State Health Buildings Achieve 'Green' Status

The effort is meant to keep pace with the goals of the state's Global Warming Solutions Act and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Green Building Initiative (Executive Order S-20-04), which directs state agencies to decrease energy use at state-owned buildings 20% by 2015, while also reducing the impact state buildings have on climate change. The order also directs that state buildings— both new construction and existing facilities—meet a minimum of LEED Silver standards in order to save energy, conserve water, divert waste from landfills and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

To date, 13 state buildings have been certified by the USGBC. In addition, more than 200 new state buildings are being designed and built to achieve USGBC certification, while approximately 200 existing state facilities are pursuing certification for operations and maintenance practices.

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

In addition to the health campus, the 1.5 million-sf Capitol Area East End Complex includes the California Department of Education building bounded by 14th, 15th, N and O streets. In 2006, the Education Building became the first state-owned office building in the nation to earn the USGBC's Platinum certification for operations and maintenance, three years after receiving a Gold certification for new construction in 2003.