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2. Energy efficiency" vvhich saves money for the homeovvner and is returned to the comrn.nnity"s economy:; 3_ Air quality and health, "\Mhich "\Mould in-,prove the health oYthe children by reducing untested chemicals" sil""l.gly and in combination. Tl"1ose chemicals vvould be eliminated from the home in the first place. l"V1:r. _Tohnston l""1oted that the guidelines had 14 sections vvhich follovved the constructi01-:t process" making it easy for an architect or builder to t.rack. It vvas proposed that 50 out of 357 available points be used as a baseline measure of green standards", and that each cOIT1munity may cl'1oose a different baselil"1e. Fifty points vvas considered to be 1T1oderately green" and vvas a good el""1try level and improvement over the previous convention of- 25 to 30 points_ Projects obtaining 60 points or rnore are considered to have attained a gold level status. In response to an inquiry by Chairperson Arkin,. lVlr_ Johnston noted tl"1at a hOIT1C ITl-ay be modeled based on its energy components" as defined by the Title XXIV analysis_ He noted that E1""1ergyStar is 1 So/a more efficient vvith respect to operating costs thal""l. Title XXIV. He noted that tl""l.cy determine the energy savin..gs on a montl,ly basis,. rather than tl'1e life of the component_ In response to an inquiry by Chairperson Arkin". Commissioner Sullivan conl"irn"1cd that a computer model could be developed vvhich vvould calculate the energy costs 01 running the house. 1"v1.r. Johr1ston noted that many chemicals used in standard construction have a significant impact on young children" especially those vvho do not have fully developed itT'ln"1une systems. He noted that the EPA has not kept up vvith the rate of innovation of building products tl'1at incorporate synthetic chemicals. He noted that the test :tor forn'1aldehyde costs approximately $1 ",500 per unit. l\.I:lr. Jol""l.r1ston noted that the building vvas covered frorn the site througl"1 the f"inishes and flooring. He added that other green building 1'1'1eaSures included on-site IT1aterial recycling". permeable concrete to replenish the vvater table" zeroscape", and lovv vvater native planting. Specific points vvere developed for each ite1T'l for the use of building inspectors and building departments. He displayed a diagram of lovver-percentagc lumber l"1omes that are equally structurally strong as conventional homes". bu.t more el'1ergy e::f:t""icicnt_ In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Roberts, ML Johnston noted that all-steel framing vvas a highly energy conductive IT1aterial" a..n.d that such homes gain 81""l.d lose heat dramatically a.r1d render the insu.1ation half as efTective as a vvood bLdldil"1g. He noted tl-:tat solar photovoltaics are best installed at the beginning ot- construction, and that the California Energy C.ommission rebates vvere very favorable at this time. He noted that energy bills may be redu.ced by 20-400/10 vvhen tl"1e house is properly angled on the 101. PLANNING COl'v'I1VlISSION l'v'IINUTES September 10, 2003 Page 8 . r. T T-"-'~