26
Mar
Architects Contracting for CalGreen Commissioning
Architects Contracting for CalGreen Commissioning …what you don’t know is costing you money. Architects contracting for CalGreen commissioning services in California are paying far more than is necessary. Over the past forty years, I have been involved in the commissioning of hundreds of projects. I have seen the commissioning industry grow from a few concerned... Read More
16
Nov
Calgreen EV Charging for Multifamily Buildings
CalGreen EV Charging for Multifamily Buildings Until recently, CalGreen EV charging for multifamily buildings has been extremely costly and complex. At the heart of the problem is the CalGreen Code’s requirement for forty percent of the parking spaces to be “EV Ready”! Those who are familiar with the 2022 code may be thinking that this is... Read More
31
Oct
CalGreen for Cupertino
CalGreen for Cupertino Since 2013 the Cupertino Building Department has been a leader in the CalGreen permitting process. It was in this year that they created their first CalGreen Checklist. The building department created a user-friendly CalGreen Checklist to encourage architects and designers to integrate these sustainable requirements into their projects. Cupertino was one of... Read More
26
Jul
Bakersfield and CalGreen Code Compliance
Bakersfield and CalGreen Code Compliance Bakersfield CalGreen code compliance requirements are similar to elsewhere in the state. The Bakersfield Municipal Code has adopted the current version of the California Green Building Standards Code (aka CalGreen) under Title 15.19.010. The adopted code applies to all new residential and commercial buildings. Compliance with the CalGreen Code is... Read More
04
May
Butte County CalGreen
Butte County CalGreen Butte County CalGreen compliance is reasonably straightforward. What isn’t straightforward is their CalGreen NonResidential Checklist. Butte County has adopted the latest edition of the California Green Building Standards Code as codified in the county Municipal Code. You can read the adoption language and other sections of the muni code here. From our... Read More
01
May
2024 CalGreen Residential EV Charging Update
2024 CalGreen Residential EV Charging Update The 2024 Interim Green Building Standards update has, again, increased the electric vehicle charging requirements for most projects classified as “residential”. These include townhomes, multi-family dwellings, hotels, motels, and multi-family parking facilities. In general, the 2024 CalGreen residential EV charging updates apply to new construction only. The single exception... Read More
13
Feb
CalGreen and Embodied Carbon
CalGreen and Embodied Carbon As I sit down to write this article a part of me wants to scream, “enough is enough of costly green building regulations in California!” Now we have CalGreen and Embodied Carbon added to the code requirements. You can download the text of the code here. It is titled “Life Cycle... Read More
25
Jan
CalGreen Residential Mandatory Measures
CalGreen Residential Mandatory Measures CalGreen Residential 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... Read More
10
Nov
CalGreen for El Dorado County
CalGreen for El Dorado County The El Dorado County Building Department requires the submission of a CalGreen Mandatory Measures checklist for all new residential and commercial building permits applications. Residential renovations that increase the home’s conditioned area, volume, or size require compliance with the California Green Building Standards Code (aka CalGreen). You demonstrate compliance with... Read More
30
Oct
Grocery Store Commissioning
Grocery Store Commissioning This article discusses the California code requirements for grocery store commissioning. In addition we discuss some of the problems that commissioning creates for new grocery stores. Lastly, we offer some suggestions as to how to minimize store opening delays that are frequently caused by commissioning. The California Green Building Standards Code, aka CalGreen,... Read More
25
Aug
CalGreen for Retroactive Permits
CalGreen for Retroactive Permits So, you have decided you can no longer live with the fact that you remodeled your house without benefit of a city building permit. What do you do now? You have a few choices. You can continue to live with the guilt of breaking the law, hoping the city never finds... Read More
21
Apr
Electrical Contractors and EV Chargers
Electrical Contractors and EV Chargers The California Energy Commission dropped a bomb on the building construction industry with new EV charger requirements. What the CEC has done is not a “measured” approach to EV charging infrastructure. Every new commercial or multi- family project in the state must provide ready-to-use EV charging for a minimum of... Read More
28
Feb
2022 AIA CalGreen Checklists
The New AIA CalGreen Checklists The California American Institute of Architects (AIA) has published the updated 2022 Green Building Standards Code checklists. The checklists are free to use. They are available in both CAD and PDF format. It should be noted that the checklists must be edited to suit your project. They should never be... Read More
27
Feb
Commissioning for the 2022 CalGreen Code
2022 CalGreen Commissioning This article will detail the Commissioning for the 2022 CalGreen Code compliance. The 2022 California Green Building Standards Code, aka CalGreen, requires commissioning on all new nonresidential buildings over 10,000 square feet. Commissioning is the process of planning, documenting, scheduling, testing, adjusting, verifying, and training, to provide a facility that operates as... Read More
