"California Bolsters Green Building Codes" blared the headlines today, trumpeting the "great" news that the golden state once again was leading the nation. This time California has created the "first in the nation" green building codes. Great news right? Nobody could be upset about this right?? GUESS AGAIN...
LA Times headlines on Tuesday read "Environmental groups try to block parts of California's green building code" Huh?? The USGBC (who control the LEED rating system), along with 6 other environmental groups, sent a letter to Governor Schwarzennegger stating that the state's new code would amount to a "setback for California's leadership in green building..."
Reading between the lines it appears that the state is trying to develop a system that mandates a higher level of conservation than is currently required, but falls well short of the voluntary levels required for LEED certification. The USGBC and their colleagues on the other hand are concerned about confusion in the marketplace, where a building owner would be able to claim that their building is a "California certified" green building - without having to push all the way through the laborious (and expensive) LEED certification process.
Can't we all just get along...
LA Times headlines on Tuesday read "Environmental groups try to block parts of California's green building code" Huh?? The USGBC (who control the LEED rating system), along with 6 other environmental groups, sent a letter to Governor Schwarzennegger stating that the state's new code would amount to a "setback for California's leadership in green building..."
Reading between the lines it appears that the state is trying to develop a system that mandates a higher level of conservation than is currently required, but falls well short of the voluntary levels required for LEED certification. The USGBC and their colleagues on the other hand are concerned about confusion in the marketplace, where a building owner would be able to claim that their building is a "California certified" green building - without having to push all the way through the laborious (and expensive) LEED certification process.
Can't we all just get along...
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