BUILDING CODES
& ENERGY EFFICIENCY:
CALIFORNIA
B
uildings account for roughly 40 percent of the
total energy use in the United States and 70
percent of our electricity use, representing a
significant opportunity for energy savings. Energy effi-
ciency—through the adoption and enforcement of
strong building energy codes – is the quickest, cheap-
est, and cleanest way to reduce energy consumption
and achieve a sustainable and prosperous future. For
most states, the first step has been to adopt the U.S.
model energy codes – the 2009 International Energy
Conservation Code (2009 IECC) and ASHRAE
Standard 90.1-2007.
In February 2009, the American Recovery and Rein-
vestment Act (Recovery Act) – the federal stimulus
legislation appropriating funds for a variety of state
initiatives – allocated $3.1 billion for the U.S. Depart-
ment of Energy’s State Energy Program (SEP) to assist
states with building energy efficiency projects. As one
of the requirements to receive this funding, Gov. Ar-
nold Schwarzenegger certified to DOE1 that California
would implement energy standards of equal or greater
stringency than the latest national model codes – the
2009 edition of the IECC and Standard 90.1-2007.
Having already received $113 million2 out of a total
$226 million in SEP funds, California has advanced
the state’s best economic interest by adopting energy
standards that meet or exceed the national model
codes.
Updated February 17, 2010
THE NEED FOR GREATER ENERGY EFFICIENCY
California is America’s most populous state whose
growing built environment and productive industrial
sector spur a total energy demand second only to
Texas.3 The Golden State’s groundbreaking energy
efficiency programs, however, have produced one of
the lowest per capita energy consumption rates in the
country (30 percent below the national average in
2007, above only New York and Rhode Island).4
Despite being rich in both conventional and renewable
energy resources, California’s growing absolute elec-
tricity demand requires the state to import more power
than any other in the country. Coupled with the threats
of prolonged drought conditions and rolling blackouts,
California is extremely vulnerable to future fluctua-
tions in energy costs and peak demand. The contin-
ued improvement of building energy codes should re-
main a cornerstone of statewide energy policy.
OTHER BENEFITS OF BUILDING ENERGY CODES
California’s latest code update makes its residential
and commercial energy standards at least equivalent to
– and likely more stringent than – the 2009 IECC5 and
Standard 90.1-2007, substantially improving upon the
state’s previous residential and commercial codes.
The successful implementation of – and compliance
with – energy efficiency standards like California’s
produces multiple economic and environmental
benefits for the building and utility industries:
New and renovated construction boasting energy
efficiency levels of 30 percent or more over typical
buildings not constructed to meet national model en-
ergy standards
Expansion of the state economy by keeping local
dollars in California
Simplified guidelines for builders and designers, op-
timized cost-effectiveness, and uniformity through-
out the state
Improved indoor/outdoor air quality and reduced
greenhouse gas emissions from lower demand for
electricity, natural gas, and heating oil
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 CALIFORNIA: BEYOND THE MODEL ENERGY CODE
T
he Golden State’s minimum mandatory energy
standards are codified in the state’s Building
Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, Part 6
of the California Code of Regulations).6 Effective
January 1, 2010, the most recent update (the 2008
Standards) is projected to approach 30 percent energy
savings beyond the 2006 IECC and ASHRAE Stan-
dard 90.1-2004. This benchmark would make Califor-
nia’s code more stringent than the latest national
model codes and among the most energy efficient
mandatory building codes in America.
NATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY
California has demonstrated leadership on energy effi-
ciency issues for decades, adopting its first mandatory
statewide energy code over 30 years ago. The state's
building efficiency standards (along with those for en-
ergy efficient appliances) have saved homeowners and
businesses more than $56 billion in electricity and
natural gas costs since 1978. It is estimated the stan-
dards will save an additional $23 billion by 2013.7
California has also substantially revised and improved
Title 24 every three to four years since the late 1980s.8
By regularly updating and enforcing its energy
codes, the state ensures the consistency and continued
enhancement of the benefits of model building prac-
tice.
Adoption, however, is only the first step. The state
must now implement its new energy codes. As another
condition of accepting the Recovery Act SEP funds,
states must achieve compliance with these new stan-
dards in 90 percent of new and renovated residential
and commercial building space by 2017.9
Additionally, California has remained a proven leader
in building energy efficiency by continuing to develop
and adopt innovative policies that go beyond the na-
tional model codes.
LOCAL ABOVE CODE ORDINANCES
The Title 24 Standards establish a process which al-
lows local adoption of energy standards that are
more stringent than the statewide Standards. Outlined
in Section 10-106 and Public Resources Code Section
** NOTES **
1 7
US DOE (http://www.energy.gov/media/3149SchwarzeneggerCalifornia.pdf)
2 8
US DOE (http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7501.htm)
3 9
US EIA (http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=CA)
4 10
US EIA (http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/states/sep_sum/html/pdf/
rank_use_per_cap.pdf)
5 11
BCAP (http://bcap-energy.org/node/330)
6
BCAP (http://bcap-ocean.org/state-country/california)
As in Los Angeles., California’s growing population and
expanding built environment will greatly impact
state energy policy (Credit—Navid Serrano)
25402.1(h), this process allows local governments to
adopt and enforce energy standards before the state-
wide Standards effective date, require additional en-
ergy conservation measures, and set more stringent
energy budgets. Notable jurisdictions that have
adopted energy ordinances beyond the 2008 Standards
include San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Clara County,
and Palo Alto.10
MANDATORY GREEN BUILDING CODE
In January 2010, California adopted the nation’s first
mandatory green building standards. Effective
January 1, 2011, all new buildings must comply with
the 2010 California Green Building Standards Code
(CALGREEN). The California Air Resources Board
estimates that the mandatory provisions will curb
greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 3 million metric
tons in 2020, helping the state reach its goal of 33 per-
cent GHG reduction this decade.11
Among other provisions, CALGREEN will require 20
percent mandatory reduction in indoor water use, sepa-
rate water meters for nonresidential buildings’ indoor
and outdoor water use, diversion of 50 percent of con-
struction waste from landfills, mandatory inspections
of energy systems for nonresidential buildings over
10,000 square feet, and the use of low-pollutant emit-
ting interior finish materials such as paints, carpet, vi-
nyl flooring and particle board.
For more information, please visit www.bcap-ocean.org.
CA Energy Commission (http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/)
CA Energy Commission (http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/standards_archive/)
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Sec. 410 (2) (c)
CA Energy Commission (http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2008standards/
ordinances/index.html)
BCAP (http://bcap-ocean.org/news/2010/january/21/california-adopts-nations-
first-mandatory-green-building-standards)
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