Reach Code Paths

BUILDING EFFICIENCY/ RENEWABLES

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BUILDING EFFICIENCY/ RENEWABLES

Whole Building
Equipment-Specific

ELECTRIC READY

Pre-Wiring
Panel Upgrade
EV-Readiness
EV Charging

ENERGY PLUS WATER

Dual Plumbing
Onsite Water Reuse
Water Neutral Development

PROCESS LOADS

Commercial Kitchens
Elevators
Escalators
Controlled Environment Horticulture

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Whole Building Efficiency

Whole Building Efficiency, or performance-based reach codes specify minimum project performance requirements but leave the individual measure and feature selection to the designer/builder. This structure allows applicants the greatest flexibility to accommodate a wide variety of building designs.

Whole Building Electrification

Whole Building Electrification requires the installation of electric equipment for space and water heating, cooking, and other end uses. Local electrification ordinances may be structured as amendments to the Energy Code or to other chapters in the municipal code.

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems

The Building Energy Standards require installation of a PV system on all residential new construction projects but do not require or provide a compliance credit for PV systems for nonresidential occupancies. A reach code may require nonresidential projects to install a PV system alone or may also require efficiency measures to maximize savings and performance.

Individual Measures

Reach codes may be structured to focus on an individual measure or group of measures, such as cool roofs or outdoor lighting. Individual measure reach codes may also focus on specific equipment, for example, requiring new construction projects to use heat pump water heaters or add solar thermal assistance if using a natural gas fired system.

Rental Properties

Reach codes have been implemented in jurisdictions, such as Boulder, CO, to require energy efficiency upgrades to existing rental housing by certain time-based deadlines. Time based triggers ensure an ordinance will eventually impact all rental housing, rather than triggering requirements upon title transfer or other construction activities

Whole Building Efficiency
Whole Building Electrification
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
Individual Measures
Rental Properties

Requirement

Pros

Cons

Adopter City

One energy performance requirement for mixed fuel and all-electric

“Fuel-neutral” ordinances require buildings to comply with greater energy performance levels regardless of building power source—electricity and natural gas OR electricity only

Easy to communicate and understand
No external documents or calculations

Likely fewer GHG emission reductions

Albany San Rafael

Application Package

Internal Staff Resources

Implementation

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One energy performance requirement for mixed-fuel only (no requirement for all-electric designs)

“Electric-preferred” ordinances require mixed-fuel buildings to comply with greater energy performance levels, whereas all-electric buildings must only meet the State energy code

Encourages all electric designs
No external documents or calculations
Retains builder flexibility and choice

Uncertain impacts
May be challenging to communicate

Berkeley Davis Marin County Mill Valley Milpitas Palo Alto San Anselmo San Jose San Luis Obispo San Mateo Santa Monica

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Internal Staff Resources

Implementation

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CALGreen Tier 1: Prerequisite Measures Plus: Residential: Specific EDR score (approx. 50% EDR reduction) Nonresidential: 10% compliance margin for most; Hotel/motel and high-rise res = 5%

Adopt voluntary efficiency measures in the CA Green Building Standards Code, including prerequisite options and/or increased energy performance requirements

Voluntary option in CALGreen (Part 11 of CBC)
Adopt energy performance only, or include prerequisites
Addresses topics beyond energy

May require additional verification
Requirement for specific EDR score may result in inconsistent stringency levels
Some limitations because of cost-effectiveness for RNC

San Rafael

Application Package

Internal Staff Resources

Implementation

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Third party green building certification

Require green building certification from accredited programs such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or GreenPoint Rated (GPR)

Holistic, can meet additional sustainability goals
External inspection and verification resources

Likely increased cost to builder for non-energy measures
Requires additional documentation
Structure may not align with CA compliance
May require analysis beyond existing studies

Cupertino

Application Package

Internal Staff Resources

Implementation

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Electric Only (Modification to Title 24, Part 6)

Require all-electric new construction projects with no gas appliances or gas plumbing, through amending the energy code.

Maximum reduction in emissions
Flexibility to adopt outside Title 24, Part 6
No external documents or calculations required

Uncertainty regarding existing legal challenges
Requires cost-effectiveness study and CEC approval
Requires more community outreach and education than other structures
Technical feasibility for some occupancies

Brisbane Burlingame Cupertino East Palo Alto Emeryville Hayward Healdsburg Los Altos Los Altos Hills Los Gatos Menlo Park Millbrae Mountain View Pacifica Palo Alto Redwood City Richmond Sacramento San Mateo San Mateo County Santa Barbara Santa Rosa Saratoga Sunnyvale Windsor

Application Package

Internal Staff Resources

Implementation

Reach Code Training Module: Internal Jurisdiction Staff

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Electric Only (No modification to Title 24, Part 6)

Require all-electric new construction projects with no gas appliances or gas plumbing, through amending the zoning, health and safety, or other municipal code

