The California Building Standards Commission on Thursday adopted what officials hailed as the first statewide "green" building code in the nation.
Senior state officials and California's top building industry group said the move will help California cut water use and boost energy efficiency in new homes and commercial structures built within three years.
The code, developed by the Department of Housing and Community Development, will be phased in between 2009 and 2011. It includes standards for the construction of single-family homes, health facilities and commercial buildings.
It imposes new, more stringent requirements in the areas of energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor air quality and moisture control. Average water use in new homes will be cut 20 percent by 2011.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger directed the commission to work with various players in the building and construction world to draft a new code last fall.
Robert Rivinius, president of the California Building Industry Association, said the new standards will move green building into the mainstream but keep new homes affordable.
The building industry group spent $2.5 million to lobby the Governor's Office and other state officials in 2007 and 2008, including lobbying about the green building code, state reports show.
The code makes some standards optional between now and their full implementation in 2011.
– Andrew McIntosh
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