Achieving Efficiency with California’s Codes and Standards
Martha Brook
Building codes and standards are widely-used tools for achieving energy efficiency in buildings. Efficiency standards can help state, local, and federal governments meet goals for resource conservation and fulfill climate change commitments.
Title 24 is California’s standard for energy efficiency in residential and nonresidential buildings. Established in 1978 as a legislative mandate to reduce energy consumption, the standard is updated every three years to incorporate new technologies and methods. In 2005, Title 24 included acceptance testing for HVAC systems and lighting controls – a step toward requiring commissioning in non-residential new construction. In 2009, California will adopt a voluntary green building standard, which paves the way for more aggressive measures focused on high performance building design and construction.
This session addresses the development and implementation of commissioning-related codes and standards in California, including acceptance testing requirements and California's new green building standard.
A Detailed Review of San Francisco’s Green Building Standards
Phil Williams
The nation’s toughest and most aggressive mandatory set of green building standards includes virtually all new commercial construction, commercial interiors, major renovations, and new residential construction. Since 2004, building codes for the City and County of San Francisco have required new construction and major renovation projects to achieve LEED® Silver certification. The new ordinance will provide a five-year timeline for increased stringency in the code to address carbon dioxide emissions and energy and water efficiency. With regards to building operations and commissioning, by 2011, all new buildings will be required to achieve LEED’s enhanced commissioning credit (LEED EA3.0).
This groundbreaking legislation brings up several key questions for the commissioning industry, including:
• How will the new ordinance affect real estate developers, architects and builders and building owners?
• What is the role or opportunity for commissioning providers to help owners comply with the new codes?
• What is the outlook for other municipalities to implement similar codes?
Phil Williams served as the Chairman of the San Francisco Mayor's Task Force on Green Buildings and is Vice President of Systems Engineering and Sustainable Design for Webcor. In this presentation, he’ll address the specifics of the green building ordinance and the process used by the City to formulate and gain consensus.
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