Several recent news articles have mentioned that the country’s new administration is open to the ideas of “progressive federalism” — the concept that states can lead the way on certain issues, including environmental standards.
It’s a concept first attributed to Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis in the 1930s, who wrote, “…a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory, and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.”
States are leading the way in adopting new cool roofing standards, particularly California’s Title 24.
Greg Crawford, secretary of the Cool Roof Rating Council, says that the 2008 updated standard for the Title 24 Non-residential Compliance Manual has just been completed and adopted; it will go into effect August 1, 2009.
Title 24 — widely regarded as the most stringent energy standard available — is also celebrated by some in the industry for advancing standards farther and faster than any national standard could.
“California has always been the most aggressive simply because they have a finite capacity for energy generation,” says Crawford. “Without a doubt, they’ve been leaders.” 
Loren Snyder, a contributing editor for Building Operating Management, is a writer who specializes in facility issues. He was formerly managing editor of Building Operating Management.
States Adopt California's Title 24
