So, starting in January of this coming year (2011), California architects, designers and builders will have another building code to comply with. The “…first-in-the nation mandatory green building standards code…” Governor Schwarzenegger called it, claiming “…California continues to pave the way in energy efficiency and environmental protection.” It does do a few things worth while:

First, all buildings built under the new code will be required to reduce water consumption by 20%. Also, there’s a little mentioned requirement that building lots deal more efficiently with storm water run off, preferably keeping as much of the water on the lot (and away from the building) as possible by percolating it through the landscaping, before the surplus is picked up by storm drains. This will have a side benefit of cleaning the water before adding it to our streams and rivers. The second most often mentioned requirement is that half of all building waste will have to be diverted, rather than being simply dumped into land fills. What’s been overlooked is the intent to start the reduction at the very beginning of the building process by encouraging the use of pre-assemblies (such as SIPs) or composite materials made for the the job. Another never mentioned item is a requirement that stud walls not be closed up if the moisture content of the wood exceeds 19%. The third most often mentioned requirement is the requirement that all HVAC systems in buildings over 10,000 square feet keep their systems working at “maximum capacity and according to their design efficiencies”, to use the laymen’s language from the press release. The new code also includes a great many voluntary measures, and includes two “tiers” that designers and builders can comply with in their projects for if they choose to.

In some quarters new code has been well received. In others, there’s a lot of head scratching going on. Brian Pontolilo over at Fine Home Building had to ask: “Why CALGREEN? I’m curious why California wrote a mandatory green building code instead of incorporating these provisions into their existing building codes.” To which I might add: Why didn’t they just participate in IBC’s code production process? After all, California has already adopted the IBC for its code model.

For the answer, we have to remember a bit of history. Before (reluctantly) adopting the IBC, the State spent millions and nearly five years trying to write its own building code from scratch. Thousands of pages later, it was only when everyone from the NAHB to the AIA  bluntly told the Standards Commission that their proposed code was so different from traditional model codes that it would cause more problems than it solved, that the whole fiasco was stopped and a model code considered. California politicians and bureaucrats are addicted to the notion that the they “pave the way” with their “first-in-the nation” this, that and the other thing. In reality, as the building code debacle showed, they often spend a lot of time (and a lot of hard earned tax payer money) reinventing the wheel.

That said, I think the CalGreen Code does do take some important steps that have nothing to do with whether enough water gets saved or building waste diverted — all of which will be argued until we’re all blue in the face. The legislation takes a stab at providing a set of baselines that are independent of the self promoting NGOs and their programs. Want your project to be LEED? You can do that. Want your project to be HERS? You can do that too. Energy Star? It’s got you covered. BPI? No problem. CalGreen is simply a (minimum) standard. How you get there is entirely up to you. And that’s how it should be. The Senate should take notes and apply them to the Cash for Caulkers bill, with it’s Building Performance Institute (BPI) — and only BPI — certification requirement.

Now, could this have been done by helping to write and then adopt the IBC green code? Yup.

green, building, standards, CalGreen

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Written by Holly C. Bertsch.

Originally posted on Building Moxie… The Blog. What she has to say is just so important for customers to remember when looking for a contractor — whether for a new project or a remodel or repair — that I’ve reprinted it here with her permission.

Did you know that when you are interviewing a contractor, they are often interviewing you too?

It works both ways, much like a job interview should. Unless said contractor is desperate for work, they are often checking out your project and making a mental decision on whether they want to take it or not. By asking questions along with the usual first time formalities of an initial meeting, your contractor is drawing conclusions about your project, and how you, as a consumer, would be to work for. And believe me, I have turned down high paying jobs simply because a prospect did not seem as though they would be easy to work for (more on that later). I am not saying that I want a person to be a pushover, just accepting anything that we do, but I do want some understanding and flexibility — because without these things my job would be nearly impossible.

Another thing we look for in potential projects is: Is it even feasible? Are you thinking you can have champagne on a beer budget? Are you wanting to turn your only outdated 5′x8′ bathroom into a spa retreat (which we can do, if you are prepared for some serious inconveniences)? Are you wanting some HGTV miracle makeover to happen with no planning and in a very short time frame? Are you wanting to complete some of the project yourself, and are you capable of doing it in a skilled and timely manner? And . . . the most important, are you desperate to have this work done, now, no questions asked, no planning, no budget considerations? These all are big red flags to us. A good contractor works with time, planning, budget, and your dreams to make your project a complete success.

