Building Codes Assistance Project

Join over 700 of energy efficiency's most notable leaders, representing 40+ countries, at the Energy Efficiency Global Forum & Exposition (EE Global), being held May 10-12, 2010 at the Washington DC Convention Center. With over 80% of 2009 participants self-identifying as executives or managers, EE Global 2010 will provide access to decision makers and offer executive-level insight and dialogue. Focusing solely on energy efficiency from the perspective of all energy end-use sectors (buildings, industrial and transportation) and with coverage of all cross-cutting issues (finance, policy, technology, and market transformation), EE Global serves as an exchange of best practices and policies for global implementation of energy efficiency. Visit www.eeglobalforum.org for detailed information about this exciting event!

On February 26, 2009, a bill (AB 758) was introduced in the California General Assembly that would require the California Energy Commission, by March 1, 2010, to establish a regulatory proceeding to develop a comprehensive program to achieve greater energy savings in the state's existing residential and nonresidential building stock. The Energy Commission would be required to consult with specified entities and to hold at least three public hearings.

The effective date for California's building energy code -- the 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, Parts 1 and 6) -- has been changed from August 1, 2009 to January 1, 2010.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) adopted the 2008 Standards on April 23, 2008, and the Building Standards Commission approved them on September 11, 2008.  They are estimated to be more stringent than the 2009 IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007.

[Updated May 26, 2009]

A law requiring annual energy-use reporting for all of California's nonresidential buildings takes effect in January 2009, and the state Department of General Services has been working closely with utilities to streamline the reporting process. Beginning in 2010, owners of commercial buildings must disclose their energy usage and Energy Star rating to potential buyers, leasers, and financiers.

[Updated January 13, 2009]

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has completed the rulemaking process for the 2008 Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings (Title 24, Part 6, of the California Code of Regulations). The Energy Commission adopted the 2008 Standards on April 23, 2008, and the Building Standards Commission approved them for publication on September 11, 2008.

California has received a $500,000 grant to build the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards Learning Management System, an online system developed in partnership with Building Media Incorporated, to educate building department professionals to enforce the 2008 Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards and the next Standards update.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom approved a green building ordinance in early August that imposes strict requirements on newly constructed residential and commercial buildings within the city, as well as building renovations. For homes, the ordinance requires ratings from the GreenPoints rating system by Build It Green, a professional non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote healthy, energy and resource-efficient buildings in California.