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PC Resolution _6276
RESOLUTION NO. 6276 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTING OF THE GREEN FOR LIFE VOLUNTARY GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM WHEREAS, on June 13, 2012, the Planning Commission considered a draft Green for Life Voluntary Green Building Program, prepared by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments; and WHEREAS, the Voluntary Green Building Program ("Program") includes provisions which are consistent with a proposed mandatory update of Title 24 of the Uniform Building Code, which will be effective January 1, 2014; and WHEREAS, the proposed Program will assist developers of new construction as well as those renovating and remodeling existing properties to exceed the originally designed performance of their projects, as well as provide a great opportunity to educate the region's construction industry on how to build sustainably as the marketplace changes; and WHEREAS, by adopting this program now on a voluntary basis, the City will make available funding from Southern California Edison to help train city staff and local contractors; will encourage the development of new energy -efficient buildings and the upgrading 1 modernizing the City's existing building stock; increase community's level of understanding; and facilitate the City's ability to work with the residents and building owners on "green initiatives" when building, remodeling or replacing equipment at their homes and businesses. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that, based upon the foregoing, the Planning Commission hereby recommends that the City Council adopt the Voluntary Green Building Program, as set forth in Exhibit A. ADOPTED this 13th day of June 2012. AYES: 6, Roberts, Vice Chair Hudson, Klatchko, Calerdine, Munger and Chair Donenfeld NOES: None ABSENT: 1, Conrad ABSTAIN: None ATTEST: V CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA AGUIDE TOTHE VALLEY -WIDE VOLUNTARY GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM Green For Life is an energy -saving program funded by the California Public Utilities Commission through Southern California Edison and administered by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments. Nm 101 __ ? This GUIDE was produced by the collaborative effort of Southern California Edison, Coachella Valley Association of Governments, Terra Nova Planning & Research and Interactive Design Corporation. Wj6m-greenfQd fecv ors This GUIDE to the Valley -Wide VOLUNTARY GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM introduces the issues of energy efficiency in buildings from the practical perspective of a property owner: "What should I do (to save energy/money)?" This practical introduction is not comprehensive, but rather is a "soft" opening. A knowledgeable person may choose to skip over these few pages. This GUIDE is an introduction to the VOLUNTARY GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM and the GREEN BUILDING MANUAL which is the "meat and potatoes" of the Program. You can find the GREEN BUILDING MANUAL online at www.greenforlifecv.org. 0 CHAPTER ONE, the next section, addresses the primary "things to do" with more information. CHAPTER TWO illustrates the principles that underlie the "things to do." This section is intended to help interested citizens, building owners, contractors and professionals become more fluent in the language of "green building." If one understands the principles of energy -efficient design, other actions can also be taken to complement and supplement the basic "What should I do?" actions. (CHAPTER THREE) Finally, because this Voluntary Program and the California Building Code are based upon standards and measurements, the Voluntary Program includes an extensive checklist of specific actions, and how they are counted toward a more energy efficient ` building. What follows is the INTRODUCTION to the Valley -wide VOLUNTARY GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM. 3 1c) f it � [��► �' r� �, �- � The purpose of the VOLUNTARY GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM Is to answer three questions: "What should I do to make my building more energy efficient?" "Why do those actions reduce energy usage?" "How are the effects of doing those actions