CalGreen Embodied Carbon Mandatory Measures

Recently adopted changes to CalGreen include a variety of measures, and they are spread over various sections of CalGreen.  It would be super helpful to have ALL the measures associated with Embodied Carbon Mandatory Measures and Voluntary Tiers in one place. To accomplish this requires getting the ‘express terms’ (ET in shorthand) from two sets of documents (the 45 day documents and the 15 day revisions); integrating them; and then ‘deleting’ all the ‘non embodied carbon’ material.

Once this is completed, the final document could be reformatted to make it easier to read.  It needs to include the text EXACTLY as written, with no changes. 

A document that accompanies the Express Terms is the Initial Statement of Reasons (ISOR in shorthand) – again, spread over many sections; pulling this all together in one place would be super helpful. The ISOR is the ‘rationale’ for the changes.

The helpful consolidation of these new code provisions will be occurring behind the scenes by the adopting state agencies and their partners in code publication, the International Code Council. Is it possible to create a detailed outline prior to this official action. The short answer is ‘yes’. The long answer is ‘It complicated’. Following is an outline of what this consolidation process would look like. In addition, once the new and changed provisions were consolidated and put into one place, there would need to be some ‘context added’ as some changes are part of an existing code change, and the overall meanings would not be fully clear unless some of that pre-existing material was brought along. In a nutshell, these measures are not simply under a ‘banner heading’ with everything in one place; instead, they are integrated into the existing structure of the CALGreen code, which required them to be placed in the appropriate locations.

Following is an outline of how the parts and pieces could be ‘put together’ prior to the official actions that will do this, to be published as ‘green sheets’ distributed by ICC to code holders, as updates. Other updates will also be included in those green sheets, as they are organized in the same way the code is, rather than by ‘overall topic’.

All the relevant material is one the CBSC website, under rulemaking

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Rulemaking

Then click on ‘2022 intervening code cycle’

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Rulemaking/2022-Intervening-Cycle

Then click on Green

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Rulemaking/2022-Intervening-Cycle/2022-Public-Comments/GREEN-45

Then pick the state agency. Start with BSC

The document called ‘Commission Action Matrix – BSC 04/22 shows WHAT items are associated with WHAT Code change

Here are the ones releant to Embodied Carbon mandatory measures

Chapter 2, Section 202 – definitions (CALGreen carbon reduction related)

Chapter 5, NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES, DIVISION 5.1- PLANNING AND DESIGN, SECTION 5.105 – DECONSTRUCTION AND REUSE OF EXISTING STRUCTURES

BSC proposes to adopt new sections into the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Chapter 5, NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES, DIVISION 5.1- PLANNING AND DESIGN, SECTION 5.106 – SITE DEVELOPMENT

BSC proposes to adopt new and modify existing sections into the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Chapter 5, NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES, DIVISION 5.1- PLANNING AND DESIGN, SECTION 5.106 – SITE DEVELOPMENT

BSC proposes to adopt new sections into the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Chapter 5, NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES, DIVISION 5.1- PLANNING AND DESIGN, SECTION 5.106 – SITE DEVELOPMENT

BSC proposes to adopt new and modify existing sections into the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Chapter 5, NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES, DIVISION 5.4 – MATERIAL CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, SECTION 5.401

BSC proposes to modify existing section in the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Chapter 5, NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES, DIVISION 5.4 – MATERIAL CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, SECTION 5.402 – DEFINITIONS

BSC proposes to add new terms to this section in the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Chapter 5, NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES, DIVISION 5.4 – MATERIAL CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, SECTION 5.408 – CONSTRUCTION WASTE REDUCTION, DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING

BSC proposes to modify existing section in the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Chapter 5, NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES, DIVISION 5.4 – MATERIAL CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, SECTION 5.409 LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

BSC proposes to adopt new sections into the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Chapter 5, NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES, DIVISION 5.4 – MATERIAL CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, SECTION 5.409 LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

BSC proposes to adopt new sections into the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Chapter 5, NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES, DIVISION 5.4 – MATERIAL CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, SECTION 5.410 BUILDING MAINTANANCE AND OPERATION

BSC proposes to modify section listed below in the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Chapter 6, REFERENCED ORGANIZATIONS AND STANDARDS, AND MATERIALS, SECTION 601.1 GENERAL

