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California has approved the most stringent, environmentally-friendly building code in the United States that will apply to new commercial buildings, hospitals, schools, shopping malls and homes. The new code, called "CAL Green"  which won a unanimous vote by the California Building Standards Commission, will take effect in January 2011.

CAL Green codes require builders to install plumbing that cuts indoor water use, divert 50 percent of construction waste from landfills to recycling, use low-pollutant materials, and install separate water meters for different uses in nonresidential buildings.

CAL Green code also requires energy system inspections by local officials to ensure that heaters, air conditioners and other mechanical equipment in nonresidential buildings are working efficiently.

Property owners can also label their facilities as CAL Green compliant, once they pass state building inspection, without the additional cost of third-party certification programs. The mandatory CAL Green provisions will be inspected and verified by local and state building departments.

However, the regulations were opposed by several private organizations that offer construction rating systems, including the U.S. Green Building Council, which said it could result in confusion for builders, local governments and the public, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

More than 40 California cities have some form of green building ordinances.

"The code will help us meet our goals of curbing global warming and achieving 33 percent renewable energy by 2020 and promotes the development of more sustainable communities by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency in every new home, office building or public structure," stated Governor Schwarzenegger in a press release.

CAL Green from California Building Standards Commission: 

• California Building Standards Green Code
• SB1473 Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund
• Education & Outreach
• Green Building Standards Bulletin - BSB 08-02

USA SIPS manufactures structural insulated panels -- SIPs -- that are being used in building projects -- both green buildings and conventional --  in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri.

Insulated panels, with their built-in, sandwiched insulation, are used in residential and commercial construction. A big advantage is that the product allows construction crews to frame, sheet and insulate in one step.

USA SIPS is working on a 150-home neighborhood in Branson, Mo., and a 314-unit new urbanist neighborhood in Stillwater that ultimately will include houses, apartments, retail and restaurant areas, a community building and a community garden.

The company has designed a catalog of manufactured homes to be constructed from the panels. The catalog shows off their Craftsman Style homes with large front porches.  

The insulated panels are cut to sizes that easily fit to a building plan, which down waste costs for the builder, who has less to discard when the project is completed.  The SIPs, which can be used to help meet LEED standards (USGBC green building certification standards), also contribute to lower utility bills.

USA SIPS touts meeting international building codes and municipal building inspectors are becoming more familiar with the product, which is a big marketing help.

USA SIPS, Inc.
Structural Insulated Panels Systems are a modern way to construct buildings with a higher level of strength and operational energy efficiency.
www.usa-sips.com/