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2022 JUN 13 AH 8: 51+
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LE.AG:UE OF WOiMEN VOTERS�
Sustainabi I ity
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U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL LOS ANGELES
TheClimate
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PASADENA AUDUB@N S@Ci[TY
Citizens' Climate Lobby
Pasadena-Foothills Chapter
SIERRA CLUB
ANGELES CHAPTER
06/13/2022
Item 20
1 June 11, 2022
Pasadena City Council175 Garfield Ave.Pasadena, CA 91101Submitted via email [email protected] RE:SUPPORT- Pasadena Building Electrification CodeUpdate Dear Mayor Gordo and Members of the Pasadena City Council, As local organizations, community stakeholders, and Pasadena residents committed torealizing a more economically and environmentally sustainable community, we urge thePasadena City Council to adopt a strong building electrification policy for new construction -as recommended by staff - in 2022.
Electrification of new buildings is a cost-effective and socially equitable way cities around California andthe United States are reducing GHG emissions, decreasing the cost of housing construction, andprotecting public health. As of December 2021,54California communities, including the cities ofSanta Barbara, Santa Clara, and Ojai, have adopted all-electric building codes for newconstruction,recognizing the benefits for the climate,air quality, public health, public safety,and housing affordability. In 2022 Pasadena has theopportunity to join these municipalities in takinga significant step to protect public health and the environment for decades to come.
However to maximize the public benefit of a building electrification code update, it is criticalthat the City adopt a strong policy thatrequiresall new buildings, including ADUs, be allelectric.
Thank you for your commitment to local action and service to the Pasadena community, Carl SelkinCo-chair Social Justice CommitteePasadena Jewish Temple and Center Ben StapletonExecutive DirectorThe U.S. Green Building Council - Los Angeles Chapter Rev. Tera LandersPastorThroop Unitarian Universalist Church Martha ZavalaPresidentLeague of Women Voters Pasadena Area Pasadena Building Electrification April 2, 2022
2 Wes ReutimannVolunteer OrganizerPasadena Environmental Advocates (PEAs) Christy ZamaniExecutive DirectorDay One
Michael RochmesGreen Buildings Committee ChairThe Climate Reality Project, Los Angeles Chapter Dave WeeshoffConservation / AdvocacyPasadena Audubon
Anita GhazarianEnvironmental LeadIndivisible Alta Pasadena David Diaz, MPHExecutive DirectorActive San Gabriel Valley Katy RobinsonPartnerZC Sustainability
Sam BerndtCo-FounderSunrise Movement Los Angeles
Greg ApodacaCEOCommunity 2.0
Aura VasquezClimate Action CommitteeAngeles Chapter, Sierra Club Sanford KrasnerGroup LeaderCitizens Climate Lobby Pasadena-Foothills Chapter Cheryl AugerPresidentBan SUP (Single Use Plastic)
Pasadena Building Electrification April 2, 2022
3 Background Information
1) Building electrification is a key step to realizing the City’s adopted Climate Action Plan(2018)In March 2018 the Pasadena City Council adopteda local Climate Action Plan, which outlinedprimary sources of GHG emissions in the community and strategies to reduce our reliance on gas andfossil fuels. As the City moves forward with “greening” its sources of electricity to 100% renewableenergy, per state law requiring 60% by 2030 and 100% by 2045 (SB 100), it will become increasinglyimportant that new construction be all-electric. Per the City’s baseline data, gas accounts for aconsiderable 36% of emissions within Pasadena residences. 1 Source: Pasadena GHG Inventory (2009)
2 2) All-electric buildings are healthier for people, especially children. Gas stoves and furnacesproduce a range of pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbonmonoxide (CO), and formaldehyde. Over the past four decades public health researchers havecompiled a growing body of evidence linking the use of such gas appliances, especially for cooking,with increased risk of negative health outcomes, including asthma and other respiratory illnesses,cognitive impairments, and some cancers.
