BILL NUMBER: AB 888 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Lieu and Laird FEBRUARY 22, 2007 An act to add Section 18941.7 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to building standards. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 888, as introduced, Lieu. Green building standards. Existing law authorizes state agencies to submit, and requires the Building Standards Commission to receive and review, proposed building standards for adoption, approval, publication, and codification. This bill would require state agencies with responsibility for proposing building standards to the commission to develop those proposed building standards to ensure that green building elements are integrated into the standards. The bill would define green building elements for these purposes and make legislative findings and declarations. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares the following: (a) It is critical to both the economic and environmental health of the state that the state provide leadership to both the private and public sectors in the arena of energy efficiency and "green" construction. The most immediate and meaningful way to do this is to endeavor to include energy efficiency and green building elements in all state building code revisions. (b) By calling on the state to consider including green building measures in its building codes, the Legislature provides taxpayers a benefit through greener, cheaper to operate buildings and simultaneously helps to develop markets for recycled, recyclable, and environmentally sound materials. (c) Green building goes beyond energy efficiency measures to include, but not be limited to, using certified sustainable wood products; aggressive use of high recycled content products; installation of recyclable carpet, high efficiency lights, and CFC-free air-conditioning equipment; separation and recycling of building material waste that occurs during deconstruction, demolition, and construction; enhancement of indoor air quality by selection and use of construction materials that do not have chemical emissions that are toxic or irritant to building occupants; modification of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems to provide high-quality indoor air; selection of construction materials made of substantial recycled content; installation of high-performance solar control glazing; use of recycled water in interior and exterior plumbing and landscape; and installation of alternative energy methods for supplemental energy production. SEC. 2. Section 18941.7 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read: 18941.7. (a) State agencies with responsibility for proposing building standards to the commission pursuant to this part shall develop those proposed building standards to ensure that green building elements are integrated into the standards. (b) As used in this section, "green building" elements include the following: (1) Water recycling and conservation measures in interior and exterior plumbing and landscaping. (2) The disposition, recycling, or limitation of construction and demolition waste. (3) The utilization of building materials that contain recycled materials meeting current building standards, including recycled and recovered construction and demolition waste, and recyclable carpets. (4) The utilization of alternative energy technologies and products that provide nonquantifiable public benefits even if they are not cost-effective when compared to conventional technologies and products, including onsite generation technologies, such as photovoltaics, fuel cells, or solar heating systems for water and swimming pool heating purposes. (5) Measures to improve indoor air quality. (6) Interior office space access to natural daytime lighting. (7) The storage and collection of recyclable materials used by building occupants, including beverage containers, aluminum, paper, and other materials. (8) The installation of wiring, piping, or other infrastructure to provide for future installation of recharging systems for electric vehicles, or refueling of alternative fuel vehicles, as appropriate to the use of the building and potential future demand by fleet vehicles, employees, or the public. (9) Designated parking for alternative fuel vehicles and carpool vehicles. (10) Siting considerations, including urban infill development, reduced habitat disturbance, and the preservation and restoration of historic buildings, if applicable. (11) Surface runoff filtration and surface runoff reduction from the building and any new parking structures constructed or renovated to accommodate the building. (12) Bicycle infrastructure, including easily accessible enclosed locking facilities for bicycle parking, bicycle lockers, showers, and personal locker facilities. (13) The consideration of convenient access to public transit, including minimal setbacks to accommodate shorter walking distances from transit stations. (14) Construction and demolition debris planning to address debris from deconstruction of onsite structures and new construction. (15) Building commissioning, including testing and monitoring of building systems operations to ensure that building design and operation criteria are achieved and maintained. (16) The consideration throughout the design and construction phases of opportunities to reduce each proposal's annual projected energy consumption.