City of Glendale, CA
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Get to Know Glendale’s New Building Electrification Ordinances
The City of Glendale's City Council adopted new reach codes to electrify new construction, increase local solar generation, and increase electric vehicle (EV) charging (Ord. No. 5999, adopted November 15, 2022) . These ordinances mean that new homes and businesses built in Glendale after January 1, 2023, would be all-electric, with increased capacity to generate local solar power and increased availability of EV charging infrastructure.
The new reach codes (Ord. No. 5999 amend the California Building Code for the 2023-2026 building cycle. Cities across California have successfully adopted reach codes like these as a means of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, creating long term savings, and improving the health and safety of the community. Across the State, over 35 cities have adopted reach codes or municipal code updates to electrify buildings and at least 20 have adopted reach codes for EV charging. These ordinances tackle emissions from natural gas used in homes and from transportation— the two biggest contributors to community-wide GHG emissions.
Electrifying Glendale’s future homes, businesses, and vehicles will be critical for Glendale to achieve the State of California’s 2045 carbon neutrality target. These policies will also help save Glendale residents money while providing additional benefits such as improved community health.
Ordinance No. 5999 Background
What is a reach code?
Reach codes are a means for cities and counties to achieve local policy objectives. A reach code is a local building energy code that “reaches” beyond the minimum state requirements for building construction and design elements including energy efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy installation. The State of California updates the Building Code every three years. With each update, local jurisdictions can choose to adopt the State’s building code or implement reach codes. Reach codes amend local municipal code in sync with the State of California Energy Code, which are updated every three years by the California Energy Commission.
What is electrification, and all-electric construction?
All-electric construction uses electric-powered appliances to heat water, space heating, dry clothes, and cook, instead of natural-gas powered appliances. Unlike natural gas-powered appliances, these electric alternatives do not emit pollutants, which are a major cause of indoor air pollution and can exacerbate conditions like asthma. Electrification leverages the newest technologies like heat pumps which are over 300% more efficient than natural gas heaters. Electrification also taps into the benefits of Senate Bill (SB) 100, which mandates that California electric utilities like Glendale Water and Power provide 100% carbon-neutral electricity by 2045. As the grid decarbonizes with SB 100, all-electric homes and businesses will decarbonize too. Studies show that electrification of buildings is the a cost effective way to achieve carbon neutrality, and that gas prices are expected to increase rapidly in the future. Electrification of new buildings in the design and construction phase will save home and business owners costly electric retrofits in the future. All-electric buildings are less expensive to build today.
Why new construction?
The State of California has signaled that building electrification is the most cost-effective way to achieve carbon neutrality. In most cost-effective scenarios electrifying most existing residential buildings and businesses is required to achieve California’s 2045 carbon neutrality target. Establishing all-electric ordinances in local municipal code is one of the easiest and most effective ways to cut carbon emissions in the building sector before they happen. Incorporating electrification into buildings in the design and construction stage also means that home and business owners will not have to spend time and money in the future to replace gas infrastructure and appliances with all-electric alternatives.
Expanding EV charging capacities in new construction will also be critical to help Glendale meet increased demand for EVs in the near future. As the State of California prepares to achieve its goal of 100% in-state sales of zero emission vehicles (passenger cars and light duty trucks) by 2035, expanding EV charging capacity in new construction is the easiest way to ensure that the City can meet future charging demand without burdening future home and business owners with costly installation retrofits for EV charging. Local solar generation code requirements can help ensure that the electric grid can keep up with increased demand for electricity as more all-electric homes and vehicles come online.
What's New For New Buildings in Glendale?
Building electrification: All new construction will be all-electric + infeasibility waiver
Solar Installation: Expanded residential solar and Commercial solar of either 50% energy offset OR 50% roof area solar array requirement + infeasibility waiver
EV Charging: CALGreen Tier 2 Voluntary Standards
What types of buildings will be included?
All residential and non-residential buildings, as well as detached ADUs.
What does electrification cover?
New construction will require the installation of electric appliances like heat pumps and induction stovetops. Gas lines will not be installed in new buildings where feasible.
What is an infeasibility waiver, and when does it apply?
An infeasibility waiver can be applied for by the building developer if the technology for an all-electric proposed building is impossible to acquire/use.
Infeasibility waivers will only cover the specific end use that is not deemed to be feasible such as a specific process loads.
What is the Timeline For Reach Code Feedback and Adoption (2022)?
Upcoming Webinars and Workshops
August 25, 2022 at 2:00 - 3:00 PM
Learn more about the City of Glendale’s proposed new ordinances for building electrification, electric vehicle charging, and photovoltaic installation. This webinar will provide an overview of the proposed ordinances, detail their benefits and impacts for Glendale, and include an interactive session for Q&A and public feedback. Feedback can be provided via the survey. You can find the presentation here.
Professionals Workshop on September 8, 2022 at 2:30 - 3:30 PM
An in-person workshop for building and construction professionals to share feedback on the City of Glendale’s new ordinances for building electrification, EV charging, and photovoltaic installation. In this session, there will be a deep dive into the proposed ordinances and interactive sessions for building and constructions professionals to provide input and feedback on the ordinances, along with a Q&A.
You can find the presentation from the workshop by clicking the image below.
Public Workshop on September 8, 2022 at 6:00 - 7:oo PM
Learn more about the City of Glendale’s proposed new ordinances for building electrification, electric vehicle charging, and photovoltaic installation. This virtual workshop will provides an overview of the proposed ordinances, detail their benefits and impacts on Glendale, and includes an interactive session for public feedback and Q&A.
You can watch the webinar by clicking the image below.
How Does Glendale Benefit?
Natural gas use in buildings is a major contributor to climate change. Nationwide, the majority of emissions from businesses and homes come from the combustion of fossil fuels (like natural gas) for heat. Cutting out these emissions through electrification as the California grid goes carbon-neutral by 2045 will be a key strategy in City-level climate action planning.
Learn more: Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Environmental Protection Agency, 2020
Cleaner indoor air= increased community health. Natural gas-powered appliances, especially gas stoves, can spike emissions of pollutants like carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. All-electric induction stoves and appliances do not emit air pollutants in indoor spaces, providing healthier indoor air quality.
Learn more: Gas Appliances Pollute Indoor and Outdoor Air, Natural Resources Defense Council (2020)
All-electric homes and businesses can save consumers money. Natural gas prices are expected to increase over time, as infrastructure to transport natural gas stays the same, but the number of customers decreases as homes and businesses electrify. Electrifying new buildings now will save home and business owners future costs of retrofits and shield them from rising natural gas prices. Furthermore, with the new code, building all-electric saves money up front and when paired with expanded solar, can also save residents money on their bills.
Learn more: California’s Gas System in Transition, Gridworks, 2020