https://gettingtozeroforum.org/policy-resources/ ZERO ENERGY POLICY
An increasing number of cities, counties, and states around the US are committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Here we provide a curated list of leading energy goals, policies, and energy stretch codes from states and local jurisdictions, as well as programs that support jurisdictions. Resources include legislation, strategic plans, energy and climate action plans, roadmaps, stretch codes, and more.
Policies, plans, programs, and energy codes can dramatically change the landscape for zero energy and zero carbon buildings. There is increasing market interest in getting to zero and policies and programs can foster and grow that interest through leadership, direct support, and the reduction of risks and uncertainties. Some states and cities are implementing mandatory zero policies while leading state and local governments are working to pursue goals via methods ranging from standards imposed on government buildings, to codes regulating all new construction within the state. National leaders include California, Washington State, New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Building policies for agencies within the federal government have also made large strides in recognizing the importance of zero and working toward this goal. Aggressive targets for building energy use and carbon reduction at all levels encourage architects and engineers to design for getting to zero.
- ROADMAPS AND GOAL SETTING
- HOW JURISDICTIONS ARE LEADING
- STRETCH AND ADVANCED ENERGY CODES
- STRETCH CODES FOR ENERGY AND CARBON SAVINGS
- RENEWABLES AND GRID INTEGRATION
- DISTRIBUTED CLEAN ENERGY RESOURCES AND THE GRID
- PROGRAMS
- SUPPORTING ZERO GOALS« VIEW ALL RESOURCES
STRETCH AND ADVANCED ENERGY CODES
One of the strategies cities and states are employing to achieve more energy-efficient buildings is the development of stretch and advanced energy codes. A stretch code is a locally mandated code or alternative compliance path that is more aggressive than base code, resulting in buildings that achieve higher energy savings.
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CitiesLegislationLow- And Zero-EnergyCommercialResidentialStatesRenewablesCarbonClimate Action
CAL GREEN CODE
Part 11 of the Title 24 Building Standards Code is the California Green Building Standards Code, also known as the CAL Green Code. This is the first statewide green building standards code in the nation. The 2016 CAL Green Code became effective on January 1, 2017. All newly constructed buildings on new or existing sites shall comply with the CAL Green Code, Chapter 5. A CAL Green Code submittal to the DSA must include California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6), Outdoor Water Regulations, and all other DSA mandatory measures.
2018 IECC PHOENIX AMENDMENTS
On June 6, 2018, the Phoenix, Arizona City Council approved the adoption of the 2018 Phoenix Building Construction Code (PBCC). In this code Phoenix adopted the 2018 IECC code as their Energy Conservation Code. This code is intended to regulate the design and construction of buildings for effective use and conservation of energy over the useful life of each building, and to provide flexibility to permit the use of innovative approaches and techniques to achieve this objective.
SANTA MONICA RESIDENTIAL ENERGY REACH CODE AND ZNE
In 2016, Santa Monica City Council adopted the newly proposed Santa Monica Reach Code. The Santa Monica Municipal Code was updated in 2017 to include the following Energy Code Updates: all new low-rise residential buildings shall be designed to use 15 percent less energy than the allowed energy budget established by the 2016 California Energy Code, and achieve an Energy Design Rating of Zero; and all new high-rise residential buildings, non-residential buildings, hotels and motels shall be designed to use ten percent less energy than the allowed energy budget established by the 2016 California Energy Code.
DELAWARE TITLE 16: CHAPTER 7602 CODE FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION
This code requires that the Delaware Energy Office, or its successor, in consultation with the Green Building Council of the Home Builders Association of Delaware, shall establish programs to promote the construction of zero net energy homes. A zero net energy home or building is defined as a residence or commercial building that, through the use of energy efficient construction, lighting, appliances and on-site renewable energy generation, results in zero net energy consumption from the utility provider. Therefore, a zero net energy capable home must be energy efficient enough that if the home or building owner chooses to add on-site generation, net zero energy consumption could be achieved. By 2025, all new residential building construction in the State of Delaware must be zero net energy capable. By 2030, all new commercial building construction must also be zero net energy capable.
NEW YORK CITY BUILDING CODE LEGISLATION
New York City will adopt portions of the NYSERDA NY Stretch Energy Code 2020 into the base code. Local Law No. 32, adopted January 8, 2018, requires the Commissioner of the Department of Buildings (DOB) to amend the New York City Energy Conservation Code (Energy Code) in 2019 and 2022 to bring the Energy Code up to date with the most recent version of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) model stretch energy code. Outcomes from adopting the stretch code include commercial building efficiency increases by 5% over the state code, and residential efficiency increases by 25% over the state code.
MASSACHUSETTS GREEN COMMUNITIES ACT
The Massachusetts Green Communities Act of 2008, significantly reforms the state’s energy policy, allowing cities to adopt their own stretch code, and makes a large new commitments to electric and natural gas energy efficiency programs, renewables, and clean fossil fuels like combined heat and power.
NYSTRETCH ENERGY CODE
New York has developed a voluntary stretch code which will provide local governments that wish to demonstrate leadership on climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions with a clear and high-impact opportunity to do so. “NYStretch” aims to provide a straightforward, flexible approach to achieving approximately 10 percent in energy savings for an energy boost beyond code for residential, commercial, and multi-family buildings.
CITY OF BOULDER COMMERCIAL ENERGY CODE
Under Boulder’s Energy Conservation Code, commercial buildings must achieve energy performance significantly exceeding national code baselines. Permit applications for commercial buildings larger than 20,000 square feet must utilize predictive computer modeling to demonstrate energy performance that is at least 30% better than ASHRAE/IENSA Standard 90.1. Permit applications for commercial buildings of 20,000 square feet or less may demonstrate energy code compliance by predictive modeling, but are also allowed to utilize approved prescriptive standards that achieve energy performance of at least 30% better than the 2012 edition of the IECC.
THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE BUILDING CODE & CLIMATE CHANGE
This policy primer and summary of coverings discuss the changing role of Massachusetts State Building Code (MSBC). It details pathways for MSBC to adapt to climate change and maintain its purpose of creating a safe and reliable built environment. Some of these pathways include Amendments to the tenth edition of MSBC, adoption of a new model code or certification program, changes to or replacement of the stretch energy code, and new legislation.
APPENDIX Z
Washington, D.C’s Clean Energy DC Plan includes a recommendation for the city to establish a pathway for the phased adoption of net-zero energy building codes between 2020 (residential) and 2026 (commercial and multi-family). For the purposes of this commercial Energy Conservation Code, and prior to the time when the District adopts a mandatory net zero energy code for new construction, Appendix Z is intended to be a voluntary alternative pathway for project teams to comply with the code.
