Green Sacramento County

• Adopt a mandatory green building code that requires installation of cool roof technologies for new development consistent with the 2016 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings (California Building Code, Title 24, Part 6). Cool roofs are designed to maintain a lower roof temperature than traditional roofs that are heated through sun exposure and contribute to the UHIE. Cool roofs are composed of surfaces that reflect sunlight and absorb less heat, which reduces heat flow into buildings and lowers energy usage and associated costs (U.S. Department of Energy 2010).

• Develop incentive programs including, but not limited to, permit streamlining, permit fee reductions, or tax rebates for developers and landowners to apply passive solar home design to future residential buildings. A home that employs passive solar home design has windows oriented toward the south, is composed of materials of high heat absorption, and is built to distribute heat and cold air throughout the home. Use of these design elements provides natural cooling and heating and reduces energy demand.
  

• Develop incentive programs including, but not limited to, permit streamlining, permit fee reductions, or tax rebates to encourage the use of rooftop gardens and green roofs in residential and commercial buildings. Rooftop gardens are gardens on rooftops, and green roofs (or living roofs) are roof tops that are partially or completely covered by vegetation. These forms of roofing lower the amount of heat absorbed by a building and reduce energy demand associated with air conditioning.

Benefits: The use of cool roofs, passive design, rooftop gardens, and green roofs will mitigate the effects of UHIE, lower energy consumption, and improve air quality.

Co-benefit

This measure will also have co-benefits related to water conservation and addressing air quality impacts from reduced ozone formation. Other co-benefits include benefits to public health and increased electrical grid resilience related to peak load reductions.

Timeframe: Near term​​