22
Jan
Architects and EV Chargers
The 2022 California Green Building Standards Code has a new learning curve for architect’s and EV chargers. This is no longer an issue they can simply delegate to the contractor or electrical the engineer. If your project is a multi-family, or hotel or motel, the impacts will run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. ... Read More
07
Nov
Merced County CalGreen
Merced County CalGreen Merced County CalGreen requirements are similar to elsewhere in the state. The Merced Municipal Code has adopted the current version of the California Green Building Standards Code (aka CalGreen) under section 16.34.010. The adopted code applies to all new residential and commercial buildings. Compliance with the CalGreen Code is required for additions... Read More
02
Nov
New EV Charge Stations for 2023
New EV Charge Stations for 2023 The 2022 CalGreen Code, which goes into effect on January 1, of 2023 will mandate 16,100 new electric vehicle charge stations in 2023. These will be required in new multi-family projects, as well as hotels and motels. The new code requires that EV chargers, ready for use, be provided... Read More
24
Aug
2022 CalGreen Tier 1 and 2 EV Requirements
The 2022 CalGreen Tier 1 and 2 EV Requirements The 2022 CalGreen Tier 1 and 2 EV requirements have changed. The requirements, and the associated costs to your project, have increased from the 2019 code. Electric vehicles play an important role in California’s efforts to reach its ambitious climate and air quality goals. These vehicles,... Read More
20
Aug
2022 CalGreen Code EV Charging Requirements
2022 CalGreen EV Charging Requirements You are not alone if your are struggling to understand the new CalGreen Code electric vehicle charging requirements. Why can’t the code officials just say what they mean??? In this article we will explore the 2022 CalGreen EV charging requirements for both residential and non-residential projects. We will address the... Read More
15
Jul
2022 CalGreen Code Changes
2022 CalGreen Code Changes This 2022 CalGreen Code changes summary will provide a detailed review of the new code changes. The changes will go into effect throughout California on January 1, 2023. The California Green Building Standards Code contains standards applicable to residential and non-residential buildings throughout California, including schools and community colleges. The California... Read More
30
Apr
CalGreen – What to Show on Your Permit Plans
CalGreen – What to Show on Your Permit Plans So you’ve got the CalGreen Checklist complete for your project, but what do you need to show on your permit plans? The simple answer is that every applicable item on your checklist needs to have a corresponding note, table, or detail on your drawings. In a... Read More
22
Apr
CalGreen Help
CalGreen Help “Hi Gary, I need CalGreen help!“ This is the way that we are introduced to many of our clients. What follows next falls into a few different categories. The first is, “The building department tells me I need to provide a CalGreen checklist with my residential permit application.” Another intro is, “My project... Read More
22
Apr
CalGreen for Contractors
CalGreen for Contractors There are many cases where contractors need the services of a CalGreen specialist. This is the case for design-build contractors, fire and water repair companies and individual home owner’s who are managing their own projects. If you’re building a new residential or commercial building, or doing significant additions or alterations, you are... Read More
22
Apr
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
22
Apr
CalGreen Inspections
CalGreen Inspections All new and remodeled construction projects in California require a final CalGreen inspection. This applies to both residential and commercial projects. There can be a significant impact on the project depending on who is required to perform the inspection. Your local building department determines who is required to perform the CalGreen inspections. There... Read More
30
Mar
CalGreen Permit
CalGreen Permit CalGreen permit documentation is required to be submitted with your building permit application. The purpose of the documentation is to demonstrate compliance with the California Green Buildings Standard Code. The CalGreen permit process typically calls for a Mandatory Measures Checklist that is required to be placed on a drawing sheet. It is intended... Read More
19
Jan
CalGreen for Monterey County
CalGreen for Monterey County The Monterey County Building Department requires the submission of a CalGreen Mandatory Measures checklist for all new residential and commercial building permits. Residential renovations that increase the home’s conditioned area, volume, or size require compliance with the California Green Building Standards Code (aka CalGreen). You demonstrate compliance with the code by... Read More
18
Nov
CalGreen for Walnut Creek
Cal Green for Walnut Creek CalGreen for Walnut Creek can be confusing due to the lack of guidance on the city’s website. Further confusing the issue is the CalGreen checklist that is posted there. There are some jurisdictions that, perhaps, go a little over-board with sustainable design. Then there are those that don’t seem to... Read More
06
Sep
CalGreen for Non-Residential Projects
CalGreen for Non-Residential Projects CalGreen for non-residential projects requires the services of a CalGreen specialist. Unfortunately for building owners, this rarely happens. CalGreen for most non-residential buildings is typically handled by either the architect or the mechanical engineer. These firms rarely have an in-house CalGreen specialist. Instead, the design architect or engineer ends up pasting... Read More
