Building Codes Assistance Project

[Updated May 26, 2009]

On February 2, the California Assembly introduced AB 212, a bill directing the California Energy Commission (CEC) to adopt standards for building design and construction standards as well as energy and water conservation that require new residential construction to be "zero net energy" starting in 2020, or on a date by which the CEC determines that the use of photovoltaic technology is cost effective.

The legislation defines a "zero net energy building" as a building that implements "a combination of building energy efficiency design features and onsite or near-site clean distributed generation that results in no net purchases from the electricity or gas grid on an annual basis and produces enough electricity to offset the energy use attributable to an onsite use of purchased natural gas."

The bill passed through the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources on April 14 by a 6-3 vote.  It has been referred to the larger Committee on Appropriations, with a hearing scheduled for May 28.

More information on AB 212: Bill Home | Text (Introduced) | Analysis

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