measured?" The Voluntary Program Is Intended for four audiences: City Staff (Building & Planning Departments) Owner and interested citizens Building Contractors Designers The Voluntary Program addresses three building types: Single family homes (new and remodel) Multi -family (new and remodel) Commercial (new and remodel) C� 6MM1iEAAp0Kfi "What can I do now for my business?" IV _ ._0 r TREES ON WEST SIDE 2 UPDATE LIGHTING Install compact fluorescent bulbs 3 SHADE WINDOWS Add trellis, awnings, trees, lattice/vines 4 COOL ROOF Add coating on existing or select light colored materials for new construction 5 ADD INSULATION Add spray foam with higher R-value to existing construction or select high R-value for new 6 UPDATE WINDOWS Install high efficiency windows with low U-value •- .34 on new construction or replace/add film to existing single -glazed windows 7 DUCT TEST/SEAL Tape leaks in existing pipes and ducts 8 HEATING VENTILATION & AIR CONDITIONING > SEER 13 Replace unit with higher efficiency rating 4&5 ••�y,ye y -;Y ti 11 The Rqdldenttaj: mujtjf�'Mjjy 'E-#i-Ejrgy Mojerioy Rebato Pr.ogr8iM offem. p(Opor-ty OwnOrg- and rnanoger� filcentiVes erf. a broad list of enefgy. efficiency: W PTOV8 FnO( .AirYg, H-VAC, filsoje q lt6 Jn Ilgh . %ndow Otogor]L'S. Th PVr v jh3 are 'a be. d to ,j,etr- OxIsling 11101family P):QpeMO5, of two., mom tityl - but.com 12 mm.greenkrlffecv. "Why does it save energy?" CHAPTER TWO of the Voluntary Program presents practical energy saving measures and illustrates the principles that underlie those measures. TYPE OF BUILDING AREA TO CONSIDER WHAT IS TO KNOW GRAPHIC TO DEMONSTRATE THE SOLUTION PRINCIPLES AND TERMS FOR SOLUTIONS — SPECIFIC TOPIC CLOSING STATEMENT >v ,. ... . OIHlgeh hroiyA h6redri iYiOgP/10A'NKALbk}NM,`[yJ1rGMebOSfl-0NOCi IO:NefMmluapeWtlbtq ltdl el dri�a4 s>ctr+ds �ee}?Kl �Y04!r'salrtl+d vh ntd, eM1i ewnineglfee iipM�teNnra b taaGlwlinidl. hw v_ = ..amw :X=011 Rtxakq th:edd rtapFdt M egee�es new,lmr usainer ertl iabl hqt Yats}e 'Oodwd colon W red'n0[arster1"XI haWhmndam VAMM eveaee kerars M,4hw kffKb, enf rod "dAmm kp or Ineeerndwditkmpft d w0wo" aa{nrw ehanor A•«cuama." wwww" f10f Cpaa40�i0Ce WNWANNUMMM AM Yee-"wA■ rdler lrJfMrM.- - P"w"hoff"OkOwn r-No ""0.e..1,116"M h�� hj,Selp errf rM/O�Sn1f fQ00d hbfMr�l4ylt�gllQ W OnPbV10d'!�hefp©4Yy1ri0K RrayM hefl5e. �fK.SlgpgGNifhDfd elupnryuh Isft Ohelll�perf�YtieOet endOndekw r0{0(w�1110Of iy+ow+wa�renf.ee+w.w ewweRihEce.�.tarw edAedlp+rardb�k YFe edrenYye ofnaNreclort fret elder tt�pN4Rne1!�R y+wNitiMq.err r t�•fOrN ed3 1I�Y01bt� lnehanAefh fetGdO�M, N� N41�1ryf 1��y'gicgflC W�1�atwde6let0lmprFullO MMttd do NnLL 1heEeLg40n6oftq�ittMldNW 7, _ See CHAPTER TWO of the GREEN BUILDING MANUAL for full pages. 13 G c 14 t� Let's break it down... See CHAPTER TWO of the GREEN BUILDING MANUAL for full pages. GRAPHIC DETAIL OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN OPTION MOWYMMOWMATE Add aaes.b s}at ma wwo andammftk i. LIKT HAPDBC,AM TM*1 MdWs ft rhad i*re @ fw PEFURSLEPANOts Yft*cweasrp6skwNwpavars brWuoamaoo DIRECT RAIN WATM Oiredmd=4aRaraawlo'*y aaah' b *mmpa woes HOW TO ACHIEVE THE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN OPTION & WHAT IT WILL ACCOMPLISH CA DTE D UPm11UA;WQ It all starts with the sun... Here in the Valley, we want protection from the sun: we park our cars under carports or under trees; we want roofs over our patios; we like the shade from trees. But the sun also feels good part of the year. So controlling exposure to the sun is the trick. In the desert, cooling our buildings takes a lot more energy than heating them. So a common sense approach to energy saving is to shade the west (and south) sides of our buildings - with trees, patio covers, even "living walls." ORIENTATION SHADE REFLECTIVITY EMISSIVITY See CHAPTER TWO of the GREEN BUILDING MANUAL for full pages. . ImumMomi TK RDOF 4rorde n is Rye pinohrr means of resrssvg had 4amhw, and penerafy more rp bapar Bul he bcelian w abo a1. tl tlm tmb! an s on WP of th rod D i MOffK" Rmn fha mile from had irerdeiion bataeerr FORM—bWbA lop Ow is Urabest, +,+e�tka4'eed roof' c�cNm ekroelpa the lil�pd beat buidtp. 