01
Sep
CalGreen for Nevada County
CalGreen for Nevada County The Nevada County Building Department requires the submission of a CalGreen Mandatory Measures checklist for all new residential and commercial building permits applications. Residential renovations that increase the home’s conditioned area, volume, or size require compliance with the California Green Building Standards Code (aka CalGreen). You demonstrate compliance with the code... Read More
31
Aug
Chico Cal Green
Chico Cal Green Chico Cal Green permits are required for all new and remodel projects. Chico has published their own CalGreen Mandatory Measures checklists for both residential and commercial projects. The use of these checklists can help simplify the incorporation of the CalGreen code requirements into your project. Unfortunately theses checklists do not provide enough... Read More
30
Apr
Cal Green for Renovations
Cal Green for Renovations Cal Green for your home renovation requires that you provide documentation that your permit plans include all of the applicable Cal Green Code (California Green Building Standards Code) requirements. Accordingly, most building departments will require you to provide an edited Cal Green Checklist for your project. The CalGreen Checklist is... Read More
26
Jan
CalGreen for Palm Desert
CalGreen for Palm Desert CalGreen for your Palm Desert permit requires you submit their own 2019 CalGreen Residential Mandatory Measures Checklist for residential projects when you submit your building plans. However, this checklist can lead the unwary into wasting money on unnecessary requirements. This is because the checklist implies that your project must comply with... Read More
25
Jan
CalGreen Notes for Architectural Plans
CalGreen Notes for Architectural Plans All architectural permit plans for residential and commercial new construction and remodel projects in California are required to comply with the California Green Building Standards Code. For various reasons we see a lot of permit plans that have no mention of the CalGreen requirements. Quite simply, this exposes architects to... Read More
22
Jan
Los Angeles CalGreen
Los Angeles CalGreen Los Angeles CalGreen compliance is, perhaps, the most confusing process in the state. The LA City Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) is the permit division for building construction and oversees the CalGreen Code requirements. The City of Los Angeles has adopted the California Green Building Standards Code, with amendments. The adoption... Read More
20
Nov
Cal Green for Your Home Addition
Cal Green for Your Home Addition Cal Green for your home addition, or remodel, requires that you provide documentation that your permit plans include all of the applicable Cal Green Code (California Green Building Standards Code) requirements. Accordingly most building departments will require you to provide an edited Cal Green Checklist for your project. The... Read More
11
Nov
CalGreen for Building Departments
CalGreen for Building Departments Many building departments in the state have yet to develop a methodology for reviewing and inspecting the California Green Building Standards Code requirements. The lack of a clear process is confusing for permit techs, architects, and building inspectors. The problem with CalGreen for building departments is a result of a number... Read More
06
Sep
Title 24 Commissioning
Title 24 Commissioning Title 24 commissioning is required on all new commercial buildings over 10,000 square feet. This requirement comes from the California Energy Code. 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... Read More
10
Aug
Cal Green for Factory-Built Homes
Cal Green for factory-built homes can be a grey area for many building departments. In order to understand the issue lets first define “factory-built”. The best source for the legal definition in California comes from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). HCD regulates the manufacturing of factory-built homes for sale in California.... Read More
04
Aug
CalGreen Tiers (Updated 9/19/2023)
CalGreen Tiers (Updated 9/19/2023) The CalGreen tiers are the so-called “voluntary” measures of the California Green Building Standards Code (CalGreen). The Tier requirements are only “voluntary” for the building department to adopt, or not adopt. If adopted, they are mandatory for your project. The CalGreen Code is the statewide code requiring sustainable design for residential and... Read More
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
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
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
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 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 requirements... Read More
06
Apr
CalGreen Commissioning
CalGreen Commissioning CalGreen commissioning is required on all projects over 10,000 square feet. In addition, the 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, the California Energy Code for buildings under 10,000 square feet only require a... 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 – 5 Reasons You Should Hire a CalGreen Specialist
Architects – 5 Reasons You Should Hire a CalGreen Specialist If your an architect, our 5 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
22
Jan
Sacramento CalGreen Checklists
