Building Electrification Update
City Council Meeting
July 30, 2024.
Rational
for
Reach
Code
Cost effective approach to
decarbonize the built
environment
Help developers and building
owners reduce emissions
Improve air quality
What is a
reach code?
ØAmendment to California Energy Code (Title 24
Part 6)
ØReach code requirements
ØMust be at least as restrictive as the Energy
Code.
ØMust be cost-effective, demonstrate that the
proposed code pays for itself over life of
building.
ØLocal governments must make finding that the
reach code is needed for local climatic,
geological, topographical, or environmental
reasons.
ØMust be approved by CEC and filed with BSC.
History
• November 2022 – City adopted a Building
Electrification Reach Rode
• All new construction to be all electric
• Non-residential and multi-family install PV,
offset 100% of electricity use or cover at least
50% of roof space
• EV charging required
• Limited exemptions
• Infeasibility waivers
CRA vs. City of Berkeley
• 2019 CRA sued Berkeley on their fuel gas piping ban in new buildings • 3 judge panel of the 9th Circuit Federal Court stuck down Berkeley ordinance
• City of Berkeley requested an en-banc rehearing
• 2024 the 9th Circuit declined to reconsider
• Many jurisdictions with all electric or similar ordinances suspended enforcement
City of
Glendale
Action
• Considering the Berkeley decision Glendale
asked Rincon to outline alternate options.
• In May 2024 Rincon provided a
memorandum outlining options for the City
to consider.
Reach Code Replacement Options
Option What is it Pro Con
1. Gas ban through a local
amendment to the building
code
Complete gas ban – All
electric ordinance
Easy to understand
Easy to implement
Legally tenuous (Glendale
City Council suspended
parts of the all electric
ordinance)
2. Air Quality Ordinance Regulates sources of air
emissions (NOX, GHG)
Complete gas ban (minus
exemptions)
EPCA Compliant
Supported by SCAQMD
and CARB efforts
Untested legally (some risk)
(Sustainability Commission
recommended staff
research an emissions
standard)
3. Single margin source
energy code amendment
Establish an energy
performance metric more
stringent than state code
EPCA Compliant
Well established reach
code
Gas can still be installed in
new construction
More difficult modeling to
show compliance
Option 3: Single Source Energy Margin Code
Amendment
• Cities in California can adopt local amendments to the energy code (Title 24). • Cities can adopt more stringent requirements under the source energy rating • EDR1 for single family
• Source Energy Score for low & high multifamily and nonresidential • The single source energy margin establishes a performance standard that would apply to all electric and mixed fuel buildings. This approach may encourage all electric construction due to the superior energy performance of electric heating and water heating systems.
• This approach may also not work for all building types depending on climate zone and cost effectiveness results.
As an example, an all-electric home may achieve relatively high- performance levels with the following measures
Heat pump water heater
Heat pump space heater
Prescriptive efficiency
measures (baseline efficiency
measures otherwise required
by the state code)
Additional solar PV,
additional efficiency
measures or high-efficiency
appliances
To achieve a similar performance level, a mixed-fuel home may need to install a combination of measures that may include:
Prescriptive efficiency measures
Advanced efficiency measures, such
as
Increased ceiling insulation
Attic ducts to be buried in insulation
Slab insulation
Low-pressure drop ducts
Compact hot water distribution design
Battery storage
Recommendations
Single source energy
margin code amendments
are a well-established
approach to encouraging
the construction of all
electric buildings.
Staff can develop the
amended reach code for
City Council consideration
in a timely manner.
Thank you
Questions?