In the ongoing fight against climate change, reducing carbon emissions across all sectors is paramount.
California’s building industry, notorious for its substantial carbon footprint, has made a significant advancement with the introduction of new embodied carbon reduction regulations under CALGreen, effective July 1st, 2024.
This blog post demystifies these groundbreaking regulations and delves into their profound implications for the construction industry, emphasizing the shift towards sustainable building practices.
By understanding and adhering to these regulations, builders and developers can contribute to a greener future, aligning with California's ambitious environmental goals and setting a new benchmark for sustainable construction nationwide.
What is CALGreen?
CALGreen is California's pioneering green building code, established to improve public health, safety, and general welfare through enhanced building design and construction standards. Since its inception, CALGreen has set the benchmark for sustainable building practices across the nation.
Overview of the New Regulations (Effective July 1)
The latest CALGreen regulations mandate stringent embodied carbon reduction targets for new construction projects. These regulations require builders and developers to assess and minimize the embodied carbon in their projects, promoting the use of low-carbon materials and sustainable construction practices.
The new regulations will necessitate significant changes in how buildings are designed and constructed. While this presents challenges, such as the need for new assessment tools and processes, it also opens opportunities for innovation in sustainable materials and construction methods.
What is Embodied Carbon?
Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions arising from the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials. Unlike operational carbon, which is emitted during the building's use phase, embodied carbon is locked into the building before it is even occupied. The new regulations mandate a 10% reduction in embodied carbon for newly constructed and modified residential and non-residential structures.
Steps to Comply with CALGreen Regulations
Builders and developers must conduct life cycle assessments (LCA) of materials, use lower embodied carbon materials, and follow guidelines for documentation and reporting.
Key steps include:
- Assess Embodied Carbon: Use solutions like cove.tool to evaluate the embodied carbon in building materials.
- Select Low-Carbon Materials: Prioritize materials with lower embodied carbon footprints.
- Optimize Design: Implement design strategies that enhance material efficiency.
- Document and Report: Adhere to CALGreen's documentation and reporting guidelines to ensure compliance.
cove.tool simplifies the compliance process by offering a comprehensive CALGreen compliance checklist and guidelines to ensure your projects meet all necessary standards efficiently and effectively.
CALGreen Q&A
What are the key objectives of CALGreen?
Improving public health, safety, and welfare through sustainable building practices.
What types of buildings are affected?
All newly constructed residential and non-residential structures, as well as additions and alterations to existing buildings.
How can builders comply with these regulations?
By conducting LCAs, using lower embodied carbon materials, and adhering to documentation guidelines.
What are the CALGreen Compliance Modeling Services that cove.tool offers?
Building and Project Information Gathering: Collaborating with your project manager, architect, and other key contacts to ensure accurate information and smooth communication.
Project Overview: Defining project goals, important dates, and benchmarks.
Comprehensive Support: Assisting with site plans, landscaping plans, floor plans, roof plans, elevations, sections, and window/door details.
HVAC and Systems Specifications: Supporting HVAC system specifications, lighting systems, water heating systems, irrigation systems, renewable energy systems, and electrical load calculations.
Energy Consumption Modeling: Setting up, modeling, and simulating energy consumption using Cove.tool to ensure compliance with CALGreen standards.
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Analysis: Calculating and analyzing GHG emissions for the production stage (A1-A3), construction stage (A4), use stage (B4-B6), and end-of-life stage (C2-C4), providing comprehensive reports and recommendations.
Documentation and Reporting: Preparing and submitting all necessary compliance forms and GHG inventories, ensuring all documentation is signed and certified.
Recommendation Reports: Providing detailed reports and documentation, ensuring a clear understanding of compliance requirements and opportunities for improvement.
What are the Residential Codes for CALGreen Compliance?
These sections are key for ensuring CALGreen compliance for residential mandatory measures as per the California Green Building Standards Code.
Enhanced Durability and Reduced Maintenance
Section 4.406.1: Rodent Proofing
Section 4.408.1: Construction Waste Management
Section 4.408.2: Construction Waste Management Plan
Section 4.408.3: Waste Management Company
Section 4.408.4: Waste Stream Reduction Alternative
Building Maintenance and Operation
Section 4.410.1: Operation and Maintenance Manual
Section 4.410.2: Recycling by Occupants
Material Conservation and Resource Efficiency
Section 4.303.1: Water Conserving Plumbing Fixtures and Fittings
Section 4.303.2: Submeters for Multifamily Buildings
Section 4.303.3: Standards for Plumbing Fixtures and Fittings
Section 4.304.1: Outdoor Potable Water Use in Landscape Areas
Environmental Quality
Section 4.504.1: Covering of Duct Openings and Protection of Mechanical Equipment During Construction
Section 4.504.2.1: Adhesives, Sealants, and Caulks
Section 4.504.2.2: Paints and Coatings
Section 4.504.2.3: Aerosol Paints and Coatings
Section 4.504.3.1: Carpet Cushion
Section 4.504.3.2: Carpet Adhesive
Section 4.504.4: Resilient Flooring Systems
Section 4.504.5: Composite Wood Products
Section 4.505.1: General Interior Moisture Control
Section 4.505.2: Concrete Slab Foundations
Section 4.505.3: Moisture Content of Building Materials
Section 4.506.1: Bathroom Exhaust Fans
Section 4.507.2: Heating and Air-Conditioning System Design
What are the Non-Residential codes for CALGreen Compliance?