Sacramento CalGreen Checklists The City of Sacramento building department has updated their Sacramento CalGreen checklists for the 2022 Green Building Standards code. The new checklists include the 2022 code changes. Unfortunately, the checklists do not identify those items that have been added or changed. The new checklists follow the same format as the previous ones.... 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 Checklists
Santa Rosa CalGreen Checklists The City of Santa Rosa building department is the first jurisdiction in the state to update their checklists for the 2022 Green Building Standards code. The new checklists include the 2022 code changes and Tier 1 requirements. Unfortunately, the checklists do not identify those items that have been added or changed. ... 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
29
Dec
CalGreen for Commercial Buildings
CalGreen for Commercial Buildings CalGreen for commercial buildings requires the services of a CalGreen specialist. Unfortunately for building owners, this rarely happens. CalGreen for most commercial buildings is typically handled by either the architect or the mechanical engineer. These firms rarely have an in-house CalGreen specialist. Instead, the design architect or engineer ends up pasting... Read More
30
Nov
CalGreen Plumbing Fixture Requirements
CalGreen Plumbing Fixture Requirements CalGreen plumbing fixture requirements are intended to reduce water consumption for all residential and commercial buildings. These requirements exceed the requirements in the California Plumbing Code. The intent of CalGreen is to move the State of California to a more sustainable future. Efficient water use is critical for all California residents... Read More
24
Nov
Building Departments Struggle with CalGreen
Building Departments Struggle with CalGreen Building departments throughout the state are struggling with CalGreen. There are several reasons for this. One aspect is the lack of funding for support staff and training in the building departments. The Building Standards Commission (BSC) initially produced a permit level fee for this. In addition, the BSC continues to... Read More
08
Nov
How to Fill Out the CalGreen Checklist
How to Fill Out the CalGreen Checklist How to fill out the CalGreen checklist is far more complex than checking a box. It’s a shame that so many permits get submitted with every box checked. In almost every case, this is a costly mistake for the owner. The Green Building Standards Code allows just about... Read More
29
Oct
When CalGreen Goes Horribly Wrong
When CalGreen Goes Horribly Wrong When CalGreen goes horribly wrong – is during construction and the close-out of the project. It can come as a shock to the general contractor they were required to compile dozens of documents during the construction process. Unfortunately, the CalGreen responsibilities of the general contractor are rarely communicated to them.... Read More
05
Oct
CalGreen For Out of State Architects
CalGreen for Out of State Architects Navigating CalGreen for out of state architects can be challenging. CalGreen is the short form for the California Green Building Standards Code. However, large corporations with business sites throughout the US often prefer to use their select architects for all their projects, regardless of location. This requires the out... Read More
19
Aug
CalGreen Is Confusing
CalGreen Is Confusing Just about every day we hear complaints that CalGreen is confusing. That’s because it is. In part, it’s confusing because it seems to duplicate requirements that are already in the California Building Code Volume 1, as well as the Mechanical, Plumbing and Electrical codes. Also, the format of the CalGreen Code is... Read More
15
May
Have Energy Saving Policies Gone Too Far?
Have Energy Saving Policies Gone Too Far? Asking if energy saving policies have gone too far is a valid question. We hear it just about every day – someone complaining about how ridiculous the building codes are getting. “The over-reaching building codes are making it too expensive to build in California!” There is no doubt... Read More
01
May
Third Party Plan Reviewers
Third Party Plan Reviewers Third party plan reviewers have become the bane of the Residential and Commercial building permit process. In recent years the use of third party plan reviewers has exploded up and down the State of California. The unfortunate reason for this is economics. Cities, towns and counties have learned it is cheaper... Read More
28
Apr
CalGreen and the Cannabis Industry
CalGreen and the Cannabis Industry As if the cannabis industry didn’t have enough legal hoops to jump through! Unfortunately, your cannabis grow facility, processing plant or distribution center will also need to comply with the current California CalGreen Code. In this case “calgreen” does not refer to Bubba Kush or Gorilla Glue. It’s part of... Read More
03
Mar
How to Hire a Commissioning Coordinator in California
How to Hire a Commissioning Coordinator in California New buildings that are 10,000 square feet and larger are required to be commissioned by both the California Energy Code and the California Green Building Code. Some of the requirements in the two codes are similar and some are distinct. New buildings must comply with all the... Read More
03
Mar
Do I Need to Hire a CalGreen Consultant?
Do I Need to Hire a CalGreen Consultant? The answer is no – and yes. We’ll be the first to admit the State of California has created a lot of confusion over the California Green Building Code. The various names for it are confusing, the code layout is confusing, the Tiers are confusing – and... Read More