Mandates for Maximizing Cost-Effective Measures in Building Energy Codes: The Promise and Pitfalls during Times of Rapid Evolution

Panel: Energy and Environmental Policy: Planning for Greater Impacts

Authors:
Jonathan McHugh, McHugh Energy
Douglas Mahone, Heschong Mahone Group, Inc.
Yanda Zhang, Heschong Mahone Group, Inc.
Steve Blanc, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Patrick Eilert, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Jerine Ahmed, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Company
Lance Delaura, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Company
Randall Higa, Southern California Edison

Abstract

From its inception, the California Title 24 energy code for buildings was charged with the task of reducing "the wasteful, uneconomic, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy" with the key requirement that these standards be, "cost effective, when taken in their entirety, and when amortized over the economic life of the structure." Recently with the passage of California Assembly Bill 32, which requires reductions in greenhouse gases, the impetus for redoubled efforts in energy efficiency has become more acute. As this paper will show, increasing energy efficiency is one of the few greenhouse gas mitigation measures that both reduces greenhouse gases and lowers life cycle cost.

We describe the efforts by the California Statewide Codes and Standards program, implemented by the California Investor Owned Utilities (IOU) consisting of PG&E, SCE, SDG&E and SoCalGas, to increase the stringency of the 2008 California Title 24 building energy efficiency standards. In addition to reduced energy consumption, air emissions, and utility resource procurement these standards increase costs for: the building industry, building departments, energy code training programs and state government. This paper will also describe potential areas for additional savings in 2011 building standards, the resulting expected impacts on the State and a plan for mitigating these impacts.