These sections are key for ensuring CALGreen compliance for non-residential mandatory measures as per the California Green Building Standards Code.
Section 5.409 Life Cycle Assessment
5.409.1 Scope: Effective July 1, 2024, projects with a combined floor area of 100,000 square feet or greater must comply with either Section 5.409.2 (Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA)) or Section 5.409.3 (Product GWP Compliance – Prescriptive Path).
Chapter 5 Nonresidential Mandatory Measures
Section 5.105 Site Development
5.106.5.3 Electric vehicle (EV) charging
5.106.5.3.1 EV capable spaces
5.106.5.3.2 Electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS)
Section 5.105.2 Reuse of existing building
Additional Questions and Answers About CALGreen
What are the requirements for construction waste management?
CALGreen mandates that a minimum of 65% of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste must be recycled or salvaged for reuse. Builders must develop a construction waste management plan, identify the types of materials to be diverted, and specify whether materials will be sorted on-site or bulk mixed.
How does CALGreen address indoor water use?
CALGreen requires the use of water-conserving plumbing fixtures and fittings. For example, per CALGreen, the effective flush volume of water closets must not exceed 1.28 gallons per flush, and showerheads must have a maximum flow rate of 1.8 gallons per minute at 80 psi.
What measures are in place for material conservation and resource efficiency?
Builders must use certified wood products, recycled content materials, and other sustainable materials. They must also follow guidelines for reducing waste and improving resource efficiency, such as meeting formaldehyde emission limits for composite wood products and adhering to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) limits for adhesives and sealants.
How does CALGreen support the use of electric vehicles (EVs)?
The regulations include requirements for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in new construction projects, such as installing raceways to accommodate EV charging stations and ensuring that a certain percentage of parking spaces are EV-capable.
What is involved in the life cycle assessment (LCA) process?
LCA involves evaluating the environmental impacts of a building over its entire life cycle, from material extraction through construction, use, and end-of-life disposal. CALGreen requires that newly constructed buildings of 100,000 square feet or larger conduct a whole building life cycle assessment to achieve a minimum 10% reduction in global warming potential compared to a baseline building.
Necessary Standards for Complying with CALGreen
To ensure comprehensive compliance with CALGreen, builders and developers must adhere to several standards and guidelines:
- ISO 14040 and ISO 14044: Principles and framework for life cycle assessment (LCA).
- ISO 21930: Guidance on the sustainability of construction works and the environmental declaration of building products.
- LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): Encourages buildings to achieve higher levels of sustainability.
- ASHRAE Standards: Including ASHRAE 90.1 for energy efficiency and ASHRAE 62.1 for indoor air quality.
- EPA WaterSense: Plumbing fixtures must comply with the performance criteria set by the U.S. EPA WaterSense program.
- EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations): Standardized information on the environmental impact of products, aiding in material selection and LCA.
- Construction Waste Management: A minimum of 65% of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste must be recycled or salvaged for reuse, with a detailed waste management plan.
- Water Conservation Measures: Adoption of water-conserving fixtures and efficient irrigation systems to minimize water usage.
- Indoor Environmental Quality: Ensuring good indoor air quality through proper ventilation, low-emitting materials, and moisture control.
- Material Resource Efficiency: Use of sustainable materials, including recycled content, certified wood, and low-emission products.
How cove.tool Can Help Comply with CALGreen
Our company offers a suite of services to help you navigate and comply with CALGreen regulations efficiently:
- Compliance Consulting: Expert advice on meeting CALGreen requirements, including life cycle assessments, material selection, and waste management.
- Assessment Tools: Utilization of advanced tools like cove.tool to evaluate embodied carbon and energy consumption, ensuring compliance with CALGreen standards.
- Training and Support: Training sessions for your staff on CALGreen compliance, covering key aspects like LCA, documentation, and reporting.
- Documentation and Reporting: Handling all necessary documentation and reporting to ensure your project meets all CALGreen requirements.
- Innovation and Optimization: Identifying opportunities for innovation in sustainable materials and construction methods, optimizing your project for both compliance and sustainability.
By leveraging our expertise and comprehensive services, you can confidently achieve CALGreen compliance, contributing to a more sustainable built environment.
CALGreen’s embodied carbon reduction regulations represent a significant milestone for the building industry, emphasizing the critical need for sustainable practices to combat climate change.
Effective from July 1st, 2024, these regulations require builders and developers to adopt low-carbon materials and innovative construction methods, reshaping the landscape of sustainable architecture. Compliance with these regulations is not just about meeting legal requirements but also about leading the way towards a greener future.
Utilizing advanced tools and services like those offered by cove.tool can streamline the compliance process, making it easier for industry professionals to align with California's ambitious environmental goals.
Embracing CALGreen’s standards will not only reduce the carbon footprint of new constructions but also set a precedent for sustainable building practices across the nation, ultimately contributing to a healthier planet for future generations.
