As I read more and more about the green building industry, it seems to me that the efficiency which is inherent in that approach has the goals of combating climate change and in spending less on utilities too.

Conservation of resources – both natural and financial – are goals that may be the focus in California’s new building codes over residential building standards.  The new codes, effective as of August 1st, are to be implemented as mandatory across the board in California by 2011 with the following items in mind:

• 20% reduction in water use efficiency
• reduction of energy use
• reduction of C02 emissions
• reduction of mold growth

Read the article by Jennifer Goodman, editor of EcoHome magazine for more information.

California certainly has a natural environment which is more than worthy of protection. This image courtesy of Kevin Krejci. Click on image to view Flickr stream.

One of the challenges in green building has been a greater upfront cost commitment. But it has been surmised that front end costs from more efficient building practices this year will mean savings  in the next.  After all, creating systems whereby less is used for equal or greater performance and savings makes for a lot of room to spend that money elsewhere.

And eventually, the idea of ‘green building’ will become something of an antiquated term, when greater energy efficiency, water conservation, and a greater return on the use of materials becomes the standard, not the exception.

Cheers,

Rob.