A 2013 meta-analysis of 41 studies found that children living in homes with gas stoves had a 42percent higher risk of experiencing asthma symptoms, and a 24 percent increase in the risk of beingdiagnosed with asthma over their lifetime. More recently,a 2018 study from the University of 3 Queensland found that more than 12 percent of the total burden of childhood asthma in Australia wasattributable to the use of gas stoves, which 38 percent of households rely on for cooking. In 2019 4 UCLA led a study of indoor air quality within older homes and apartments in the San Gabriel Valley.Homes were outfitted with both indoor and outdoor air quality monitors, for a period of two weeks inSummer and Winter 2019 (4 weeks total). The study found that in homes with gas appliances airpollution (PM2.5 and NO2) inside homes was commonly worse than outdoors, particularly during thecolder months of the year and within homes that used gas stoves and ovens for preparing food. 5 5
Healthy Home Study (2019),www.activesgv.org/healthy-home-study.html 4 Knibbs, Luke D., Woldeyohannes, Solomon, Marks, Guy B., and Cowie, Christine T. (2018).Damp housing,gas stoves, and the burden ofchildhood asthma in Australia. Medical Journal of Australia 208(7) 299-302.https://doi.org/10.5694/mja17.00469 3 International Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 42, Issue 6, December 2013, Pages 1724–1737,https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyt150 2 Ibid, pg 27
1 City of Pasadena Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, pg 27,www.cityofpasadena.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2009-GHG-Emissions-Inventory.pdf?v=1608156978487 Pasadena Building Electrification April 2, 2022
4 Source: Rocky Mountain Institute -https://rmi.org/insight/gas-stoves-pollution-health The growing evidence of the dangers of gas stoves prompted the New England Journal of Medicine topublish an editorial recommending that “new gas appliancesberemoved from the market.” 6 The economic costs of long-term, chronic illnesses such as asthma associated with air pollution isbillions in healthcare fees and diminished productivity to LA County. These costs directly impact 7 working families who have to bear the associated burdens of juggling additional doctor’s visits,medication, missed school and work days. Lower-income families are at particular risk and least ableto shoulder the associated costs. This impacts families and the agencies and public services they relyon, including local schools left to accommodate more asthmatic children. 3) All-electric buildings are more affordable to construct and maintain.All-electric homes canbe cheaper to build than dual-fuel buildings. Ensuring all new construction is built without gas hookupswill support the City’s affordable housing goals as there will be no need for new costly gasinfrastructure. A recent analysis by the Statewide Utility Codes and Standards Team found that buildingall-electric reduced construction costs on average $5,000 for single-family homes and over $2,000 perunit in a multi-family building. Over the long term, all-electric buildings will also save costs for Pasadenaresidents and businesses, as gas distribution pipelines are expected to become stranded assets well 8 before the end of their useful life as more buildings electrify. 8 “The 'Rush To Gas' Will Strand Billions As Renewables Get Cheaper, Study Says,” May 2018,https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2018/05/21/the-rush-to-gas-will-cost-billions-in-stranded-assets-as-renewables-get-cheaper-institute-says/ 7 Zhu, Yifang et al, Effects of Residential Gas Appliances on Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality and Public Health in California, UCLA FieldingSchool of Public Health, April 2020,https://ucla.app.box.com/s/xyzt8jc1ixnetiv0269qe704wu0ihif7 6 Philip J. Landrigan, M.D., Howard Frumkin, M.D., Dr.P.H., and Brita E. Lundberg, M.D.,The False Promise of Natural Gas, New EnglandJournal of Medicine,www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMp1913663?articleTools=true Pasadena Building Electrification April 2, 2022
5 4) Southern California gas industry misinformation is muddying the waters.Unfortunatelysouthern Californians continue to face concerted industry obfuscation about the science and facts ofgas in homes. Over the past decade Sempra / SoCalGas have invested millions to confuse the publicand policymakers about this issue. These tactics have received increasing coverage by the press inrecent years, highlighting industry misuse of ratepayer funds and efforts to convince local City 9 Councils to formally support “balanced energy solutions” . In 2021 the CPUC ratepayer advocate 10 recommended that Sempra / SoCalGas be fined over $100 million for charging ratepayers, rather 11 than shareholders, for some of its contributions to gas industry advocacy groups that lobby to preserveand promote the use of methane gas, and forestall climate and energy efficiency policies.
