Why Now?
State of the Environment
The National Resources Defense Council has documented that the increase in average temperatures affecting the Western states during the last five years is 70 percent greater than the world as a whole. Local planning decisions have a powerful impact on our energy needs now and into the future, and on national energy efficiency and energy-independence goals.
The landmark California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32), combines free-market, regulatory and voluntary measures, fees and programs to aggressively target reduction in California's GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020; and to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
Public Awarness
The 2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy, a multi-sector strategy to help guide California's efforts in adapting to climate change impacts, summarizes the best known science on climate change impacts in seven specific sectors and provides recommendations on how to manage against those threats.
The Natural Resources Defense Council and the National Audubon Society have joined with Google Earth to develop the Path to Green Energy; an interactive map showing the impact of global warming on California.
Good Business Sense
Companies oriented towards sustainable building and business practices are discovering the branding and competitive advantages of being environmentally responsible, as well as the intended benefits of operations efficiency, talent attraction and retention, and economic vitality: a cost/benefit analysis that mirrors the "triple-e" bottom line – ecology, equity and economy – of good sustainable planning. Redevelopment agencies are in position to follow suit.
Regulatory Change
- A 2004 executive order, known as the Green Building Initiative, now requires all public buildings to be 20 percent more energy efficient by 2015
- The AB 32 California Climate Change Scoping Plan includes provisions for expansion and strengthening of energy-efficiency programs, building and appliance standards, and carbon dioxide-emissions offsets.
- ARB’s Climate Change Action Network links to state agencies and other groups working on climate issues which are being coordinated by the state’s Climate Action Team.
- A comprehensive set of mandatory provisions known as the 2010 California Green Building Standards Code became effective January 2011.
Voluntary Change
- In California, a growing number of local governments are mandating green building standardsfor energy efficient building construction and renovation.
- Cities and counties are increasingly adopting performance-based energy efficiency requirements that far exceed Title 24 in their ordinances, offer rebates, variances, expedited permitting and fee waivers as incentives, and enforce compliance through plan checks, the issuance of building and occupancy permits, the required posting of bonds, and legal sanctions for violations.
The Environmental Defense Fund has created an interactive mapping element on the organization's website [Mapping the Green Economy] that identifies companies across the State working in the fields of transportation, energy efficiency, energy generation and green building. The maps allow the visitor to access by type of business, provides the business location and links to business' website.