BSC proposes to add new referenced standards and organizations to the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Chapter 6, REFERENCED ORGANIZATIONS AND STANDARDS, AND MATERIALS, SECTION 601.1 GENERAL

BSC proposes to add new referenced standards and organizations to the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Appendix A5, NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES, DIVISION A5.1- PLANNING AND DESIGN, SECTION A5.105 DECONSTRUCTION AND REUSE OF EXISTING STRUCTURES

BSC proposes to repeal existing language and replace with new text in the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Appendix A5, NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES, DIVISION A5.1 – PLANNING AND DESIGN, SECTION A5.106 SITE DEVELOPMENT

BSC proposes to modify existing sections and add new sections to the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Appendix A5, NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES, DIVISION A5.1 – PLANNING AND DESIGN, SECTION A5.106 SITE DEVELOPMENT

BSC proposes to modify existing sections and add new sections/tables to the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Appendix A5, NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES, DIVISION A5.1 – PLANNING AND DESIGN, SECTION A5.106 SITE DEVELOPMENT

BSC proposes to add new and modify existing sections in the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Appendix A5, NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES, DIVISION A5.1 – PLANNING AND DESIGN, SECTIONS A5.102 DEFINITIONS AND A5.107 BIRD-FRIENDLY BUILDING DESIGN

BSC proposes to add new sections into the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Appendix A5, NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES, DIVISION A5.4- MATERIAL CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, SECTION A5.401 GENERAl

BSC proposes to modify section in the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Appendix A5, NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES, DIVISION A5.4- MATERIAL CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, A5.402 DEFINITIONS

BSC proposes to add new definition terms to the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Appendix A5, NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES, DIVISION A5.4- MATERIAL CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, A5.405 MATERIAL SOURCES

BSC proposes to add new section to the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Appendix A5, NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES, DIVISION A5.4- MATERIAL CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, A5.405 MATERIAL SOURCES

BSC proposes to repeal and modify sections in the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Appendix A5, NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES, DIVISION A5.4- MATERIAL CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, A5.409 LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

BSC proposes to repeal, add new, and modify existing sections into the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Appendix A5, NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES, DIVISION A5.6, SECTION A5.601 CALGREEN TIER 1 AND TIER 2

BSC proposes to modify and add new sections to the 2022 CALGreen as listed below.

Appendix A5, NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES, DIVISION A5.6, SECTION A5.602, VERIFICATION GUIDELINES, MANDAtorY MEASURES CHECKLISTS

BSC propose to adopt new checklists tables upon final proposed code updates as listed below.

Each of the above headings are followed with a list of items which are applicable, some of them are long sub lists.  EVERY ONE of the above are part of the Embodied Carbon Provisions that were adopted.

You will find the ‘detailed text’ for the many many items above in two areas 45 day and 15 day. The 15 day ‘revisions’ supercede the 45 day sections; but the 45 day elements that were NOT revised by 15 day provisions remain as set forth in the 45 day section.  Easiest is to start with ALL the 45 day material, and then replace any material that was changed for the 15 day period.:

Then pick 45 and 15 day comment periods

The materials are in two places: one for the code changes adopted by CBSC (these are the ones that apply to commercial buildings of all types) and likely will be of greatest interest)

There was a SEPARATE code adoption process, and documents, for the DSA approval; these requirements ONLY apply to certain public schools.  These would be of interest to architects that work on public school projects, which tends to be a ‘specialty practice area’ so perhaps a slightly lower priority.  These two sets of codes overlap a lot, but some wording is going to be different (there is a different area threshold which is the primary difference)

MFMalinowski FAIA 8/9/2023

CALGreen Change proposals are here

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Rulemaking/2022-Intervening-Cycle/2022-Public-Comments/GREEN-45

CBSC Initial Action and 45 day comments

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Rulemaking/2022-Intervening-Cycle/2022-Public-Comments/GREEN-45#accordion-29aa19f0-5ea4-4c73-9a2e-43ac5518ab0f

DSA Initial Action and 45 day comments

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Rulemaking/2022-Intervening-Cycle/2022-Public-Comments/GREEN-45#accordion-dd8f08e9-d5c0-471d-8a3b-76f587ef39cb

Subsequent Revisions (in response to 45 day comments) and 15 Day Comments

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Rulemaking/2022-Intervening-Cycle/2022-Public-Comments/GREEN-15

