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Editorial: California Green Building Initiative.
State leads energy-efficiency project
UC Davis California Aggie
March 6, 2007
In accordance with the California Green Building Initiative, the Department of General Services will turn all state-owned and state-leased commercial buildings green, starting with West Sacramento's pyramid-shaped Ziggurat Building. Though the initiative was mandated in 2004, Davis residents should be proud to see local officials finally beginning this important energy-efficient movement.
Along with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the California Energy Commission, UC Davis' California Lighting Technology Center is working to reduce wasteful lighting in the Ziggurat Building and others, including excessively lit parking structures and office buildings.
By creating lighting plans not only for the Ziggurat Building but for all state-owned facilities, CLTC researchers show they are thinking of the bigger picture -- speeding up the pace of the statewide initiative.
The Davis City Council's environmentally friendly attitude will aid the project: Mayor Sue Greenwald encourages student input at the Mar. 20 council meeting to discuss tentative plans. Recognizing student investment is especially important, as many students may stay in Davis after graduation.
Because all University of California campuses are state-owned, the CGBI should improve energy efficiency at UC Davis as well as at the 10 other UCs. If the initiative proves successful, the UC will pave the way for private and out-of-state schools.
Currently, the state of California and UC Davis are not only leaders of research for energy-efficient automobiles, but also for green buildings. With the conversion of West Sacramento's Ziggurat Building, the landmark may become a symbol of a cleaner, sustainable future.
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