CALGreen Training

Well folks, Christmas has now passed us by, and as 2011 approaches, so does the deadline for the CALGreen Building Code to become mandatory! As of January 1, 2011, all new construction will be required to adhere to the the newer, more stringent CALGreen Building Code, ensuring new buildings reach minimum levels of sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmental friendliness. Those of you familiar with the LEED rating system may already know, to some degree, how the new building code will affect you, as the two systems are fairly similar. The difference is that LEED is a voluntary system – CALGreen is a compulsory requirement.

The first thing you’re going to need to keep in mind is that most fixtures you’re going to be installing need to meet certain minimums as provided in the code – toilets and urinals need to have low flush rates, outdoor lighting enclosures need to be designed to prevent light trespass, and HVAC systems need to meet certain output temperatures and efficiencies. There are also voluntary measures you can take, which increase the efficiency of your building, potentially opening up the way to tax breaks or credits, if the state decides to use them as an incentive. Gone are the days of quick-and-dirty building construction — architects and contractors now need to work together to ensure a building isn’t just built to last, but that it’s built efficiently.

HVAC installers also need to take note: As of January 1st, you will now need to go through training in the specific areas of the code relating to the installation of HVAC units, as dictated by the code itself. This is not optional — you must go through this training in order to continue installing HVAC equipment.

Thankfully, CALGreenTraining.com is here to help. Not only do we provide live, in-person training courses structured to meet your needs, but we also have a fully-featured online training course designed to help you work your way through the CALGreen code in a structured, self-paced environment. Either option will both train you on the CALGreen code as well as qualify HVAC installers to continue to work, and we even offer group discount rates for live training of 10 or more people. For more information on our course and online materials, head to calgreentraining.com.

As January 1st approaches, you may be hearing more and more about “CalGreen”, and wondering what it means for you. Or perhaps you’re already pursuing LEED certification, and want to know how CalGreen will affect you. Fear not: CalGreen isn’t as scary as it sounds, and can, in fact, work synergistically with LEED and allow you to meet both requirements at the same time.

For starters, here’s the basics on what CalGreen is: CalGreen is a more stringent building code that requires, at a minimum, that new buildings and renovations in California meet certain sustainability and ecological standards. It means every new building built after January 1, 2011 will need to meet a certain baseline of effeciency and sustainability standards, raising the bar for what is allowable. This isn’t just commercial, either – this also applies to all residential building permits as well. This new building code will help us reduce our emissions to pre-1990 levels, which will not only increase our air quality, but will cut down on energy consumption, making new buildings more economical for the owners. Though it may mean a slightly increased cost in building and design, the long-term benefits of these new “green” buildings will be felt for many years to come.

CalGreen has two components – mandatory measures as well as voluntary measures. The mandatory measures are exactly what they sound like – minimum baselines that must be met in order for a building to be approved. There’s no choice in these matters… they range from water effeciency, indoor air quality, and sustainable building materials. Above and beyond these, however, you can opt to achieve the voluntary measures laid out in the code. These not only increase the efficiency of the building, but can be adopted by local jurisdictions if they decide they want to try for the more stringent tire 1 and 2 requirements.

Say you’re already pursuing a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) project which will be completed after January 1, 2011. You’re in luck – CalGreen and LEED have a good deal of overlap, and it’s possible (even likely) that your LEED project already meets the minimum requirements for CalGreen. Of course, because LEED allows you to earn points by focusing on different areas such as sustainable sites, indoor air quality, and innovation in design, it’s possible you may be defecient in one or more areas, and will need to put some time and effort into bolstering that part of your design.

Whatever the situation, CalGreen Training can help. We offer in-person and online training courses designed to familiarize you with the new building code and explain what it means in plain english. We also offer a learn-at-your-own-pace online training course, which leads you through the new code from start to finish, quizzing you on your progress along the way. Simply visit www.calgreentraining.com for more information, or give us a call at 800.267.8399 and we’d be happy to assist you.