A well respected contractor also looks for problem customers. I am not talking about the type of customer who wants to stay informed and be really involved in the process. I am talking about the customer who wants to “run” a project, or considers themselves a general contractor. The one who wants to buy every single two by four and basically seems to think they know how to, well, run a project. These people usually have full time jobs, or are semi-retired, and fancy themselves as experts because they may have even “overseen” the building of their own home. They often demand a lower rate because they feel the “general contracting fees” should be waived.

We typically do not want to work with someone on a “contract basis” and/or someone who wants to be their own GC. This is usually because we end up wasting a lot of time doing their job as the General Contractor for them, in other words — scheduling deliveries, running to the store for materials, and dealing with otherwise poor planning on their part. We have been doing this a long time and we know what needs to be done, when and by whom. If you want our particular skill set, you can feel free to hire us at our company rate by the hour as sub-contractors for your project. Just know though that it may end up costing you even more, because we exactly know how to make a job run efficiently. After all, we do this every day. The amateur general contractor-type usually rubs a good renovation contractor the wrong way. (Remind me — I need to write a whole new entry about this alone, so forgive me for venting in this paragraph! –Holly)

What we look for usually is a customer who is genuinely interested in what will be going on during a project, has questions initially and along the way, and is willing to grant some type of confidence in us. It is a short-term partnership that is formed to reach your final goals, as well as ours. We want to see your project through to completion, to your full satisfaction, and with a full payment at the end because we stuck to your budget. Can you begin by relating your wishes and dreams to us, but still be willing to accept advice and realities?

A good general contractor will want to “feel out” an initial customer during a few meetings to determine if this is a customer they want to be working with. A not-so-good contractor may be all smiles, wanting to jump on whatever job you have – right away. This not-so-good contractor in general may also be a little too over-enthusiastic about your work. I am not saying that it is bad to have a person who is excited about your project, because we often get excited about certain types of work, but if they seem to be desperate, they may not be the contractor for you. A good contractor is usually booked at least a month to six weeks out or more. There may be extenuating circumstances when they are not, but remember, a good renovation takes planning and . . . time.

A good contractor will be looking at you, while you are looking at them. They will qualify you as a potential client. Sometimes, a contractor will not call you back or answer your emails. I have heard this complaint from customers of ours before. They call a few professionals, and never get a call back or they meet with said professionals and never hear from them again. Maybe the problem is your expectations or your attitude? Maybe they are just really bad contractors? Maybe you need to call more professional contractors. Or you can call us, no matter where you live, and we will give you our “always free advice” because we are good, honest, and receptive remodelers.

And this is my two cents.

The following is a guest article contributed by Dan Harding, originally posted on CalFinder’s Solar Blog on May 20, 2010.

This time last year I wrote about the introduction of a new breed of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV): the Solé Power Tile. This unique midnight-blue roofing tile is the first-ever solar product specifically designed for curved roofing systems, according to its manufacturer, SRS Energy. The PV tile is not designed to mount onto a roof, but to seamlessly incorporate into it, creating clean solar electricity while maintaining the home’s overall aesthetic.

All PV products must go through testing by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to prove their ability for reliable performance. This is especially important in California, where solar products must be UL-listed to qualify for state rebates. The Solé Power Tile recently passed UL testing, which, considering that it is meant to integrate into curved clay tile roofs very common to sunny California, opens it up to a whole new market and millions of potential rooftops.

SRS Energy even partnered with US Tile, the largest manufacture of clay roof tiles in the U.S., to ensure seamless integration. US Tile designed a non-solar tile that matches the relatively odd blue color of the Solé Power Tile.

But are these tiles ready for your roof? At only 5 percent conversion efficiency, the Solé tiles at their best stand far below the average rooftop solar panel. Therefore, they require a lot more space and product to produce the same amount of solar electricity. However, the plastic tiles are cheaper, ship in bundles and are lighter than traditional clay tiles. Homeowners with a lot of roof space and concerns over aesthetics may be good clients for the Solé Power Tile, but I’m betting this will be a small niche market in the face of other products that are four times as efficient, at least to start.

Also, passing its UL 1703 testing is important for proving that it can perform well, but that still leaves questions about durability. Solar panels will almost certainly be producing energy in 40 years. Can anyone say that about the Solé Power Tile?

Of course, if SRS Energy can get that efficiency up to, say, 10 percent in future product generations, then I think we’ll find a decent amount of people wanting to try them out, which will lead to their being proven in the field.

