Why California Needs the Energy Code:
Enhancing Efficiency, Reliability, Comfort, Economics, Environment, and Decarbonization
- Enhancing Electricity Reliability and Meeting Demand:
Excessive building demand can overload the electric distribution network, leading to blackouts and economic losses. The California Energy Commission (CEC) prioritizes demand reduction measures to ensure stable conditions.
- Improving Building Occupant Comfort:
Energy-efficient buildings with high-performance windows and well-designed HVAC systems provide improved comfort. Poorly designed buildings result in discomfort, especially in older, poorly insulated, or leaky structures.
- Boosting Economics through Energy Efficiency:
Energy efficiency increases profitability for building owners and strengthens the economy by reducing reliance on depletable resources. Investing in energy efficiency is more cost-effective than building new power plants.
- Promoting Environmental Sustainability and Addressing Climate Change:
Fossil fuel burning contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
Energy efficiency reduces emissions and addresses the risks climate change poses to water resources, agriculture, forests, and natural habitats.
- Building Decarbonization as a Climate Strategy:
California’s homes and commercial buildings account for a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions. The Energy Code’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards facilitate building decarbonization. The 2022 Energy Code promotes electric heat pumps, electric-ready requirements, and solar photovoltaic systems for select buildings. Anticipated environmental benefits over 30 years are estimated at $1.5 billion, equivalent to removing millions of cars from the road.
