Top green-building states: California lags behind others

California may have plenty of eco-friendly construction, but according to the U.S. Green Building Council, it’s not among the top 10 states with so-called green commercial and institutional structures.

The council developed the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification program -- better known as LEED. The District of Columbia has more than 25 square feet of LEED-certified space per capita.

Nevada is next up, with nearly 11 square feet per person. Other states on the list include New Mexico, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington, Illinois, Arkansas, Colorado and Minnesota.

California has plenty of buildings that fit the bill. The Caltrans building in downtown Los Angeles is certified LEED silver, with energy-saving features such as a sheet of photovoltaic cells.

More than 40,000 projects currently participate in the commercial and institutional LEED ratings, making up more than 7.9 billion square feet. The Green Building Council also runs a residential LEED program, with nearly 10,000 homes certified.

Buildings in the U.S. are responsible for 39% of the country’s carbon dioxide emissions and for consuming 40% of the energy and 13% of the water used.

Earlier this month, a $100-million class-action lawsuit against the council was scaled down to just four plaintiffs, all working in design and construction. The complaint alleges that most LEED buildings aren’t as energy efficient as they’re made out to be and that the council often fails to verify structures’ supposed green benefits.

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First in the nation: California adopts mandatory green building code

-- Tiffany Hsu

Photo: The Caltrans headquarters in downtown L.A. has motion-activated ceiling lights. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[energlo24]

Just because we have all these new high efficient products and materials for California's home and buiildings, it doesn't mean that we are saving or cutting back on anything. I walked into work buildings, during a hot summer day where they may have 40+ employess in a 10,000 sq ft, running upto (4) 5 ton HVAC units, with the back dock doors wide open all day, or been in a newly constructed 5,000 sq ft home with only 2 persons occupying the residence and wasting the efficiency and cooling, not let alone, these offices and residences have lighting systems that burn all day and night, with no one occupying the space, or water running consistently for no reason. So the point is, not only do we have to up our standards of living, building and knowing how to use and understand the equipment and efficiencies that are being set into place as standard minimums for compliance, but as well, the people must be taught that if you leave it on carelessly, use it excessivley or don't properly maintain these areas, we will still be in the same situation, wasting valuable energy at everyone's cost.

Then there is what is known as a Title 24 energy compliance which is a report or document that accompanies your building plans and is submitted to a local building department for plan check and inspection to your projects existing or new structures deisgn and energy consumption. This is a mandatory state requirement by California Building Standards and must be submitted before any work can be started. This process can be tedious and daunting to somebody who has never heard of the term Title 24, and if done improperly, it can cost the homeowner thousands in equipment and building expenses, which may all be unnecessary. It really depends on the minimum requirents , the climate zone of the residence and any building ordinances your county may have implemented into meeting or exceeding energy compliance. There are so many variables and factors to familiarize yourself with, that going Green can seem more costly than a overall savings to you.

[Henry]

Here are some energy-saving tips for your home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUNISl0mr5g

[Greensulate]

Installing a green roof is a great way to add LEED points to an existing building as well as cut down on energy usage. A green roof can add up to 14 LEED points to a building. For more information and some pictures, see www.greensulate.com.