Please join 350 Contra Costa to make public comment at the Contra Costa County Sustainability Committee meeting on keeping fossil gas out of new construction. Agenda Item No. 5 is a report on building electrification reach code requirements for new (not existing) buildings. Staff is asking the Committee to provide direction:
“Beyond implementing an all-electric reach code, options also include requiring more stringent energy efficiency measures, requiring battery storage or high efficiency appliances.
Staff is requesting the Committee provide direction on the following:
- Whether the reach code should be developed for the current building code or be developed for the 2022 building code (effective January 2023).
- Determine the type of reach code, such as prescriptive, performance, or a hybrid version, and
- Whether the County should consider developing its own cost-effectiveness study to determine the cost-effectiveness of other building types beyond what has already been studied either by (a) initiating its own study independently at the County’s cost through a consultant, or (b) by requesting the Statewide IOU Team to develop a study at no direct cost. Based on the direction in the September 2021 Climate Emergency Resolution, staff is not recommending an electrification requirement for existing buildings.”
Our main talking points:
1. We should not wait; the reach code should be developed now for the current building code, not the 2022 building code that would not go into effect until 2023.
2. It is important that the code be “prescriptive” —i.e., require one or more specific energy-efficiency improvements. (Not the performance-based or the hybrid version.)
Zoom link:
https://cccounty-us.zoom.us/j/86566672876
Meeting ID: 865 6667 2876
Or Telephone, dial: USA 214 765 0478 US Toll or USA 888 278 0254 US Toll-free
Conference code: 198675
WHEN
Monday, May 24, 1 PM
WHERE
Your digital device