May be effective at time of use permit (prior to building permit)
Maximum reduction in emissions
No need for cost-effectiveness study or CEC approval

Uncertainty regarding existing legal challenges
Technical feasibility for some occupancies
Requires more community outreach and education than other structures

Berkeley Campbell Encinitas Fairfax Morgan Hill Oakland Ojai San Francisco San Jose Santa Cruz

Application Package

Internal Staff Resources

Implementation

Reach Code Training Module: Internal Jurisdiction Staff

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Photovoltaic (PV) System on major high-rise multifamily or nonresidential projects: Small minimum system capacity

Examples include: Minimum capacity: 3 kW if < 10,000 sf and 5 kW if > 10,000 sf. Minimum capacity: fill required solar zone on rooftop (~15% of area)

Stand-alone or combine with energy efficiency measures for greater savings
Small minimum system size allows flexibility to size appropriately for project
PV is cost-effective under most major project scenarios
Tax Credit

Requires external documents and/or calculations
If install minimum only, offsets small percentage of total usage

Alameda Albany Berkeley Brisbane Burlingame Daly City East Palo Alto Emeryville Encinitas Hayward Menlo Park Millbrae Milpitas Pacifica Palo Alto Redwood City Richmond San Carlos San Luis Obispo San Mateo Sunnyvale

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Implementation

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Photovoltaic (PV) System on major high-rise multifamily or nonresidential projects: Large minimum system capacity

Examples include: Minimum capacity: fill 50% of rooftop area Minimum capacity 2W per sf of rooftop area

Stand-alone or combine with energy efficiency measures for greater savings
PV is cost-effective under most major project scenarios
Tax credit

Can be a considerable incremental cost
Highly variable investment requirements
Physical constraints on rooftop
Sizing may not be optimal for occupancies with different load profiles

Carlsbad Mountain View Oceanside Santa Monica

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Internal Staff Resources

Implementation

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Require photovoltaic (PV) System on all low-rise residential additions (Santa Monica and Piedmont only)

Examples include: install a solar PV system according to Title 24, Part 6 requirements for new construction, or based on floor area or projected annual electrical usage

Minimum PV system capacity depending on feasibility
Min size requirement may encourage installation of more capacity to meet entire load
Tax credit

Requires external documents and/or calculations
Can be a significant incremental cost
Challenges regarding compatibility with existing systems

Piedmont Santa Monica

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Install efficiency, renewable, or electrification measures in existing home if not included in project scope

Require upgrades beyond work triggered by Title 24 code. Examples include: add attic insulation to vented attic spaces, or apply air sealing to accessible areas

Impact on existing homes with greatest savings potential
Flexibility to limit maximum incremental cost

Often politically challenging to adopt requirements for existing homes

Carlsbad Chula Vista Encinitas

Application Package

Internal Staff Resources

Model Ord - Single Family Renovations

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Install either heat pump water heater (HPWH) or solar thermal with 0.6 SSF

Decrease water heating-related carbon emissions due to natural gas or propane fueled water heaters by requiring electric heat pumps or increasing the solar thermal contribution

Single measure may be more palatable
Significantly reduces or eliminates emissions from significant source

No savings from avoided gas infrastructure
Some projects will not exceed state code

Carlsbad

Application Package

2019 Sample CEC Cover Letters

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Require cool roof materials for new and at re-roofing

Improve roofing product performance with increased requirements for reflectance and emittance values to reduce solar heat gain through the building envelope into the conditioned space

Near-zero cost measure
Easy to understand and enforce
Reduces urban heat island effect

Potentially consumer color preference, but materials are widely available
Limited impact

Los Angeles County

Application Package

2019 Sample CEC Cover Letters

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Sustainable roofs (PV, solar thermal or vegetative roof) for projects 10,000 sf or larger

Require solar PV to offset min. percentage of usage, solar collectors for hot water with min. solar savings fraction, or vegetation to cover min. rooftop area

Flexibility for builders
If vegetative, is aesthetically pleasing and can become usable space
Singular focus

Maintenance challenges for vegetative roofs
Does not address other features or end-uses

West Hollywood

Application Package

2019 Sample CEC Cover Letters

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New Pools: Require either heat pump or solar thermal pool heating (Santa Monica)

Applies to new pools.

Significant reduction in GHG emissions

Analysis limited to mild climate (Santa Monica)

Santa Monica

Application Package

2019 Santa Monica Pool Heating

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Require upgrade by “Date-Certain”, a single date or phased schedule) specified in the policy OR at tenant change, or other specified interval

Establish defined dates or events to trigger requirements for energy efficiency improvements that would otherwise not be undertaken unless existing buildings are altered or undergo tenant improvement

Likely to cover all properties within scope
No impact on unrelated real estate or financial transactions
Distribution of benefits to more renters
Rental properties often have significant potential

Requires internal jurisdiction resources to implement policy and maintain records
Potential for owner resistance to investment when tenant reaps utility benefits

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