On January 1, 2011 the nation’s most stringent green building code CalGreen will go into effect and anyone who goes to pull a building permit will have to comply with the necessary requirements. In order for the state to lower global greenhouse gas emissions it will be necessary to reduce our emissions to 1990 levels.  The other purpose of this code is to improve building concepts and reduce the impacts of conventional development practices and encourage sustainable construction practices in planning, energy efficiency, water efficiency, material conservation and resource efficiency plus improve environment.

The Cal Green building code has a lot of redundancy with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) a green building rating system created by the United States Green Building Council. Prior to CalGreen the State of California adopted a LEED silver requirement for all new state funded construction projects and many California cities, counties also required new building construction be in adhere to LEED certification requirements.  So what this all mean s is that at a minimum in the State of California you must comply with CalGreen building code and depending on what jurisdiction you are working with you may also have to comply with LEED or another green building rating system like Green Point Rated, Collaborative for High Performing Schools (CHPS).  You will need to do some research and check to see all that may apply to your building project.

The CalGreen has mandatory requirements and voluntary measures with two levels of encouraged green building specifications. The California Green Building mandatory measures are mandatory for all building permit issuing agencies to comply with and enforce. The voluntary measures can also be adopted by local jurisdictions if they decide they would like the more stringent tier 1 & tier 2 green requirements.

The Cal Green code was collaboration by several agencies including Air resource Board, integrated Waste Management, department of General Services, department of Water Resources, energy Commission, Public Health. A lot of the new code requirements are borrowed from LEED, CHPS, Build It Green, Green Globes and ASHRAE standards that already exist and are used throughout the world.

The strategy behind CalGreen was utilize a lot of existing good green building practices and not create a whole new system.  Another strategy the state used was not to have to rely on all of the third party green certification entities that may require prolonged reviews, increased cost and excessive fees.

www.CalGreenTraining.com can give students a comprehensive overview of the Mandatory plus Tier 1&2 voluntary requirements. We provide a very professional presentation, PowerPoint handouts, online tools, tracking sheets, compliance forms and much more.

Please feel free to contact us at 800.267.8399 Toll Free or visit our website.

Myth vs. Fact: Setting the Record Straight On 2010 California Green Building Standards Code

As the nation’s first statewide mandatory green-building standard code, the 2010 California Green Building Standards Code establishes mandatory regulations that will achieve major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and water. These provisions of the new CALGREEN Code will now become the baseline of regulated green construction practices in the country’s most populous state.

Here are the facts:
MYTH 1: “The 2010 Green Building Standards Code is not stringent enough to make a difference in the climate change efforts.”
FACT 1: The California Air Resources Board estimates that the mandatory provisions will reduce greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 equivalent) by 3 million metric tons in 2020. Additionally, the provisions will reduce water use by 20 percent and divert 50 percent of construction waste from
landfills.

MYTH 2: “Local jurisdictions do not have the technical expertise to verify whether builders are complying with the Green Building Code.”
FACT 2: The code will utilize the long-standing, successful enforcement infrastructure that the state has established to enforce its health, safety, fire, energy, and structural building codes making verification of the Green Code for local building inspectors a simple transition. Unlike
many private green building certification programs, the CALGREEN Code will not require businesses or property owners to pay additional fees for certification. Additionally, the CALGREEN Code requires field inspections to ensure compliance.

MYTH 3: “California’s CALGREEN label and the tier structures will create market confusion with other third party verification systems.”
FACT 3: The CALGREEN Code is a moniker to distinguish California’s many other Building Codes from the California Green Building Standards Code. The tier structure was developed by the Commission to promote market continuity. Having a mandatory code with a tier structure in
place will allow California’s builders to build to a certifiable green standard without having to pay costly fees for third-party programs.
MYTH 4: “The new code will significantly impact California cities’ own green building programs.”
FACT 4: The Code sets a sensible floor that all new structures must meet to significantly minimize the state’s overall carbon output. Each individual local jurisdiction retains the administrative authority to decide what is best for their communities while meeting the mandatory provisions in the new Green Code. They are encouraged to take additional actions to green their buildings that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency and conserve our natural resources.