Chapter 9 - Public Buildings and Institutions: Solar Power as a Solution: Legal Mechanisms for Sustainable Buildings

Abstract

The chapter explores that the California Legislature in the year 1974 passed Public Resources Code section 25007, which established a state policy. To employ a range of measures to reduce wasteful, uneconomical, and unnecessary uses of energy, thereby reducing the rate of growth of energy consumption, prudently conserve energy resources, and assure statewide environmental, public safety, and land use goals. It is outlined in the book that with continued increases in energy usage and energy costs, the legislature revised the statewide policy in 1981. In addition, it was further the policy of the state to promote all feasible means of energy and water conservation and all feasible uses of alternative energy and water supply sources. More recently, Governor Schwarzenegger signed the California Solar Initiative on August 21, 2006 (Senate Bill 1). It established an objective of the state to install solar energy systems with a generation capacity equivalent of 3000 MW. But to establish a self-sufficient solar industry in which solar energy systems are a viable mainstream option for both homes and businesses in 10 years, it is required to place solar energy systems on 50% of new homes in 13 years.