27
Jun
CalGreen and Remodels
CalGreen and Remodels There is some misinformation regarding CalGreen and remodels, or renovations, floating around the internet. CalGreen code compliance is required for any residential remodel that “increases the building’s conditioned area, volume or size”. This is noted in the 2019 Green Building Standards Code, Chapter 3, Green Building, section 301.1.1. For non-residential additions and alterations,... Read More
26
Jun
CalGreen – Frequently Asked Questions
CalGreen – Frequently Asked Questions What is CalGreen? CalGreen is an abbreviated reference to the California Green Building Standards Code. The code was first adopted in 2009 and is updated every three years. The code sets minimum requirements for sustainable practices for residential and commercial construction projects throughout the state. What portions of construction are... Read More
26
Jun
2019 Sonoma County CalGreen Checklists
2019 Sonoma County CalGreen Checklists The Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Division (PRMD) has updated their CalGreen Checklists for the 2019 Green Building Standards Code requirements. The new checklists are (click on title below to download): BPC-065 CalGreen Checklist Residential New Construction BPC-066 CalGreen Checklist Residential Additions and Alterations BPC-068 CalGreen Checklist Non-Residential New... Read More
17
Jun
CalGreen Mandatory Measures
CalGreen Mandatory Measures CalGreen Mandatory Measures are a requirement of the California Green Building Standards Code. These mandatory measures are required on all new homes and residences. Furthermore, they also apply to additions and alterations which increase the building’s conditioned area, interior volume, or size. The type of buildings required to comply with the CalGreen... Read More
15
May
CalGreen and DSA
CalGreen and DSA DSA has updated their requirements for CalGreen as of January 28, 2020. DSA has published their own version of the CalGreen Checklist. This document is called “GL-4 Project Submittal Guideline: CalGreen Code.” The Guideline includes both Mandatory and Voluntary Measures. The GL-4 document notes the specific requirements for school projects. It also... Read More
12
May
Tuolumne County CalGreen
Tuolumne County CalGreen Tuolumne County CalGreen requirements have changed as of January 1, 2020. New residential projects require a 2019 Housing and Community Development (HCD) Calgreen checklist to be submitted along with your permit plans. This is not good news for your project. This extensive twelve page checklist is full of requirements that do not... Read More
06
May
CalGreen for Your New Home
CalGreen for Your New Home CalGreen for your new home consists of two parts. This first part is filling out the correct CalGreen Checklist for your jurisdiction. The second part is ensuring your architectural, electrical, plumbing and site plans include all of the CalGreen requirements. Filling out the checklist wrong can add costs and delays... Read More
16
Apr
Fremont CalGreen
Fremont CalGreen The City of Fremont CalGreen requirements are straightforward. Tier 1 compliance is not required for either residential or commercial projects. However, they do require that an ICC certified CalGreen Special Inspector be involved in the project. The CalGreen Inspector must review the permit documents and verify that all of the mandatory checklist requirements... Read More
13
Apr
CalGreen Checklist
CalGreen Checklist CalGreen Checklist is a form that is required to be submitted with your building permit application. The purpose of the checklist is to document which California Green Buildings Standard Code items your project will comply with. In addition, the CalGreen Checklist is intended to ensure that your project’s design team has actually incorporated these... Read More
06
Apr
CalGreen Commissioning and the 2019 California Building Code
CalGreen Commissioning and the 2019 California Building Code The 2019 California Green Building Standards Code requires commissioning on all projects over 10,000 square feet. In addition, the 2019 California Energy Code has two separate commissioning requirements. One is for buildings under 10,000 square feet and one for over 10,000 square feet. To be clear, buildings... Read More
31
Mar
Santa Rosa CalGreen Commissioning
Santa Rosa CalGreen Commissioning As of January 1, 2020, the city of Santa Rosa will require some level of CalGreen commissioning on every project. This includes buildings that are less than 10,000 square feet. This requirement is part of the 2019 California Energy Code changes and it is independent of the existing CalGreen Commissioning requirements... Read More
08
Mar
Architects – 6 Reasons You Should Hire a CalGreen Specialist
Architects – 6 Reasons You Should Hire a CalGreen Specialist If your an architect, our 6 reasons why you should hire a CalGreen specialist should, at least, be informative. At best, you may want to adopt us and leave us all your worldly possessions. Or maybe you’ll just call us to pick our brains, and... Read More
02
Mar
CalGreen for Sacramento County
CalGreen for Sacramento County The Sacramento County CalGreen permit process is confusing due to the complete lack of online information. The county website provides no guidance on the process or what if any amendments they have made to the code. The only clue is to follow the “Upcodes” link to the county municipal code. Once... Read More
29
Feb
Napa County CalGreen
Napa County CalGreen Requirements The Napa County CalGreen requirements are straightforward when compared to other North Bay building departments. Tier 1 compliance is not required for either residential or commercial projects. However, they do require that an ICC certified CalGreen Special Inspector be involved in the project. The CalGreen Inspector must review the permit documents... Read More
30
Jan
CalGreen Problems
CalGreen Problems CalGreen problems plague almost every new construction project in California. Resolving these problems has become a large part of our business. The reason for the problems falls into two main categories. The first is the code itself. Both the format and the content of the code are very different from the other California... Read More
26
Jan
CalGreen Commissioning
CalGreen Commissioning CalGreen commissioning is required on all new commercial buildings over 10,000 square feet. Building Commissioning is the professional practice that ensures buildings are delivered according to the owner’s project requirements and in accordance with the design documents. Buildings that are properly commissioned typically have fewer change orders, tend to be more energy efficient,... Read More
22
Jan
Sacramento CalGreen Checklists
Sacramento CalGreen Checklists The City of Sacramento building department has updated their Sacramento CalGreen checklists for the 2019 Green Building Standards code. The new checklists include the 2019 code changes. Unfortunately, the checklists do not identify those items that have been added or changed. For a complete list of all of the 2019 CalGreen Code... Read More
22
Jan
CalGreen for ADU’s
CalGreen for ADU’s CalGreen for ADU’s is required for building permit applications throughout the state. We are receiving many questions on this subject and will try to address them in this article. Accessory Dwelling Units have exploded throughout California. The State of California recently enacted new laws relating to the construction of these small homes.... Read More
20
Jan
Santa Rosa CalGreen – the 2019 Checklists
Santa Rosa CalGreen – the 2019 Checklists The City of Santa Rosa building department is the first jurisdiction in the state to update their checklists for the 2019 Green Building Standards code. The new checklists include the 2019 code changes and Tier 1 requirements. Unfortunately, the checklists do not identify those items that have been added... Read More
04
Jan
CalGreen and VOC’s – A Lawsuit Waiting to Happen
CalGreen and VOC’s – A Lawsuit Waiting to Happen CalGreen and VOC’s are a lawsuit waiting to happen. The codes are in place, the ability to accurately measure is available, and the potential health-related issues are well documented. The CalGreen Code, under the heading of Pollutant Control, defines the legal limits for volatile organic compounds. These... Read More