Govenor asks for sustainable building strategy

 

EXECUTIVE ORDER D-16-00
by the
Governor of the State of California

WHEREAS, California is committed to providing leadership on energy, environmental and public health issues by implementing innovative and resource-efficient public building design practices and other state government programs that improve the lives of California's 34.5 million residents; and

WHEREAS, the state invests approximately two billion dollars ($2,000,000,000) annually for design, construction and renovation, and more than six hundred million dollars ($600,000,000) annually for energy, water, and waste disposal at state-funded facilities; and

WHEREAS, a building's energy, water, and waste disposal costs are computed over a twenty-five year period, or for the life of the building, and far exceed the first cost of design and construction; and

WHEREAS, an opportunity exists for the State of California to foster continued economic growth and provide environmental leadership by incorporating sustainable building practices into the state capital outlay and building management processes; and

WHEREAS, sustainable building practices utilize energy, water, and materials efficiently throughout the building life cycle; enhance indoor air quality; improve employee health, comfort and productivity; incorporate environmentally preferable products; and thereby substantially reduce the costs and environmental impacts associated with long-term building operations, without compromising building performance or the needs of future generations; and

WHEREAS, the widespread adoption of sustainable building principles would result in significant long-term benefits to the California environment, including reductions in smog generation, runoff of water pollutants to surface and groundwater sources, the demand for energy, water and sewage treatment services, and the fiscal and environmental impacts resulting from the expansion of these infrastructures; and

WHEREAS, it is critical that my Administration provide leadership to both the private and public sectors in the sustainable building arena;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GRAY DAVIS, Governor of the State of California, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the State of California, do hereby establish a state sustainable building goal and issue this order to become effective immediately:

The sustainable building goal of my administration is to site, design, deconstruct, construct, renovate, operate, and maintain state buildings that are models of energy, water, and materials efficiency; while providing healthy, productive and comfortable indoor environments and long-term benefits to Californians.

The Secretary for State and Consumer Services (hereinafter referred to as "the Secretary") shall facilitate the incorporation of sustainable building practices into the planning, operations, policy-making, and regulatory functions of State entities. The objectives are to implement the sustainable building goal in a cost effective manner, while considering externalities; identify economic and environmental performance measures; determine cost savings; use extended life cycle costing; and adopt an integrated systems approach. Such an approach treats the entire building as one system and recognizes that individual building features, such as lighting, windows, heating and cooling systems, or control systems, are not stand-alone systems.

In carrying out this assignment, the Secretary shall broadly consult with appropriate private sector individuals and public officials, including the Director of the Department of Finance; the Secretary of Business, Transportation, and Housing; the Secretary for Education; the Secretary for Environmental Protection; the Secretary of Health and Human Services; and the Secretary for Resources. The Secretary shall submit a report to the Governor within six months of the date of this order, containing a recommended strategy for incorporating sustainable building practices into development of State facilities including leased property.

Thereafter, on an annual basis, the Secretary shall report on the activities and on the efforts of all State entities under the Governor's jurisdiction to implement the Governor's sustainable building strategy. The Secretary shall devise a method for compiling such information and reporting it to the Governor and the Legislature.

All State entities under the Governor's jurisdiction shall cooperate fully with the Secretary and provide assistance and information as needed. The Regents of the University of California, Boards of Governors of Community College Districts, Trustees of the California State Universities, the State Legislature, and all Constitutional Officers are encouraged to comply with the Executive Order.

Nothing in this Order shall be construed to confer upon any state agency decision-making authority over substantive matters within another agency's jurisdiction, including any informational and public hearing requirements needed to make regulatory and permitting decisions.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 2nd day of August 2000.

Governor of California