7boa erf -d roof rated O. ahkglea and mdal rod C des% {or abpedrpeh $�� CgpllOet' �pllaf0r nemtWdjl Ihd redaers vary ellxla+q and turwghwtl, over nro anhro al>, ua heat+dard dlad fa redooad by'tad MW ars4errra A loaw roof sydwn oleo vrobvothe go d tlw roof mobrane hoR A vantiWed rod gohn ofiadeailre aduahsWhffNN "M ptdo qhV dsEie, e<d okcvialeaatovrflromanGaaewtdah �leol�ap�R chord itro aaam tenpaelura as the whiard W kohl tp a W aymem aeahn a verdided rod Watem. HOW TO ACHIEVE THE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN OPTION & WHAT IT WILL ACCOMPLISH GRAPHIC DETAIL OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN OPTION — ''1 The rest of CHAPTER TWO includes explanations and illustrations of the principles that underlie "Why does it save energy?" For example the idea of "cool roofs" is explained in terms of the solar reflectivity and emissivity of a roof. ROOF: Roofs get hot because they absorb the sun's energy. A "cool roof" is a system that reflects sunlight and doesn't absorb (reflectivity), store and "emit" a lot of heat (emissivity). The minimum values for a "cool roof" are: 0 Reflectivity > 0.70 (Black tar - 0.10; Pure white - 0.95) Emissivity > 0.75 (Aluminum foil -0.90; Black tar - 0.20) U vs R: The U factor measures the entire assembly of a window, wall, roof, etc. The R-value is the resistance to thermal transfer of a single component (glass, insulation, stucco, etc.) To get the U-factor, you add up all the R-values and divide into 1 -- sort of. 17 Ee G L See CHAPTER TWO of the GREEN BUILDING MANUAL for full pages. KEEP THE SUN OUT Wndawe Dkd auhighl haft dq lee inside d e bumonp No. way t endow a d mlV %ftd dog hd to toudl. The bad my to pndad raft heal Nftp Oslo dodo Ow wk*w Ad*bn* the plan: iae! shooed be oDabd wit a kwembsltrly (Lowe) wbdaroe. This type of m*g rdleds mUoh d On iedh4l energy and ismemmW by Sdu HIM din c"ffigav (SHOO.) The fmw the number, pM boft (0 23 t muhbelWdm0.50.) Hadw .Om bwbr vdm No M* oriy twu an rdnaowethalpelarmwnipm_ Nun,_ fadnp wt xdawe an have a higher SHOO. Ilr'`t�il HOW TO ACHIEVE THE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN OPTION & WHAT IT WILL ACCOMPLISH — Mas Awft best tear ftwo GRAPHIC DETAIL OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN OPTION -- WINDOW STICKER INDICATING TYPE, U- VALUE AND SHGC WINDOW: Windows leak heat from conductance (air temperature) and radiation (sunlight.) Energy efficient windows resist conducting heat by double glazing and insulated frames; this is measured by the "U-value." Windows resist radiant heat transfer by coatings (low-e) on the glass; this is measured by SHGC (solar heat gain coefficient.) Here in the Valley (Climate Zone 15), the practical minimum values are: U-factor 0.35 (lower is better) SHGC 0.30 (lower is better) INSULATION: Insulation resists heat transfer by creating air pockets. The better the insulation material resists heat transfer the higher the R value (per inch.) Here in the Valley (Climate Zone 15), the practical minimum values are: Walls R-19 (higher is better) Roof/ceiling R-38 19 K (.odder a X, blti g �64,-umor e le Otranim When they qre nod in uso, (Ever, of tj rp 6d off, OD playqre. -11 f he U.S., Oeras :3 on o ugh e Rer-R 10 OA'O,- year tO P'QWer t h 0 ' ."' L vog�.8 strily for six rn-clitts') Cl n. diedtftn, prorwas are roj3p%jalble for ,a -wrootely. �5- poruot of hou%eflocd Aepla(,e llg#7.t� arty{ �am[a vJlh enerm� Off ljoli-3 M FN ERGY 8 TARIV qua Iffiad' c. 0 mp�tpjo M. f.OFQ bW Lssi w hl ch 18st tip to 10i" times. lQnger Qnd use UO to 760 le SCE-r - Qrll 20 wwware nfarkff�.r CHAKitaTiNRZi How the VOLUNTARY GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM is measured? CHAPTER THREE of the Voluntary Program is the technical scorecard and point system of the energy saving building measures. The more green principles used in your building, the higher your scorecard will read in this Program. TYPE OF BUILDING SPECIFIC TOPIC See CHAPTER THREE of the GREEN BUILDING MANUAL for full pages. 21 MOM C� Like CHAPTERS ONE & TWO, CHAPTER THREE is organized by building type (homes, apartments, and businesses) and progresses from issues outside the building (site conditions, building orientation, drainage, etc.), to the building envelope (roof, windows, etc), to the structural system (framing systems), to equipment selection and finally passive strategies and health considerations. Each item is also cross referenced to other rating systems (Cal Green, LEED, Green Point) to direct a design professional toward further investigation. 