Re: California Government Buildings Go Green!

WE hear a lot about the higher California standards.  In Canada we call it "California Dreaming" with bedrooms over garages and windows all over the place.  Looks good, but not too practical.

Buildings permits are approved on current standards, but the standards are changing so fast that the buildings are obsolete by the time they are built.

California plans a 20% reduction in energy usage by 2012.

In Canada, the 2008 code requires an energy saving of 28% over 1997.  By 2011 the improvement  required jumps by 7% to 35% - and new non-residential and larger residential buildings will have to meet a further 25% improvement on top of that.

 I'm afraid all these numbers are deliberately confusing.  Why can we not just express these energy efficiencies in a number of watts used per square foot?

White roofs?  What a waste. What's wrong with a solar/thermal generator to power the air conditioners and really lower the building's energy usage?