Potential Game Changers in Green Building

New Developments Signal A Fundamental Shift and Perhaps Significant Opportunity for Building Materials Suppliers

Green building certification is a relatively new phenomenon, with the first initiatives in the United States having begun no more than two decades ago. Mainstream programs, as well as scores of state, and regional programs, generally appeared within just the past dozen years. Today, most of these programs are evolving rapidly, such that changes are sometimes difficult to keep up with. In addition, what was only several years ago an almost completely voluntary green building movement has now begun to be reflected in building codes. 

In this report we outline several recent changes in national scope programs and examine a rapidly developing trend toward inclusion of green standards in code requirements. Regarding the latter, we take a look at the recently enacted California Green Building Standards Code and its implications for building materials selection and use in the Golden State and beyond.