22 www.gmgnb-r&cv.org See CHAPTER THREE of the GREEN BUILDING MANUAL for full [)ages. TECHNICAL. BUILDING MEASURES AND POINT SYSTEM 15 ' '►erac �a+�a�. cmrr oo��sr «,«�r��r c�A�.urr. : - .4 sereeeeahOMCadegrtrrRillvake9�ea"hwbwaim LE99FA6.1, 15,1 n �� u SOlturouyn wn5d �Ir Ipn u b Nyry�Y� 01, 83 A dPR lea HA 15:2 r x 15.3 J#S4o?fiiopTY}, ' .. Aw %4 1 .5 15.8 os�D tivRcs�tabesonea�,aicainomo�e�nbaa�ck�ea � 153 roaar Mb9mbrair f�10wnandftbw"K4 1W) 4 k1ft #"pApvftRAwhwftyy=*rd SPECIFIC CATEGORY & BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF UNDERLYING PRINCIPLE INDIVIDUAL CREDIT WITH DESCRIPTION REFERENCE TO OTHER RATING SYSTEMS 23 CHAPTER THREE is the technical part of the Voluntary Green Building Program. All the design and equipment choices are listed and assigned a point value, and a "score card" is created for your building. When the points are totaled you will know whether the building meets or exceeds the minimum goal of the Voluntary Green Building Program: to exceed Title 24 by 15%. Some of the items listed are mandatory (M) and some are already part of Title 24 energy calculations. These are highlighted in green (naturally) so one could simply select those items in green and they will directly improve Title 24 calculations. You may be able to reach the +15% simply by upping the values of these "green" items. Items not highlighted in green do not directly relate to Title 24, but are valuable for energy efficient buildings. These items are assigned "points" and when the adjacent "check box" is checked, a running total is started. 4 www.gregnforlifecv,org See CHAPTER THREE of the GREEN BUILDING MANUAL for full pages. te' HVAC equipment Carefully considerthe energy efficiency CG A4.407, es selected In this Code that will Wuence the actual heat load on the LEED FA t3.1, 1'dloning system. The size of the system (measured In'tons') may be 8 2, 6.8 & GPR } ca i by as much as 30%through OM design and upgraded energy H.5 .y measures. the HVAC system to be zoned s ire controlled by one thermostat s; closets, pantries, and laundry the Wilce as a sealdd - combo GREEN AREA: THESE ITEMS RELATE TO T-24 CALCULATIONS that no more than to enctosed m not include bathroom, AZ ($colt) unit POINT SYSTEM: RECEIVE POINTS FOR EACH ITEM ('M' IS MANDATORY) — 4 I T CHECHBOX: CHECK THIS IF YOU COMMIT TO THIS ITEM T 25 N 181 EQUIPMENT/AC SOLAR THERMAL ROOF ----) WINDOWS L1 elk. Xci WATER/DRAINAGE SHADE ORIENTATION Now t< W yo� r iia�re ..gar�� thtoug�l. tt)e GUIDE, piOtUre a $ a M. p I & kTO e of 3 b drwms with 2 bathrgonis Witt in 2010 smewhore in the valley. it %-ra .dlslAned, built anif scored using creditt from the Voluntaiy Greer. Building Prbgrarn, The Sample New Home is designed with these energy efficient principles in mind: ORIENTATION This sample home is configured to minimize west -facing walls and windows. The long axis is within 30 degrees of south. SHADE The roof on the south & east facing sides of the house extends beyond the exterior wall 5' providing a covered porch. 25% of liveable area is outdoors. WATER/DRAINAGE Permeable pavers are installed on 20% of site for patios, walkways and driveways/parking. ROOF A radiant barrier is installed at the roof level. Roof is made of high durability/low maintenance fiber cement. WINDOWS Spectrally selective glazing is used on the east-, south- and west -facing windows. EQUIPMENT/AC Condensing units with two -stage compressor units are installed (SEER �: 16). Use units with a minimum Energy Efficient Ratio (EER) of 11.5. SOLAR THERMAL A solar water heating system is installed because the demand for hot water is equivalent to the production of hot water. '. rAto hftt . use have- rapr.�du d thf, 00dlts related to, f-Il ltert� ' :606W angl then added up the "Po€nW 'W see ho..w the safe plef 4 QU$e }tits K 27 I... f I I, i F s See CHAPTER THREE of the GREEN BUILDING MANUAL for full pages. ee milod wewdA). O B UIo tWoMil NO dMUR Acw rW 6, nee mdaW amb *t conaft sW ftsr&wtamK AZ(&ao Z ; 00 A4,1e8.4 a� GPR PA.f a .. 4 w. j AZ (Seol) a a When you check this specific box, the Title 24 calculations must show that in fact your building is 15% over T-24 requirements. Credit 3.1 credit 4.2 credit 9.3 credit 11.1 credit 12.2 help in the calculation of T-24 and do not provide points outside of the credit. 