Key Resources for Green Building

Green Building includes a wide range of strategies and actions. Here are some key resources that can help you explore the range of opportunities and determine what fits well for your city or county.

• ILG Climate Leadership Stories on Green Building»
  Cities and counties are leading by example and undertaking a range of activities to address climate change in this best practice area. These case stories demonstrate the depth and richness of local agency activities and can serve as examples that other agencies can adapt to meet their communities unique circumstances.
• Green Building Tip Sheet»
  This resource provides a basic overview of tips for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through Green Building. Download the tip sheet on the right side of this page.
• Overview of Utility Energy Efficiency Support and Financing Programs»
  California utilities and state agencies offer a variety of programs to support and finance local government energy efficiency efforts. This page provides a starting point for understanding what programs and resources are available to help.
• CalRecycle Green Building Program»
  Information and resources on green building design and construction, including managing construction and demolition waste.
• California Green Building Standards Code»
  This code applies to all buildings in California and provides standards relating to planning and design, energy efficiency, water efficiency and conservation, material conservation and resource efficiency, and environmental air quality.
• Leed - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Rating Systems»
  LEED provides third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. LEED, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, includes rating systems for green buildings and neighborhood development (LEED-ND).
• California Green Builder»
  This program of the non-profit Building Industry Institute provides guidelines and certification systems, and encourages voluntary partnerships between builders and local governments to build cost-effective, green homes that benefit homebuyers and the community at large through improvements in energy efficiency, indoor air quality and comfort, on-site waste recycling, and water and wood conservation.
• Build It Green»
  Build It Green is a non-profit membership organization providing green building guidelines and rating systems (such as the GreenPoint Rated home rating system), as well as training, tools, technical expertise, and partnership opportunities for a variety of key stakeholders, including public agencies, to accelerate the adoption of green building practices.

The Green Building section of this Web site has other resources that can help, along with examples from a variety of cities and counties throughout California.