LA Times Coverage of SoCalGas Misuse of Ratepayer Funds - November 22, 2019 5) Cities across California have adopted local building electrification codes in the past fewyears, including the following communities:
12 As of December 2021, over fifty CA cities (listed with the most recent city first) have adopted buildingcodes to reduce their reliance on methane gas. 12 Sierra Club, “CA Cities Lead the Way to a Gas Free Future.” Accessed on 12/10/2020:www.sierraclub.org/articles/2020/12/californias-cities-lead-way-gas-free-future 11 Chediak, Mark, “California Watchdog Wants SoCalGas to Pay Bigger Lobby Fine”,Bloomberg, December 11,2020,www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-12/california-watchdog-wants-socalgas-to-pay-bigger-lobbying-fine 10 Roth, Sammy, “California ditched coal. The gas company is worried it’s next,”Los Angeles Times, October22, 2019,www.latimes.com/environment/story/2019-10-22/southern-california-gas-climate-change 9 Roth, Sammy, “SoCalGas shouldn’t be using customer money to undermine state climate goals, critics say,”Los Angeles Times, November22, 2019,www.latimes.com/environment/story/2019-11-22/socalgas-climate-change-customer-funds Pasadena Building Electrification April 2, 2022
6 54.Contra Costa County- requires all newly constructed residential buildings, hotels, offices, and retailbuildings to be all-electric starting June 1, 2022.
53.Santa Clara County- adopted an all-electric reachcode for new residential and commercialbuildings, with minor exceptions for certain factories, hazardous materials facilities, hospitals, andlaboratories
52.Solana Beach- requires new construction in residential and commercial buildings to use electricappliances for space heating, water heating, dryers, pools and spas. It sets standards for majorrenovations to ensure that significant remodels beyond a certain point require these electric upgradesas well. The ordinance also requires all-electric readiness, and has provisions for electric car charging,commercial solar, and prewiring for home battery storage.
51.Santa Clara- this all-electric reach code appliesto both new residential and commercial buildings,and contains minimal exemptions.
50.Encinitas- in accordance with their most recentClimate Action Plan update-- will now require allnew residential and commercial buildings to be all-electric, making it the 50th municipality and the firstcity in San Diego County to require all-electric buildings, with situational exemptions for restaurants,essential service buildings, and special projects.
49.Fairfax- requires all newly constructed residential and commercial buildings to be all-electric,starting March 1, 2022, with an exemption for commercial kitchens.
48.Emeryville- requires all newly constructed residential buildings to be all-electric, with exemptions fornewly constructed nonresidential buildings. However, these buildings must be furnished with conduit orpre-wiring for future electric appliance installation.
47.Santa Barbara- requires all new buildings to beall-electric starting January 1, 2022, though it doesoffer an exemption for restaurants.
46.Sacramento- requires all new buildings under3 stories to be all-electric by 2023 and extends themandate to all new construction by 2026. Approved 6/1/2021.
45.South San Francisco- requires all new residential buildings to be all-electric. Approved 5/26/2021.
44.Petaluma- Requires all buildings to be all-electricand bans all new gas stations. Approved5/3/2021.
Pasadena Building Electrification April 2, 2022
7 43.Daly City- Required all-electric new residential and non-residential buildings with blanketexemptions for 100% affordable housing buildings, commercial kitchens, and laboratories. Approved4/27/2021.
42.San Carlos- Requires newly constructed buildingsand remodel projects that update more than50% of the building to be all-electric with some exceptions. Approved 1/25/2021.
41.Albany- Encourages newly constructed residential and commercial buildings to be electricpreferred and requires mixed fuel buildings to exceed the California Energy Code. Approved12/9/2020.
40.Oakland- Requires all newly constructed buildingsto be all-electric.
40.Oakland- Requires all newly constructed buildingsto be all-electric. Approved 12/1/2020.
39.Ojai- Requires all-electric new construction forbuildings with some exceptions. Approved10/27/2020.
