By: Jeff Nippes
Green Building is no longer optional for one Canadian province, it’s the law. Starting Dec. 1, energy efficient furnaces, low-flush toilets and other environmentally friendly fixtures will be required by law for all new homes built in Manitoba.
The provincial government has changed the Manitoba Building Code and Manitoba Plumbing Code to include energy efficiency as an objective for the first time ever.
Ok, So Canada has gone green, would such mandatory green building ever be able to take root in America? The answer yes and it is already happening too. California’s First Mandatory Green Building Code, effective Jan. 1, includes provisions to reduce energy usage, conserve water and improve environmental quality. And its not just California many other states are considering legislation and upgrades to the building code to make green building the law. In Albuquerque, NM the city has the Green Path Program which calls for adopting energy efficient building codes. In 2007 the city signed the adopted revised Energy Conservation Code which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by requiring new buildings, and existing buildings undergoing alterations, to be more energy efficient.
The point is if you are still resisting the green revolution its time to get on board. Its no longer just the right thing to do or the environmentally conscious thing to do is rapidly becoming what you have to do, and if its not required to build green today, it most likely will be tomorrow.
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