Introduction
In 2018, the State of California adopted an ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality throughout the whole economy by 2045. To support this transition, in August 2021, the California Energy Commission unanimously passed amendments to the state building code which take a significant step toward removing natural gas in new construction. As of 2022, more than 65 cities in California have adopted either all-electric or energy efficiency local reach codes. A reach code is a city-level building energy code that details requirements for new buildings being constructed. Reach codes allow cities to exceed the state-level minimum requirements for building energy use and design, providing the opportunity for cities to boldly move ahead of the state in the transition away from fossil fuels.
The City is engaging with stakeholders to develop a Building Code Amendment that will take a step beyond the new 2023 State building codes and ensure that most new building types do not have natural gas heaters and appliances. The City has committed to engaging residents and community stakeholders, labor and trades groups and affordable and middle income housing developers in this process to develop code amendments and complementary policies that will ensure equitable outcomes, particularly for our Communities of Concern and our impacted workforce. By working together toward a clean energy future, all San Diegans can enjoy lower energy costs, improved indoor and outdoor air quality and good-paying green jobs in their neighborhoods.
