Calif. makes waves with new statewide building code

The California Building Standards Commission caused a stir this week with the adoption of a new statewide code, referred to by the San Francisco Chronicle as ”the most stringent, environmentally friendly building code standards of any state in the nation.”  Under the name Calgreen, the code mandates a number of green construction practices, from reducing pollutants and waste in the construction process, to increasing energy and water efficiency in the resulting buildings.  Individual jurisdictions are welcome to keep or adopt stricter standards.

A broad coalition supports the new code, notably including the building industry and the state chamber of commerce.  There’s still some predictable opposition by those who claim the new code is too strict – those voices will quietly disappear as common-sense “green building practices” eventually become ”standard building practices.”  More interesting is the opposition from some groups who think the code is not strict enough and may even cause confusion with its new, tiered rating system.  It’ll be a year before Calgreen goes into effect – hopefully there’s time to work through some of the concerns.  California is taking a bold step in the right direction, as updating a building code presents one of the simplest, fairest avenues to generate meaningful change and promote sustainability.

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