Research Projects

Buildings represent the second largest source of California's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The residential sector contributes 14 percent of the total GHG inventory with an estimated 66.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent (MMTCO2E) emissions generated annually during 2002-2004. The Climate Change Scoping Plan adopted green building as a strategy to reduce GHG emissions, but states that further research is needed to quantify GHG reductions. This study proposes to validate existing methods in the GreenPoint Rated Climate Calculator Version 1, develop additional methods to quantify GHG reductions, conduct field testing and obtain stakeholder input to finalize Version 2 of the climate calculator. The results of this study are expected to quantify GHG emission reductions of a green home compared to a conventional home regardless of occupant behavior. This information will be useful in quantifying GHG emission reductions to meet the goals of AB 32 and Executive Order # S-03-03.