Raising the Bar: The Effect of the California 2005 Energy Efficiency Standards on Residential New Construction Program Design

Rachel Harcharik and Katherine Wolf, Itron, Inc.
David Blanke, Southern California Gas, San Diego Gas and Electric
Dionne Adams, Pacific Gas and Electric Company

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Abstract

In response to the energy crisis, the California Energy Commission adopted two code changes (2001 and 2005 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Standards)), designed to reduce peak demand for electricity in new homes. The combined effect of the code changes has had very little impact on coastal builders and a severe impact on the inland builders. These code changes have impacted all aspects of California new home construction and pose new challenges for program designers. This paper shows how the results from the Residential New Construction (RNC) baseline study and the RNC potential study provided insight into 1) the baseline conditions of residential new construction, 2) the remaining energy efficiency potential after two rounds of aggressive code changes, and 3) how the program should evolve to maximize energy efficiency after two rounds of code changes have been implemented. Each will focus on the differences between coastal and inland builders.

This paper details the analysis used to guide program managers in effective program design of the 2006-2008 Energy Efficiency Programs targeted at residential new construction. Additionally, this paper shows how the results were used to distinguish which levels of energy efficiency potential are economically achievable. Finally, findings will be used to guide future policy regarding gross and net energy savings verification for RNC programs in California, an area of program evaluation that has not been rigorously studied in many years.