What is the primary purpose of the California Green Building Code (Cal Green)?

The primary purpose of the California Green Building Code (Cal Green) is indeed to enhance the design and construction of buildings with a focus on improving sustainability and environmental protection. This code establishes mandatory and voluntary measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving energy and water, improving indoor air quality, and promoting the use of sustainable materials in construction. By setting standards for how buildings are built, Cal Green encourages practices that minimize negative impacts on both the environment and human health.

The other options, while they touch on aspects of the construction and sustainability process, do not accurately encapsulate the main objective of Cal Green. For instance, tax incentives for builders may exist but are not a primary purpose of the code itself. Regulation of construction materials might be addressed, but this is not the central goal of the code. Lastly, while minimizing construction waste is a significant consideration within the framework of green building practices, the outright elimination of all construction waste is neither practical nor feasible given the realities of the construction industry. Therefore, enhancing the design and construction of buildings tends to encompass the broad, overarching aims of Cal Green more effectively.