28 www.grpenforlifecy.org Red titles correspond to page 27. Visr this cr must f Califon Code. See CHAPTER THREE of the GREEN BUILDING MANUAL for full pages. TOW Congratulations!! Your home scored at the Energy leader level TP 0sV credits ire joist a fe.. a n..jp1esZ T! P-r are. -,34ditl i credits in O.HAPTER THRU of tho. oluntary Grei4n Bwi l P.rogr r i i bfl.t ye are not reqo Rod to soIeQt.all, 29 N x C�7 -TbiY SOWO.M: '7t RL�,sqwroe, sp-anikh., hofor, lire k evaunws wil rfl 01 Udlog progm-au— tQ .40 1 p f MOM 0--q uwlhe d oustormV4, Th6 Qaffamla Altofrmie Rotas for Enlart; (OARE) ptogfam oNrs [poame- qualjfled Oustoplars a discount of 20% .or motv to th-ek ni-onthly erectri Wil T' Q NIL EnQrgy %vl.no A6,,silstDj-.iqe Rogram P.. I for mo .st of rjur.oheQLpg and ifis.tafl Wa f I onerg -eff-loferit qpjtdnees fpr intl01-Me-qI-A Offfifled r, w.9 to m * rs, 30 www,greQiifQ6fe.cy.org CHAPTER FOUR offers a cost benefit analysis to help determine the most appropriate measures to apply for specific budgets. You can use this tool to determine the cost of the measures you have chosen and how long it will take for these measures to pay for themselves. UNDER CONSTRUCTION 31 P: Afrft� if kip to $ 4, 0.00 are available to SCE atid socalGaRoo festdeotial Customers with detabhed single-fa(LnIly. h-qnieg flune apgroe Awql-e*,- wAb a varjoty of part.ovation you can rwrmct Your tiro-ow's Wei& 32 www.gregnforlifecy.org Financial aNalfb[el��iln�di� FINANCIAL INCENTIVES To encourage participation in this Program, financial incentives are available to offset the costs of energy efficient upgrades. Incentives come in the form of private and public subsidies that support a variety of projects, including appliance upgrades and energy efficient building designs. The purpose of this section is to provide resources and information pertaining to current financial incentives for energy efficient upgrades. The following websites and corresponding links provide incentive information: Southern California Edison (SCE.com) Rebates and Savings - SCE's Rebates and Savings homepage Heating and Cooling - Rebates for products, installation and maintenance Multifamily Enera Eff, icignt RpbgJp, EC2gram - Offers property owners and managers incentives on a broad list of efficient improvements ENREGY STAR (ENERGYSTAR.gov) ENERGY STAR - Energy Star's homepage Special Offers and Rebates - Check for special offers on qualified products Energy Upgrade California (energyupgradeca.org) Homeowners - Incentives offered to residential homeowners Contractors - Incentives offered to licensed contractors U.S. Department of Energy (energy.gov) California Appliance Rebates -An application based, mail -in rebate program Tax Credits - Federal tax credits for purchasing energy -efficient products 33 M �01-9011! fhtoifiatjwWsubsid�ufy.Sowfh F-disoll i the gat: lorOk5t. ptjrohase�r df mowfWfe Otim WY[ng anda-Nednio approximate! Y'l Wilion k-ltowaft b-otam- (kWD.) fwm wl color, biomz�ss, goothermia[ -FtUOPljWs—aJMO,st- M Permit of the pm It de I Ive red to c."$to rAe r.s. 34 bT8ygf uenf o rl A cy -org The VOLUNTARY GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM is designed to allow builders, developers and homeowners to go above and beyond California's Energy Code in terms of energy efficiency. As part of this Program, some Cities have committed to making it easier for those voluntarily participating in the Program to process their plans through the planning and building departments. The requirements are different for each city. Please check the permitting process of your individual city. Inspections by the City will continue to be required for the mandatory T24 requirements of the California Energy Code. These inspections are provided by the City's Staff (Building Department Inspector). 35 N 101 C 36 2*41 _1!