Local Governments

Build It Green offers strategic assistance to local governments for developing, promoting, and implementing their green building policies and programs. Services provided by Build It Green include:

• Providing GreenPoint Rated compliance guidelines for jurisdictions.
• Establishing and supporting Public Agency Councils in priority regions around the state
• Helping local governments reach the next level in their climate action goals through the Roadmap for Local Governments
• Conducting training for local government officials, policy makers, and staff
• Benchmarking and tracking local government policies, programs, and incentives to tap into emerging best practices and avoid "reinventing the wheel".

As awareness increases among state and local government agencies about the economic, health, environmental and social benefits of green building, a corresponding need exists for effective green building policies that these agencies can embrace and promote to their constituents.  The policies we develop and promote are:

• Complementary and Consistent. Build It Green's green building guidelines, policies and programs are intentionally crafted to be consistent and complementary with California's energy and water utility programs, building and energy codes, and reputable national green building programs such as ENERGY STAR® and LEED.
• Comprehensive. We promote policies that provide credible minimum thresholds for all categories of green building, including energy, water, health and natural resources.
• Inclusive and Transparent. We develop guidelines and policies in an inclusive, open process with all interested stakeholders.
• Flexible. The policies we recommend are flexible enough to be adapted to regional needs and contexts without weakening their integrity.

California has become the first state in the nation to adopt a statewide Green Building Code, known as CALGreen. The basic CALGreen code, which is mandatory, must be adopted by all local jurisdictions prior to January 1, 2011. Optional portions for adoption include Tier 1 and Tier 2; these each include a series of measures that go beyond the basic CALGreen code, also referred to as ‘reach codes’.

To view our work and resource documents, including a comparative of the new CALGreen code and LEED and GreenPoint Rated, click here. 

Email us to learn more about the services we offer for local governments.