Code Status: California

This page contains information about current energy codes in the state of California. Information for all 50 States is also available. California Code News.

Current State Codes
Code Adoption & Change Process
Energy Consumption Estimates
Construction Activity
Web Links
State Energy Code Contacts

Current State Codes

Residential Code: 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (BEES), Title 24, Part 6 of the California Code of Regulations -- This state-developed code meets or exceeds the stringency of the 2009 IECC and is mandatory statewide.
Commercial Code: 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (BEES), Title 24, Part 6 of the California Code of Regulations -- This state-developed code meets or exceeds the stringency of the ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 and is mandatory statewide.
Code Change Cycle: Three-year code change cycle. The California Energy Commission adopted the new 2008 Standards on April 23, 2008, and they became effective January 1, 2010.
Jurisdictions: Public Resources Code Section 25402.1(h)2 and Section 10-106 of the Building Energy Efficiency Standards (BEES) establish a process which allows local adoption of energy standards that are more stringent than the statewide BEES. A list of local jursidictions passing ordinances to go beyond the 2008 BEES is available here.

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Code Adoption & Change Process

Process Type: Regulatory

Code Change Process: The California Building Standards Commission (BSC) is responsible for administering California's building standards adoption, publication, and implementation processes of the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 6. Since 1989, the BSC has published triennial editions of Title 24 in its entirety every three years. Detailed information on code promulgation and amendment procedures may be found under supporting documents.

State Code History: The first statewide energy requirements were established in 1975 by the Department of Housing and Community Development for all low-rise residential buildings. In 1974 the California legislature passed the Warren-Alquist Act establishing the California Energy Commission and authorizing the Commission to establish energy requirements for both residential and commercial buildings.

Information on the Standards adopted between 1978 and 2001 is available here.

Information on the 2005 Standards (adopted July 21, 2004) is available here.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) completed the rulemaking process for the 2008 Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings. The CEC adopted the 2008 Standards on April 23, 2008, and the Building Standards Commission approved them for publication on September 11, 2008. Though initially slated for implementation on August 1, 2009, the 2008 Standards became effective on January 1, 2010.

The CEC has also posted the final versions of the 2008 Residential Compliance Manual and the 2008 Nonresidential Compliance Manual.

A first analysis of the 2008 Standards revealed an average energy performance at least 21% more efficient than ASHRAE 90.1-2004.

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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued Executive Order S-20-04 on December 14, 2004, known as the Green Building Initiative. It laid out a comprehensive set of actions for California to take in order to improve energy efficiency in nonresidential buildings. The California Energy Commission was directed to undertake all actions within its authority to increase the efficiency requirements in the Building Energy Efficiency Standards for nonresidential buildings by 20% by 2015.On February 2, 2009, a bill was introduced in the state assembly that would mandate "zero net energy" standards for residential buildings starting in 2020.

On January 12, 2009 the state of California adopted the nation's first mandatory green building standards. Effective January 1, 2011, all new buildings must comply with the 2010 California Green Building Standards Code (CALGREEN). The California Air Resources Board estimates that the mandatory provisions will curb greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 3 million metric tons in 2020, helping the state reach its goal of 33 percent GHG reduction this decade.

Among other provisions, CALGREEN will require 20 percent mandatory reduction in indoor water use, separate water meters for nonresidential buildings' indoor and outdoor water use, diversion of 50 percent of construction waste from landfills, mandatory inspections of energy systems for nonresidential buildings over 10,000 square feet, and the use of low-pollutant emitting interior finish materials such as paints, carpet, vinyl flooring and particle board.

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Energy Consumption Estimates

The consumption estimates below are derived from the total end use of residential and commercial energy consumption in the United States in 2006, and are not limited to energy consumption based on building code-related factors. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Residential Sector: 1,552.3 Trillion BTU
Commercial Sector: 1,583.3 Trillion BTU
Total Energy Consumption: 3,135.6 Trillion BTU

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Construction Activity

Residential:

Population (2000 US Census)¹: 33,871,648
Total Housing Units²: 12,507,767
2004 New Housing Units Authorized by Permit (Privately Owned)³:
- total units: 203,724
- 1 unit: 146,774
- 2 units: 2,526
- 3 and 4 units: 5,580
- 5+ units: 48,844
- structures of 5+ units: 2,811

References:

Green Building Initiatives

300 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified Buildings
ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes Market Index of 12%
1355 ENERGY STAR Labeled Buildings and Plants

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Code Funding Opportunities

There are two funding opportunities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA): Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants and State Energy Program. Please reference the U.S. Department of Energy for California's allocated amount and updated information.