(April 31, 2024) In 2022, AIA California played a significant role in the launch of a California innovation: a new entity called the California Carbon Reduction Collaborative (CCRC). 

Founded by three of the key Code Adopting State agencies (Department of the State Architect [DSA], California Housing and Community Development [HCD] and California Building Standards Commission [CBSC]), we worked within the CCRC framework and its wide-ranging stakeholders in an intense year-long effort that led to the adoption of the first Embodied Carbon Mandatory Measures in the country–applicable to certain large buildings. 

This breakthrough set of standards, effective statewide in July of 2024, was widely lauded in the US and around the world. By establishing three alternative paths for compliance: prescriptive, performance, and building reuse options, we ensured design teams have maximum flexibility and impact, while at the same time minimizing the cost and effort required. 

This model is already being emulated by other jurisdictions, ranging from Seattle all the way to Tokyo, Japan, which sent a study group to interview AIA California and State of California leaders.

Today, the California Carbon Reduction Collaborative process was reopened, with a public hearing attended by over 110 individuals and organizations.  AIA California again was a leading voice, invited to present a curated list of recommendations espoused by leading subject matter experts and a wide range of collaborating organizations. The three part-program we envision for this upcoming intervening code cycle:

1. Continuing the important work the CCRC completed in the last code cycle which is making consideration of embodied carbon a part of business as usual for California.
   

   There are some minor incremental adjustments and advances we can take.  We also suggest making progress on foundational work to allow for carbon budgets in future code cycles. This shift away from comparative assessment models toward simpler budget-based modeling can be considered now based on newly available California-specific data, and moving in this direction will ensure we are respectful of the many partners involved in shaping a cost-effective and impactful path forward. 

2. Laying groundwork to further incentivize and incrementally move toward a circular economy. We believe that existing buildings and infrastructure represent both our biggest opportunity, as well as a challenge that requires thoughtful, measured, and strategic shifts over time. We can help expand the tent by bringing foundation definitions and equivalencies to the table.
   
   
3. Continuing to clean up CALGreen, which will allow us all to focus more clearly on what we now know are the most important areas for progress

Are you interested in being a part of this unfolding adventure, joining our optimistic and passionate move toward a sustainable, resilient and beautiful future for us all?  Drop us a line. Contact AIA California staff at svasquez@aiacalifornia.org.

Found out more on CCRC current cycle of development and collaboration, including an opportunity to sign up for updates, click here: https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Rulemaking/2025-Intervening-Cycle/PreCycle

Find background information here. https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Rulemaking/2022-Intervening-Cycle/2022-PreCycle/#CCRC

A collection of embodied carbon tools, training, guides are here. https://calgreeninfo.com/