The effort is meant to keep pace with the goals of the state'sGlobal Warming Solutions Act and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger'sGreen Building Initiative (Executive Order S-20-04), which directsstate agencies to decrease energy use at state-owned buildings 20%by 2015, while also reducing the impact state buildings have onclimate change. The order also directs that state buildings— bothnew construction and existing facilities—meet a minimum of LEEDSilver standards in order to save energy, conserve water, divertwaste from landfills and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

To date, 13 state buildings have been certified by the USGBC. Inaddition, more than 200 new state buildings are being designed andbuilt to achieve USGBC certification, while approximately 200existing state facilities are pursuing certification for operationsand maintenance practices.

Some of the health complex's green features include:energy-efficient systems for central plant, HVAC, mechanical andlighting; energy-compliant "cool" roofs that cut heat gain andreduce energy consumption; energy management systems that monitorand adjust building temperatures where needed; low-flow plumbingfixtures; green cleaning products and practices; and reused andrecycled building materials.