&V1 IFP) W1, M I IOU i T� - The VOLUNTARY PROGRAM is self -reporting (except for the Title-24 credits.) It is based upon an honor system: you say you are going to do something to improve the energy efficiency of your building, and we believe that you will. However, there is great value to have third party verification of the actual installation of various measures. Now, why do we say we will trust you, but not your contractor? Simply because the complexities and idiosyncrasies of every construction project present challenges to contractors. Sometimes they miss something, overlook something or simply make a mistake. It is in your interest to confirm that what the plans and specifications state, and what you pay for, are actually well -executed. Therefore both the California Energy Code and the VOLUNTARY PROGRAM place high value on third party verification of four major elements: insulation, duct leakage, whole house leakage, and HVAC equipment. The first three require careful attention to detail and connections. Insulation and ducting is often installed improperly. HVAC requires proper sizing of the equipement prior to purchase. By inspecting insulation and duct work before walls are closed up (so errors can be corrected), the overall performance of the building is greatly enhanced. Professionals such as Home Energy Rating System (HERS) inspectors, are available to provide these services. Every process of manufacturing and fabrication requires quality control; you can think of third -party verification as construction quality control. wwwaLeenfadifacv.ag -. t Where else to look for information... Energy conservation is on everyone's mind, but it isn't always easy to find your way around all the programs and websites. Below are links to some of these organizations -- ones we think are especially relevant to our Desert Climate. By no means is the list comprehensive, but it will get you started looking for more information - or the same information presented differently. Southern California Edison http://www.sce.com The California Energy Commission http,//www.energy.ca.gov/title24/ California State Energy Code http://www.bsc.ca.gov/Home/CALGreen.aspx United States Green Building Council http://www.usgbc.org Build It Green http://www. bu i ld itgreen.org/gree n p of nt-rated/ California Energy Upgrade https.//energyupgradeca.org/ 3 N CQ�4UES ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS: The Voluntary Green Building Program and this GUIDE are learning tools. As practioners, we know how overwhelming and intimidating Building Codes are - for us and our clients. So we start with practical questions: "What should I do?" (to save money and energy). We give some simple practical steps, and then we illustrate the principles that underlie energy efficiency. By starting simple and explaining terms and ideas, we hope everyone who uses this Program will have discussions about what options are available and appropriate for their project. Our goal is to bring "green" into the entire process of imagining, designing and building. CONTRACTORS: The Voluntary Green Building Program and this Guide are intended to help everyone who uses this Program understand the principles of energy efficient building. We have organized the Program and this GUIDE around the practical question "What should I do? (to save energy and money)". The Program is set up so you and your client can discuss the options available and appropriate for their project. Using the Program to help explain the principles behind energy efficient building, you can be an advisor as well as a builder. Finally, the California Energy Code and the construction industry will continue to evolve toward the goal of "net zero" buildings. Becoming an advocate and expert now places you as a leader in your industry. 38 www.greenforlifecv.org CITY STAFF: We all recognize that the California Energy Code continues to evolve. The COACHELLA VALLEY GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM (CVGBP) is voluntary. We see it as a "soft opening" to energy efficient measures that will soon be mandatory. The Program is also a learning tool to help explain both the "what and why" of energy efficiency building. We start by asking "What should I do? (to save energy and money)". We then illustrate and explain specific measures (cool roof) so that the owner, the designer, the contractor can all discuss the options that are available and appropriate. The Program is intended to be a learning tool to help demystify the California Energy Code and other energy efficiency measures. Because the Program is voluntary, it is more an invitation than a mandate for the entire project design team to consider energy efficiency from the initial concept through the entire construction process. 39 101 E3swrtoERN CALIFORNIA EDISON An WISON l.VTERNA MIX it.- C mp8. www.greenfQriifecv.org, w