Earlier this month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger flexed his political muscles and signed a bill that made the California the first state in the country to adopt a statewide green building code.

The new code, known as CALGREEN, will help combat climate change -- one of Schwarzenegger's long-standing goals (in fact, it was back in 2007 that he directed the California Building Standards Commission (BSC) to work toward a green building code). The BSC developed the code with input from environmentalists, architects, builders, local officials and others.

CALGREEN -- which will take effect Jan. 1, 2011 -- will require that every new building constructed in California:

• Reduce water consumption by 20 percent
• Divert 50 percent of construction waste from landfills
• Contain low pollutant-emitting materials

The latter requirement is designed to increase the health of those who live and work in newly constructed buildings. It requires the use of less-toxic versions of common offenders such as paint, carpeting, vinyl flooring and particleboard.

"The code will help us meet our goals of curbing global warming and achieving 33 percent renewable energy by 2020," Gov. Schwarzenegger said, "and promotes the development of more sustainable communities by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency in every new home, office building or public structure."

California Air Resources Board agrees, saying that when these measures are in place, the greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 equivalent) in the golden state will be reduced by an estimated 3 million metric tons equivalent in 2020.

Unlike some other green building rating systems -- such as LEED -- CALGREEN requires no extra cost for green certification.