38.Sunnyvale- Requires newly constructed residential and commercial buildings to be all-electric withan exemption for gas fuel cells. Restaurants may apply for an exemption. Approved 10/27/2020.
37.Millbrae- Requires all-electric residential andcommercial buildings with exemptions for laboratories,restaurants and gas cooking/fireplaces. Approved 10/27/2020.
36.Los Altos- Requires all newly constructed buildingsto be all-electric with exemptions for gascooking/fireplaces in residential buildings with 9 units or less, laboratories and restaurants. Approved10/27/2020.
35.East Palo Alto- Requires that new residential and commercial buildings be all-electric, withexceptions for affordable housing, and commercial kitchens. Approved 10/6/2020.
34.Redwood City- Adopted a reach code requiring all-electricnew construction for commercial andresidential buildings, with exceptions for multiple specific building types such as laboratories. Approved8/24/2020.
33.Piedmont- Promotes all-electric new constructionfor low-rise residential buildings and incentiveselectrification for renovations of low-rise residences. Approved 7/20/2020.
32.San Anselmo- Promotes all electric housing byrequiring higher energy efficiency requirements formixed fuel projects and prewiring for al electric kitchens. Approved 4/14/2020.
31.Burlingame- Requires all electric new constructionfor projects with exemptions for single-familyand commercial projects for gas cooking and fireplaces. Approved 7/6/2020.
30.Santa Cruz- Requires all electric new constructionwith exemptions for projects that are deemed tobe in the public interest and for restaurant cooking. Approved 3/24/2020.
Pasadena Building Electrification April 2, 2022
8 29.Hayward- All new residential buildings are required to be all-electric and nonresidential andhigh-rise residential buildings are electric preferred. Mixed-fuel buildings must install solar panels, andthe energy budget must be 10 percent better than code. Approved 3/3/2020.
28.Richmond- requires all new buildings to be all-electricstarting January 1, 2022.
27.San Mateo County- Requires that no gas or propaneplumbing is installed in new buildings, andthat electricity be used as the energy source for water and space heating and cooking and clothesdrying appliances. Approved 2/11/2020.
26.Campbell- Requires all-electric space and waterheating in new residential buildings, accessorydwelling units, and major remodels. Approved 2/4/2020.
25.Los Altos Hills- Requires electric space and waterheating in new low-rise residential buildings.Approved 1/16/2020.
24.San Franciscorecently expanded on their buildingelectrification ordinance, now requiring that allnew construction be all electric starting June 1st 2021. Approved 12/17/2019.
23.Cupertino- Requires all buildings, including accessorydwelling units, to be all-electric. Also requiresoutdoor pools, spas, and barbeques to be included within the definition of an all-electric building.Approved 12/17/2019.
22.Los Gatos- Requires all newly constructed single-familyand low-rise multifamily buildings to beall-electric. Approved 12/3/2019.
21.Healdsburg- Requires electrification for mostappliances but grants an exemption for gas cookingand fireplaces. Approved 12/2/2019.
20.Brisbane- Requires all newly constructed single-familyhomes and low-rise multifamily buildings tobe all-electric. Allows exemptions for cooking appliances but requires pre-wiring for electric readiness.Approved 11/21.2019.
19.Saratoga- Requires all newly constructed buildingsto be all-electric. Approved 11/20/2019.
18.Mill Valley- Requires all newly constructed residential buildings to be all electric. Approved11/18/2019.
17.Pacifica- Requires electrification for most appliancesbut grants an exemption for gas cooking andfireplaces in new residential buildings. Requires water and space heaters, cooking appliances,fireplaces, and clothes dryers to be all-electric for new nonresidential buildings. Public agenciesproviding emergency services and nonresidential kitchens are exempted. Approved 11/12/2019.
16.Santa Rosa- Requires all newly constructed low-riseresidential buildings to be all-electric.Approved 11/12/2019.
15.Milpitas- Limits gas infrastructure for newlyconstructed buildings on city-owned property.Approved 11/5/2019.
Pasadena Building Electrification April 2, 2022