Soon, going "green" will be more than just tax-expedient and "cool." There are more changes than just healthcare set to roll out on Jan 1, 2014. The California Energy Commission is poised to enforce statewide building changes set forth in early 2013. The changes are in keeping with technological developments that allow better energy efficiency and more thorough vetting of buildings for code compliance. California changes are based on the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Energy Codes program and the Building Codes Assistance Project. Mandates by the CALGreen, another California green-code initiative, will also have requirements. In briefly touching the essentials of the codes, they will include requirements for implementing efficiency technologies and renewable technologies. Both commercial and residential buildings will fall under requirement to comply with the codes. Building sectors involved will include, again, both commercial and residential as well medical and educational facilities. In short, effective Jan. 1, 2014, master plans of communities must include solar paneling and other energy-saving components. The Parkwest General Contractors team has been progressively seeking energy-saving solutions for years. Contact them for more information about the new building codes.