Who’s ready to jump on new market demand for oodles of new energy-efficient products?

California just adopted a stringent, statewide building code that creates instant demand for a variety of products that can:

• reduce energy consumption
• conserve water use, and
• cut solvent emissions from paints, carpets, vinyl flooring and particle board.

Business and environmental groups welcomed tough efficiency standards just adopted in California. This “Calgreen” code applies to new building construction, both commercial and residential, to ensure it’s environmentally friendly.

For example, the Calgreen code restricts water flows from a variety of products, wash fountains, urinals, showerheads, to gravity tank water closets. The code also requires that builders recycle 50% of their construction debris instead of sending it to landfills.

The state Chamber of Commerce, the building and real estate industries welcomed the Calgreen codes.

The complainers: the EPA-supported U.S. Green Building Council.

The nonprofit told the San Francisco Chronicle that the Council’s not worried about competition in the standard-setting business, but that the California system will create confusion as to which standards to meet. Calgreen does allow for some standards to be more stringent than the Council sets in its LEED green building program.

Note: The California system is cheaper than obtaining LEED certification. Calgreen standards don’t charge for an occupancy certification. Obtaining this from the U.S. Green Building Council can cost up to $50,000, according to a comparison of the two rating systems.

How do green building standards affect your company? Do you see them as opportunities to cut energy costs? Opportunities to sell new products? Or, do you see them as obstacles to expansion?

Let us know in the comments box below.

Tags: Calgreen, energy efficiency, low solvent paints, water conservation