ensure the health and safety of its implementation for long term use.

The International Code Council (ICC), publisher of multiple international model codes, publishes the California Green Building Standards Code. For information on the California Green Building Standards Code or how to obtain a copy of the California Building Standards Code please visit the commission website at www.bsc.ca.gov or contact the commission at [phone].