It should be noted that if there’s any market you want to go into with a fresh, rebate-eligible product, it’s California. There, residents have proven time and time again that they’re willing to lead the way in renewable technology. Perhaps the Solé Power Tile can ride that wave.

I had a post on the Cash for Caulkers program in the mill, but Sean beat me to it. Since he has said everything I could have said about the legislation now pending, with his permission, I’ll just let him say it again in this repost of his article: — Michael

HomeStar (aka Cash for Caulkers) is a proposed measure introduced in the Senate to “create good living-wage jobs in construction and related industries by providing strong short-term incentives for home energy efficiency improvements.”  It was also designed to “reward homeowners for investing in insulation and weatherization, high-efficiency heating and air conditioning equipment, replacement windows and other cost-effective home improvements that can permanently reduce household energy bills.“ (EF.org’s Talking Points)

The HomeStar Plan

Senate Bill 3177 aka the ‘Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010’

This bill as proposed above gives homeowners a choice of two types of incentives.  The Silver Star Home Energy Retrofit Program and the Gold Star Home Energy Retrofit Program. One nice item in the bill is the Contractor requirements for both sections which include: (1) that they are licensed as required by the State (2) insurance coverage of at least $1,000,000 for general liability (3) warranties to homeowners that completed work will be free of significant defects; be installed in accordance with the specifications of the manufacturer; and perform properly for a period of at least 1 year after the date of completion of the work.

The Silver Star program provides rebates for air sealing; attic, wall or crawl space insulation; duct sealing or replacement; and replacement of existing windows, doors, water heaters, household appliances or heating and air conditioning equipment. Rebate amounts are up to $1,500 per qualified installed measure, capped at 50 percent of project costs or $3,000 (whichever is less).

The Gold Star program is a performance-based incentive program. It is based on predicted energy savings as determined by a thorough energy audit performed before the work begins. Based on this Energy Audit, homeowners can receive $3,000 for modeled savings of 20%, plus $1,000 for each additional 5% of modeled energy savings, with incentives not to exceed 50% of total project costs.

Senator Markey & his 4 Star rating

Senator Markey is one of the Senators that introduced Senate Bill 3177. After he introduced it, he sent out a press release where he stated that he feels that HomeStar Will Be Summer Blockbuster for Consumers, Jobs & gave it a rating of Four Stars.

• Creating New Jobs – Over 168,000 jobs will be saved or created in the construction, manufacturing, and retail sectors.
• Saving Consumers Money -Energy efficient homes will save hardworking families more than a billion dollars in 2011 alone – and $9.5 billion over the next decade.
• Saving Energy – Efficiency upgrades cut energy waste and foreign oil imports. Home Star will save the same amount of energy as 615,000 cars, and means we’ll need 4 less power plants.
• Products Made in the U.S.A. – 90% of the retrofit products for Home Star – windows, doors, and insulation – are manufactured in the USA.

The Verdict

Based just on the items listed above, it should come as no surprise that there are over 1200 organizations and manufacturers actively supporting this legislation. One of the biggest organizations “getting out the vote” is the HomeStar Coalition. Many of these organizations are also hoping that this just might help get some consumers over the hump. Many consumers are gun shy, due to the past history of the Energy Efficiency market. They are hoping to get consumers to realize that retrofitting is the most cost-effective proven ways to reduce household energy costs. Not only can a retrofit help you with your long-term energy bill savings, but the comfort that one can derive from it.

Speaking not only as the owner of SLS Construction, but as a regular citizen, I really do think that we are getting into some serious trouble with all our spending and borrowing that has been occurring lately. We have now survived the Tech, Oil, and the Housing bubbles in the last 15 years to find ourselves in a Government Spending Bubble. If we are not careful when this one pops, we could face some very serious issues that cannot be overcome as easily as the market based ones.

With that being said, I really do think that this can be a very good piece of legislation, which would probably meet the goals of reducing energy usage and probably create some much-needed jobs. The cost vs. value argument I think would come down on the side of the bill passing (even without the typical inflation of benefits that people love to use).  So why then isn’t SLS Construction listed as a supporter? I happen to see a few problems with the way the bill is written, that I feel need to be addressed before I can really say that “yes, this is a great bill.”

In a future article – some of the issues we will cover:

• Duplication of rebates with other programs
• The big issue with the Gold Star contractor requirement
• Certain items listed in Silver Star program, should be handled under the Gold Star program, due to health, safety, and other concerns
• The rebate program which will probably artificially increase the costs to the Homeowners, resulting in less savings than they might have had with an appropriate Tax Credit

You can read the sequel here. —Michael