Materials related to the CalGreen Carbon Reduction Collaborative (CCRC)

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Rulemaking/2022-Intervening-Cycle/2022-PreCycle#accordion-5209c610-6edd-489f-b34e-d06d04f61bfd

Item 2D (Embodied Carbon Measures) Draft Initial Express Terms from the CCRC Sept 8 2022 meeting

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/-/media/Divisions/BSC/03-Rulemaking/2022-Intervening-Cycle/Pre-Cycle/CCRC-20220908/2022-08-28-ITEM-2d-Carbon-Reduction-DRAFT-IET.pdf?la=en&hash=7F2EC31FB3D40D6F87ADEF439C4DD2716D64269B

This material would be a helpful supplement to the ‘statement of reasons’ as these are graphic slides; but they are NOT updated to reflect the 15 day changes so some final editing may need to be done.

Item 2D (embodied carbon) Powerpoint slides from the CCRC Sept 8 2022 meeting

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/-/media/Divisions/BSC/03-Rulemaking/2022-Intervening-Cycle/Pre-Cycle/CCRC-20220908/2022-09-08-ITEM-2d-Carbon-Reduction.pdf?la=en&hash=8F76E51A9E7493BE882364537DE0518E87865FD2

MFMalinowski FAIA  v2 8/9/2023

Press Release August 4th 2022

California becomes first State to Adopt Mandatory Measures to Reduce Embodied Carbon
Applicable to most large buildings, changes to building code developed via the CALGreen Carbon Reduction Collaborative bring new tools to counteract climate change.

Sacramento, California–Against the backdrop of this summer’s devastating series of climate crisis events, the State of California adopted new codes which will reduce a major contributor to global warming. 

At their Wednesday, August 2, 2023, meeting, the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC), voted unanimously for two building code changes to limit embodied carbon emissions in the construction, remodel, or adaptive reuse of commercial buildings larger than 100,000 sq feet and school projects over 50,000 sq ft. These changes go into effect on July 1, 2024, statewide.

In making these changes, California becomes the first state in the nation to set general code standards that require the reduction of embodied carbon emissions in the design and building process applicable to both commercial buildings and schools. Embodied carbon refers to greenhouse gas emissions arising from building materials over their life cycle, which includes manufacture, transportation, installation, maintenance, decommissioning, and disposal.

A 2019 Code Change Petition filed by AIA California in 2019 was instrumental in the steps that led to these changes, which were developed via a collaborative process under the auspices of the CALGreen Carbon Reduction Collaborative (CCRC), a group comprised of representatives of several California State agencies and non-governmental groups.

“It can take up to 80 years to overcome embodied carbon’s impact through strategies that reduce energy usage or operational carbon; the planet doesn’t have that time,” said AIA California President Scott Gaudineer, AIA. “Today’s actions by the Division of the State Architect, led by California State Architect Ida Clair, AIA, and the California Building Standards Commission led, until very recently by Executive Director Mia Marvelli, AIA, codify a cultural shift: to meet decarbonization timelines set by California law, embodied carbon must be reduced in addition to operational carbon.”

The code additions are amendments to the 2022 California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen), Part 11, Title 24. The amendments provide three embodied carbon reduction compliance paths: one based on reuse of at least 45% of an existing structure; one based on specification of materials that meet specified emission limits; and a third performance-based path that allows use of a Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment to measure a building’s embodied carbon. The carbon reductions build upon California’s Buy Clean California Act (BCCA) of 2017, extending the scope of projects covered significantly, and adding to the list of covered materials to include concrete.

To develop these amendments, AIA California “worked directly with both key state agencies and a wide range of other stakeholders to ensure that the methods, metrics, criteria, and process is both significant and attainable,” noted Michael Malinowski, FAIA, who led the effort for the organization. “In their final form, these standards will be easily achieved for the large-scale projects they will apply to.”

AIA California worked extensively with partners like the National Buildings Institute (NBI), RMI, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF), StopWaste, ClimateWorks, SF Environment, Energy Solutions, Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC), and many others to vet technical aspects of the amendments and bring them to fruition.

“The American Institute of Architects California has been working for a number of years to help California move forward with decarbonization of our building stock, which contributes approximately 40% of our state’s greenhouse gas pollution,” said Malinowski. “Using the building code in this way is important in shifting ‘business as usual’ across the building industry to also address climate action.”

