Sourcing Renewables  -  August 12, 2021

California State Agency Adopts Expansive Energy Mandate for New Buildings

California regulators agreed Aug. 11 to new regulations to expand the use of solar panels and battery storage systems in newly constructed and renovated buildings across the state.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) adopted the 2022 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Code), which will require new builders to prioritize the use of electric heat pump technology to reduce the energy used in space and water heating. The code will also expand the use of solar power to match the state’s 100% clean electricity goal and require buildings to be constructed primed for the use of electric heating, cooking and EV charging options.

The Energy Code will now be submitted to the California Building Standards Commissions for approval. If approved, the code would go into effect on January 1, 2023.

The CEC adopts new standards every three years related to decreasing the carbon footprint of California’s buildings. With the adoption of these new regulations, the state is expected to avoid 10 million metric tons of emissions and provide $1.5 billion in consumer benefits.

“Buildings profoundly influence our health, environment and economy. Into the future they will use less energy and emit less pollution while still being comfortable and healthy,” Commissioner J. Andrew McAllister, who is the lead commissioner on energy efficiency, said in a statement. “The 2022 Energy Code firmly pivots California’s buildings toward the clean, low-carbon technologies that are the bedrock on which our collective path forward will rest. This foundation will help the state meet its critical long-term climate and carbon neutrality goals."