On February 1, 2021, Piedmont City Council adopted two amendments to the Building Energy Code that affect both sales and transfers of real estate and the construction of new and existing residential buildings. To learn more about both ordinances, please visit our website: piedmont.ca.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=13659823&pageId=17415806.
Ordinance 750 N.S. (reach codes), requires certain projects to include energy efficiency measures and/or photovoltaic systems. For renovation projects that cost more than $25,000, at least one from a series of energy efficiency measures must be included in the project. For renovations costing more than $100,000, two energy efficient measures must be included. It is up to the homeowner which option(s) to choose. Options range from less expensive options, such as switching out lightbulbs, to more expensive ones, like replacing water heaters. This is intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions stemming from natural gas appliances. Ordinance 750 N.S. was approved by the California Energy Commission on May 12. This ordinance will go into effect for Piedmont projects on June 1.
Ordinance 751 N.S. (home energy assessment policy) went into effect on March 3, 2021 and affects homeowners and real estate agents. When selling a property or transferring the title, the seller must provide potential buyers with a Home Energy Score or Home Energy Audit prepared in the past five years, in addition to the normal disclosure information.
For any questions about these ordinances, please visit the website linked above, or email adykman@piedmont.ca.gov or nredinbo@piedmont.ca.gov.
CEC’s new Energy Code Draft open for public comment period
Every three years, the California Energy Commission (CEC) approves a new “Energy Code,” which impacts how structures are built and renovated during that code cycle. Two weeks ago, the CEC released their proposed changes to the 2022 Energy Code, to take effect January 1, 2023. This is what’s called the “45-day language,” meaning that everyone has 45 days to review and provide comments, which are due June 21, 2021.
If members of the Piedmont community want to comment on the proposed code, they can make comments on CEC website (https://efiling.energy.ca.gov/EComment/EComment.aspx?docketnumber=21-BSTD-01). There are also three days of Zoom hearings on May 24, 27, and 28.
The Energy Code helps dictate the work that the Planning and Building Department completes in Piedmont. For instance, the reach codes came to pass because they “reach” above and beyond the minimum requirements in the code. The new code will go into effect in 2023.