05
Oct
Get Your Building Permit In Now!
Get Your Building Permit in NOW! On January 1, 2020 the 2019 California Green Building Standards Code (AKA CalGreen) goes into effect. The new code adds additional costs and complexities to the CalGreen permitting process. CalGreen 2020 – Added Cost, Added Complexity Since most building departments close over the holidays, it is likely that the... Read More
05
Oct
CalGreen For Out-of-State Architects
CalGreen for Out of State Architects Navigating the California Building Codes can be challenging for those architects working within the state. 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 of state architects to become familiar with... Read More
19
Aug
CalGreen Is Confusing
CalGreen Is Confusing Just about every day I 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
17
Aug
CalGreen 2020
CalGreen 2020: On January 1, 2020 the 2019 California Green Building Standards Code (AKA CalGreen) goes into effect. This article presents all of the imminent changes. CalGreen 2020: How Did We Get Here? Development of CALGreen began in 2007 by the California Building Standards Commission. This process resulted in the adoption of the 2008 Green... Read More
26
May
CalGreen Compliance and California Schools
DSA and CalGreen DSA has special guidelines for CalGreen compliance in California schools. The California Division of the State Architect (DSA) is the governing body for the construction of public schools in California. DSA provides design and construction oversight for K–12 schools and community colleges to ensure that they comply with all sustainable, structural, accessibility,... Read More
16
May
2019 California Energy Code Changes
What’s New in the 2019 California Energy Code? The 2019 California Energy Code changes go into effect on January 1, 2020. The changes are significant and will increase the cost of new home construction, more importantly, they will dramatically reduce energy consumption. Recently the California Energy Commission published a Fact Sheet on the changes. Here... 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. I 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 Agent in California
How to Hire a Commissioning Agent 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