Status Update on Green Building Reach
Code and Ordinance Development
Sean Youra, Climate Action Coordinator
Town of Fairfax
August 3, 2022
Proposed Reach Code
• Proposed reach code includes the following requirements:
• All-electric appliances for new construction projects (i.e., residential, multifamily, and commercial)
• Energy efficiency savings beyond the State code for renovations (i.e., additions and alterations) of existing single and low-rise multifamily homes (3 stories or less) • For projects renovating X sq. ft. or more = Must meet target energy score • Flexibility to implement various energy efficiency and electrification measures • Electrification measures are favored in terms of point allocation • For projects renovating less than X sq. ft. = Must meet minimum State building code • The proposed reach code does not include:
• Requirements for substantial remodels (i.e., more than 50% of the building floor area is remodeled)
• All-electric requirements for renovations or remodels • Time-of-replacement requirements for existing gas appliances Timeline for Adoption
• Held several meetings with building
officials, advocacy groups,
community members, and other
stakeholders over the past few
months to help develop the model
reach code
• Draft model reach code will be
provided by mid-August
• Will solicit feedback from building
officials/other jurisdiction staff,
commissions, and councils thereafter
• Goal for reach code adoption: Q4
2022
• Reach code effective date: January
1, 2023 2022 Green Building Model Reach Code and Ordinance Development https://www.marincounty.org/depts/cd/divisions/sustainability/greenbuilding-requirements/2022-green-building-model-reach-code-andordinance-development Policy Options
1. Adopt 2022 State building code and maintain existing reach code (i.e., allelectric for new buildings)
2. Option 1 + Adopt model reach code requiring the flexible compliance path for residential remodels
3. Option 1 + Adopt alternative reach code with different requirements than model reach code
Reach Code Policy Considerations
• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reductions
• Proposed reach code would result in greater
GHG reductions than if only State building code
is adopted
• Additional mandatory measures such as all- electric requirements for substantial remodels will still be required to meet Fairfax’s 2030 GHG
reduction goals (Climate Action Plan Measure
E-1: Ordinances for Construction of Energy- Efficient Buildings) • Cost Effectiveness
• Proposed reach code for remodels would utilize
a Cost Effectiveness Explorer Tool to ensure
cost-effectiveness can be demonstrated to the
California Energy Commission
• Flexible compliance approach for remodels will
likely be more cost-effective for applicable
projects than all-electric requirements for those
same projects
Factsheet: Flexible Pathways Compliance Tool
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WliZBsZGHcSylkZHnk3xmoJlWydlCSitWSao03ps uHo/edit
Reach Code Policy Considerations
• Predictability and Consistency
• Proposed reach code, if adopted by all Marin jurisdictions, would provide greater predictability and consistency for the building community and project applicants • Resiliency
• Proposed reach code could potentially impact community resiliency in the event of PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS)
• However, natural gas infrastructure is also vulnerable to PSPS events and often has to be shut off during wildfires and earthquakes
• Resiliency can be improved by also installing solar with energy storage • Equity
• Flexible compliance approach for remodels will likely help keep costs down for multifamily residential remodels compared to all-electric requirements for this building type while still providing energy savings and potentially improving public health