HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/16/2020 Item 11, Christian
Clerk,
From:Mark Christian <
To:E-mail Council Website
Cc:Scott Shell
Subject:Support for Electric Reach Code
Attachments:San Luis Obispo City Reach Code -- Support.pdf
Dear Members of the San Luis Obispo City Council,
Attached please find a letter from the American Institute of Architects California in support of Item 11 on the agenda for
the June 16 City Council meeting.
Best,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Christian, Hon. AIACA | Director of Government Relations
American Institute of Architects, California
1931 H Street Sacramento, CA 95811
phone: (916) 642-1708 | fax: (916) 442-5346 | web: http://www.aiacalifornia.org
follow us on Twitter and Facebook
1
The American Institute of Architects
AIA California
1931 H Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
T (916) 448-9082
F (916) 442-5346
www.aiacalifornia.org
June 15, 2020
San Luis Obispo City Council
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Re: June 16 City Council Meeting, Agenda Item 11 -- SUPPORT
Dear San Luis Obispo City Council Members:
The American Institute of Architects has formally adopted a policy supporting urgent climate action as a
health, safety, and welfare issue, and an exponential acceleration of the 'decarbonization' of
buildings. Aligned with this resolution, the 11,000 members of AIA California strongly support local
"reach" codes that encourage immediate adoption of cost-effective electrification in new
buildings. These reach codes will help reduce carbon emissions and other pollutants, improve health
outcomes, lower energy costs, help mitigate fire risk, and aid California in meetings its legislated carbon
reduction targets.
We encourage reach codes that require the electrification of heating and hot water systems for all new
homes, as these systems are both feasible and available today, and retrofit later for full electrification
makes it often infeasible. For building types and end uses that are not required to be electric, it is
critical to make them electric-ready, with panel capacity necessary to facilitate later electrification.
Making new buildings completely electric-ready costs just a fraction of retrofitting later, and avoids
locking customers into high-cost, high-emissions buildings or committing them to expensive and
unnecessary retrofits.
Allowing gas for cooking and other minor uses necessitates the installation of gas piping in streets and
new buildings, costing more upfront, and requiring expensive retrofits later in order to meet California's
2045 climate goals.
AIA California understands that the normal pace of code upgrades is insufficient to address the climate
emergency. We support the adoption of reach codes by local jurisdictions and stand ready to help in this
critical endeavor.
Sincerely,
Mark Christian, Hon. AIA CA
Director of Government Relations
The American Institute of Architects
AIA California
1931 H Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
T (916) 448-9082
F (916) 442-5346
www.aiacalifornia.org
June 15, 2020
San Luis Obispo City Council
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Re: June 16 City Council Meeting, Agenda Item 11 -- SUPPORT
Dear San Luis Obispo City Council Members:
The American Institute of Architects has formally adopted a policy supporting urgent climate action as a
health, safety, and welfare issue, and an exponential acceleration of the 'decarbonization' of
buildings. Aligned with this resolution, the 11,000 members of AIA California strongly support local
"reach" codes that encourage immediate adoption of cost-effective electrification in new
buildings. These reach codes will help reduce carbon emissions and other pollutants, improve health
outcomes, lower energy costs, help mitigate fire risk, and aid California in meetings its legislated carbon
reduction targets.
We encourage reach codes that require the electrification of heating and hot water systems for all new
homes, as these systems are both feasible and available today, and retrofit later for full electrification
makes it often infeasible. For building types and end uses that are not required to be electric, it is
critical to make them electric-ready, with panel capacity necessary to facilitate later electrification.
Making new buildings completely electric-ready costs just a fraction of retrofitting later, and avoids
locking customers into high-cost, high-emissions buildings or committing them to expensive and
unnecessary retrofits.
Allowing gas for cooking and other minor uses necessitates the installation of gas piping in streets and
new buildings, costing more upfront, and requiring expensive retrofits later in order to meet California's
2045 climate goals.
AIA California understands that the normal pace of code upgrades is insufficient to address the climate
emergency. We support the adoption of reach codes by local jurisdictions and stand ready to help in this
critical endeavor.
Sincerely,
Mark Christian, Hon. AIA CA
Director of Government Relations