“Green Leader” California Strikes Again

39. Why is this number important? Because buildings consume 39% of the energy and are responsible for 39% of greenhouse gas emissions nationwide. How many people knew that? Probably 0%.

Recently, California passed a compromise version of its new “green building” code. The plan is to make new construction in California more energy-efficient and easier on the environment by providing new rules for water usage and building materials. The standards will be voluntary until 2010, when they become mandatory.

The new building code expands on a previous state effort to clean up public buildings and is a big part of California’s push to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020. Where is this reduction going to come from? In large part, energy efficiency.

Building codes are now at the forefront in the battle over climate change and energy. In addition to the numbers above, buildings also use 12% of potable water, and 40% of raw materials, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. Those are big numbers.

The energy revolution has started – and it’s moving east from the Golden state.