GHG Measure 05

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GHG-05

INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ELECTRIFICATION OF NEW COMMERCIAL/NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS OR FACILITIES

Measure

The County will develop a reach code requiring new commercial and nonresidential buildings obtaining building permits to meet the following requirements:

building permit applications filed on or after January 1, 2023, or 6 months after the availability of a cost-effectiveness study prepared by the Statewide Reach Codes Team, whichever is later, for newly constructed buildings that are three stories or less to be all-electric buildings;
building permit applications filed on or after January 1, 2026, or 6 months after the availability of a cost-effectiveness study prepared by the Statewide Reach Codes Team, whichever is later, for newly constructed buildings that are four stories or more to be all-electric buildings; and
limited exemptions for specific uses, available only for building permits filed on or before December 31, 2025, provided that the associated GHG emissions are offset through an accredited local carbon offset program:

a limited exemption for food establishments for cooking equipment only;
a limited exemption for manufacturing process loads within a manufacturing or industrial facility;
a limited exemption for essential medical facilities, such as hospitals that may require natural gas;
a limited exemption for regulated affordable housing when virtual net energy metering is not available, for water heating only; and
if the technology to require construction of an all-electric building for ground floor food service establishments, manufacturing or industrial facilities, essential medical facilities, or regulated affordable housing is not feasible and available by July 1, 2025, the Board of Supervisors may consider extending the limited exemption until the technology is feasible and available.

Not Started

The efforts for this measure have not started.

Implementation

Prepare an ordinance for review by the Board of Supervisors. The cost-effectiveness studies and feasibility analyses should include at a minimum consideration of supply chain availability of parts, prices of component parts, and projects for which natural gas lines have already been constructed onsite or approved in improvement plans. The County will periodically re-assess and update reach codes in response to updates to the building code.

Timeframe: Near term. Adopt an ordinance no later than December 2022, or 6 months after the availability of a cost-effectiveness study prepared by the Statewide Reach Codes Team, whichever is later.

GHG Reduction Potential: 3,936 MT CO₂e per year by 2030

Co-benefit

This measure supports adaptation measures Temp-07 and Temp-08. It provides an additional co-benefit for air quality related to reductions in oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter, and ozone precursors as a result of reductions in natural gas combustion.

Sector: Energy - Commercial

Target Indicator: Adoption of ordinance and enforcement on commercial buildings obtaining permits thereafter. Target set for 230,000 therms of natural gas and 20,000 MWh of electricity consumption to be avoided by 2026 and 470,000 therms and 40,000 MWh of electricity to be avoided by 2030.

Status of Implementation

Measures GHG-4 through -7 deal with the electrification of buildings in the community and are categorized by residential vs. non-residential and existing vs. new construction.

Currently the County is focused on identifying electrification incentives and working with SMUD and the Cities of Sacramento and Elk Grove who are all partners in a Sacramento County Building Electrification Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU is a no-cost agreement originally developed by SMUD and the City and County of Sacramento to work together and coordinate on building electrification efforts. All other incorporated cities in Sacramento County have been invited to join the MOU with the City of Elk Grove joining the partnership. The above agencies hold a monthly coordination meeting to coordinate, troubleshoot, and strategize about advancing building electrification.

SMUD currently offers several rebates to support building electrification under their Home Performance Program. The County is exploring grant and other funding opportunities to partner with SMUD and increase the rebate opportunities.

Due to litigation in the building electrification space, namely the California Restaurant Association v. City of Berkeley case, where the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit blocked the City of Berkeley from enacting a natural gas piping ban, the County is not pursuing any electrification ordinances at this time.

The County acknowledges that reach codes offer a different pathway to electrification than what Berkeley used. However, after analysis of the current situation, staff resources are being focused on completing and defending the Climate Action Plan from potential CEQA challenges from local environmental groups while concurrently participating in the regional efforts described above and focusing on incentive- and education-based efforts to drive a switch to more electric-only buildings.

Last updated 10/11/2023

Green Sacramento County

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Measure

Implementation

Co-benefit

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GHG-05