News Articles & Press Releases Regarding MAS Certified Green™     State of California Adopts Statewide Green Building Code January 1, 2009 On July 17, 2008 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the adoption of a first-in-nation statewide green building code. The new Building Standards Commission code specifies requirements for all new construction and renovation in the state. The text of the code is posted at: www.bsc.ca.gov/prpsd_stds/default.htm. Included are the CA State University, the University of CA, all other state buildings, public school buildings, community colleges, hospitals and other health care facilities, and all low-rise residential buildings. The primary objective is to encourage builders to reduce the energy use of their structures to 15% below the energy use that is achieved with the state's mandatory energy efficiency standards. Other target areas such as renewable energy, resource efficiency, water conservation and environmental quality are addressed. The new regulations will take effect 180 days after publication and will become mandatory for housing in 2010. Significantly, Indoor Air Quality measures are included in the code (see Section 8). VOC emission testing and limits are established for some building products. Products specifically addressed are carpet systems (carpet, cushion and adhesive), composite wood products, resilient flooring systems, thermal insulation, acoustical ceilings and wall panels. The carpet and composite wood requirements are for all building types. The CDPH Standard Practice for the testing of VOC emissions and the CHPS VOC emissions criteria are referenced for flooring, insulation, ceilings and wall panels. The CARB ATCM is referenced for composite wood.