In the coming months, AIA California will be developing and hosting programs to expand awareness and implementation of the code changes for design professionals and our collaterals and partners in the building industry and beyond. 

About AIA California AIA California is dedicated to serving its members, and uniting all architecture professionals in the design of a more just, equitable, and resilient future through advocacy, education, and political action. It celebrates more than 75 years of service and, today, is composed of more than 11,000 members across the state.

What crisis? Lawsuit claims urban Sacramento has enough housing, seeks to block apartments

From the Sacramento Bee today …

BY THERESA CLIFT

JANUARY 22, 2021 05:00 AM, 

UPDATED 8 MINUTES AGO

Claiming that new rental housing is not “much needed” in Sacramento’s pricey central city, a midtown property owner is suing the city to block the construction of a six-unit apartment building proposed for a lot that has been vacant for decades.

R. Michael West filed the lawsuit against the city and its preservation commission, which gave the project the green light last month. It seeks to void the city’s approval of a three-story six-unit rental apartment building planned for the corner of 21st and T streets in midtown’s Poverty Ridge neighborhood. West owns a century-old home next to the empty lot through a family trust.

The lawsuit, filed last week in Sacramento County Superior Court, claims the project would “disrupt the architectural character” of the neighborhood and violate federal and city standards for historic areas. It alleges the building would be taller and closer to the street than other buildings in the area. It also claims the infill project should not be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act and that it should include off-street vehicle parking, per city code, because it is not within a quarter mile of a light rail station.

“This proposed building can’t even come close to fitting in,” Catherine Straight told the preservation commission Dec. 16, representing West during an appeal hearing. “It’s grotesque.”

The property owner worked with the city and the neighborhood to revise the design of the building, which does indeed match the character of the neighborhood and is a quarter mile from a light rail station, Matthew Sites, a city urban design staff member, told the commission. The building will be 32 feet tall, which is four feet lower than the historic rules allow, Sites said. The lot has been vacant for 60 to 80 years, Sites said.

The commission denied the appeal, finding the project followed all relevant historic and environmental regulations. Commissioner Ryan Miller recused himself and Commissioner David Lemon was absent. The denial prompted the lawsuit.

The city declined comment on the lawsuit because it has not yet been served, city spokesman Tim Swanson said.

Bottom of Form

The lawsuit comes as Sacramento is experiencing a severe housing crisis, which could worsen as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. To keep up with demand, the city of Sacramento would need to issue permits for 45,580 new housing units by 2028, according to an estimate by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments.

Housing in the central city is especially “much needed,” according to a city staff report. Sacramento has seen some of the largest rent increases in the nation, and rents in the central city are among the highest in the region.

“The project will activate a vacant lot and provide much-needed new housing in the central city, carrying on the positive momentum of development and investment in the city,” the staff report read.

The lawsuit argues that housing is not “much needed” in the area. “There is no evidence that this statement is true, and in fact, such is not likely true,” the lawsuit reads. The lawsuit claims about half the units are not rented in a new large apartment complex, The Press at Midtown Quarter, three blocks away at 21st and Q streets.

As of this week, 39% of the units at The Press are occupied, according to data from SKK Developments. But the units have only been available since the summer – months into the coronavirus pandemic – and there are 277 units total, meaning about 108 are now occupied.

Mulugeta Ghile, part-owner of the vacant property at 21st and T streets, bought the land in 2019 and filed plans with the city to build a duplex, he said. He worked with the city and amended his plan to a six-unit building.

Ghile, who lives in the Bay Area, was planning to move to Sacramento to live in one of the units and rent the rest out. But the experience so far has been “a nightmare,” he said.

Over 100 years ago, the Bel-Vue on 8^th was among the very first ‘mixed use’ buildings in downtown Sacramento, with comfortable apartments above American Cash, a ground floor grocery + hardware store.  Designed by California’s first state architect, this was a gem honored on the National Historic Register – but it’s better days were a distant memory as it slipped into decay, an abandoned wreck filled with bat, pigeons and rot.

Today it’s glowing again, full of tenants who enjoy the historic restored interior down to the claw foot tubs and  rich moldings, and the lobby fitted out like an elegant library.  Applied Architecture was proud to have assisted young developer Ali Youssefi on this adventure, completed six months after he was tragically lost to cancer. 

The Bel-Vue has regained its spot among Sacramento’s treasures.

Michael F. Malinowski FAIA Architect

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