We simply must do everything in our power to slow down global warming before it's too late," said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in September 2006, when he signed Assembly Bill 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. This landmark legislation, also known as the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop regulations and market mechanisms that will reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

On a sunny summer day, a typical roof surface can reach temperatures that are nearly 100°F above the ambient temperature. A cool roof, by contrast, stays at or near the ambient temperature due to the characteristics of its outer layer.

Sony Pictures Studio opted to emphasize "green" building practices in its new South Astaire Building. This three-story combination office building and movie/television set serves as an expansion to Sony's main studio. A large central skylight spills natural light into the building's open central court.

A 35-foot tall "water tower" feature dominates both the exterior and interior of the single-story Victor Valley Water District Administrative Facility. Located in a high desert climate, this building has 12-inch-thick exterior walls with solid-grouted concrete masonry.

The Pharmaceutical Research Institute in La Jolla, California, is a 123,000-square-foot laboratory and office building completed in 1999. Among the energy efficiency measures included in the building are systems for limiting energy waste associated with its 92 fume hoods and its air handling, space conditioning, and lighting systems.

Using the integrated energy design approach, designers can cost-effectively lower building operating costs while improving workers' comfort and boosting productivity.

Using fundamental components of the Daylighting Designer's Toolkit, designers can improve the visual environment, create a higher-quality space, and lower energy costs for buildings.

Not all energy-efficiency measures are appropriate for all building types, but some are especially useful for particular buildings. This Design Brief reminds designers and builders of opportunities they should consider in each of their projects.

A few building simulation runs early in a project can lead to design solutions that, though they appear simple, significantly improve building energy performance.