BILL ANALYSIS
AB 888
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 888 (Lieu)
As Amended September 7, 2007
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |43-33|(June 5, 2007) |SENATE: | |(September 11, |
| | | | | |2007) |
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(vote not available)
Original Committee Reference: NAT. RES.
SUMMARY : Requires new commercial buildings for which a public
agency deems the application for a development project complete on
or after January 1, 2013, and that are 50,000 feet or greater be
designed constructed and operated to meet the applicable standards
described in the United States Green Building Council's Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design gold rating or its equivalent,
unless the state adopts specified minimum green building, in which
case those commercial buildings will be required to meet the
adopted standards.
The Senate amendments make technical changes to the process used
to assure that commercial buildings meet green building standards.
The amendments:
Replace the requirement for the California Environmental
Protection Agency to establish standards for sustainable
commercial buildings with direction to ensure that commercial
buildings are built to green standards as prescribed.
Extend the implementation date from July 1, 2012 to January 1,
2013.
State that, for purposes of compliance related to the use of wood
products, projects that use wood products with a credible
sustainable forest certification are deemed to be in compliance.
Stipulate that the provisions of this bill shall not prohibit,
limit, or supersede other green building standards developed
pursuant to existing authority.
Remove portions of the legislative intent language.
Make other technical, conforming changes.
AB 888
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AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill was substantially similar to
the version of the bill passed by the Senate.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations Committee,
general fund costs, in excess of $150,000 if the state adopts
specified green building standards. Increase in construction costs
offset by unknown, potential, building operational savings in out
years.
COMMENTS : According to the author's office, the widespread use of
green building criteria will substantially reduce the state's
energy consumption, air pollution, and water use, as well as
improve worker health and productivity. Additionally, green
building reduces greenhouse gas emissions and will assist the
state in achieving the greenhouse gas reduction goals established
by Executive Order S-3-05. Therefore, the author argues that "it
is reasonable and necessary to employ green building standards in
the construction and renovation of commercial buildings."
According to supporters, "Buildings account for almost 40 percent
of all carbon dioxide emitted in the U.S., more than any other
sector. In fact, according to a United Nations study,
implementation of green building standards could do more to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions than all the actions agreed to under the
Kyoto Protocol. The enactment of AB 32 requires the state to take
early action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the largest
mission sectors." Supporters also note that "there is no
appreciable difference in the construction costs of LEED-compliant
buildings, and any additional up-front costs are paid back many
times over in reduced costs of energy and other resources.
The California Integrated Waste Management Board's Web site states
that sustainable buildings: 1) focus on life-cycle cost analysis,
sustainable buildings are less costly in the long term due to
lower operating expenses; 2) siting new construction near mass
transit, designing to retain the existing natural features, and
use of environmentally sound landscaping practices; 3) use of
energy efficient materials and construction techniques; 4) use of
sustainable construction materials, such as recycled content
materials, low-emission products, and materials with high
durability; 5) design for water and energy efficiency; and, 6)
ongoing sustainable maintenance practices and products.
The US Green Building Council is a national non-profit
organization comprised of more than 7,500 member organizations and
75 regional chapters working toward the goal of transforming the
building industry to sustainability. To further this goal, it
AB 888
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developed the LEED Green Building Rating System. To earn
certification, a building project must meet certain prerequisites
and performance benchmarks (credits) within each category.
Projects are awarded Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum
certification depending on the number of credits they achieve.
LEED is the most widely-used benchmark for the design,
construction, and operation of high performance sustainable
buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to
sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of
human and environmental health: sustainable site development,
water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor
environmental quality.
The Task Force completed Building Better Buildings: A Blueprint
for Sustainable State Facilities in April, 2001 to recommend
strategies to incorporate cost-effective sustainable building
strategies into the development of state property. The report
notes that California invests over $2.5 billion in the design,
construction, and renovation of state facilities annually.
Buildings consume more than 30% of the energy used in the U.S.,
produce 25% of greenhouse gas emissions, generate approximately
30% of the state's solid waste stream, and affect the health,
comfort, and productivity of building occupants. The blueprint
also identified barriers to sustainable building in state
government, including the lack of "uniform building performance,
operating, and maintenance standards for state facilities."
The Governor acknowledged climate change as a threat to the
environment and committed the state to taking action to address
this issue by signing Executive Order S-3-05. The order calls for
a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels by 2010; to
1990 levels by 2020; and to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
The Climate Action Team's report, Climate Action Team Report to
the Governor and the Legislature, identifies strategies to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions that include continued implementation of
the Green Building Initiative and energy efficiency standards for
state buildings.
Analysis Prepared by : Caroll Mortensen / E.S & T.M. / (916)
319-3965 FN: 0003458