HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-1752 Local Amendments to the California Energy Code
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ORDINANCE NO. 1752 (2025 SERIES)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO PART 6
OF THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND FIRE PREVENTION CODE,
2026
WHEREAS, greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere as the result of
human activity is the primary cause of the global climate crisis; and
WHEREAS, in California alone, the initial impacts of climate change have resulted
in unprecedented disasters with tremendous human, economic, and environmental costs
and;
WHEREAS, the State of California enacted Assembly Bill (AB) 1279 to require
statewide carbon neutrality "as soon as possible," but no later than 2045; and
WHEREAS, City of San Luis Obispo residents and businesses have repeatedly
identified climate action as a top community priority; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo’s Land Use Element of the General Plan
directs the City to address energy use in buildings and to pursue a greenhouse gas
emissions reduction strategy, and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo’s Conservation and Open Sace Element
(COSE) of the General Plan (adopted in 2006) includes policies related to minimizing
greenhouse gas emissions (COSE Policy 2.2.1), and increasing the use of sustainable
energy while decreasing the use of non-sustainable energy sources (COSE Goal 4.2);
WHEREAS, Resolution 11159 (2020 Series) adopts the City of San Luis Obispo
Climate Action Plan for Community Recovery (“Climate Action Plan”) that includes a
communitywide goal of carbon neutrality by 2035 and sector specific goal of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions from existing buildings by half by 2030; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 11381 (2022 Series) reaffirmed these communitywide and
sector specific goals; and
WHEREAS, the inventoried greenhouse gas emissions in the City of San Luis
Obispo come from a variety of sources, primarily transportation and energy use in
buildings and facilities; and
WHEREAS, in order to achieve carbon neutrality, existing sources of greenhouse
gas emissions need to be substantially reduced or eliminated; and
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WHEREAS, California Health and Safety Code Sections 17958, 17958.5, 17958.7
and 18941.5 provide that the city of San Luis Obispo may make changes or modifications
to the building standards contained in the 2025 California Building Standards Code based
upon express findings that such changes or modifications are reasonably necessary
because of local climatic, geological or topographical conditions; and
WHEREAS, Public Resources Code Section 25402.1 (h)(2) allows local agencies
to adopt local amendments that are cost-effective and that result in buildings that use less
energy than would otherwise be required by the California Energy Code; and
WHEREAS, the California Energy Codes and Standards Statewide Utility
Program, has determined specific modifications to the 2025 State Energy Code for each
climate zone that are cost-effective; and that such modifications will result in designs that
consume less energy than they would under the 2025 State Energy Code as required
under California Administrative Code Chapter 10-106; and
WHEREAS, based on the findings of these studies, the City finds the proposed
local amendments to the 2025 California Energy Code to be cost-effective and consume
less energy than permitted by Title 24, Part 6; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 California Energy Code offers compliance options that were
established through the public rulemaking process of the code update; and
WHEREAS, the Council expressly declares that the proposed amendments to the
Energy Code are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, topological, and
geological conditions; an
WHEREAS, the Council expressly declares that the proposed amendments are
necessary to implement a local code amendment that is adopted to align with a general
plan approved on or before June 10, 2025, and that permits mixed -fuel residential
construction consistent with federal law while also incentivizing all-electric construction
as part of an adopted greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy; and
WHEREAS, the requirements specified in this Ordinance were reviewed via public
comment and through a publicly noticed public hearing process and were found to be
cost-effective.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo as follows:
SECTION 1. Purpose. It is the purpose and intent of this Ordinance to establish
standards that exceed minimum 2025 Title 24 Part 6 requirements for single-family
residential retrofits including major additions and alterations.
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SECTION 2. Adoption. The local amendments to Part 6 of the City of San Luis
Obispo Building Construction and Fire Prevention Code, 2023 (SLOMC Section
15.02.060) as specified in Exhibit A, are hereby adopted by the City of San Luis Obispo
to be codified under Chapter 15.02.060 and Chapter 15.04.065. The Council hereby
adopts the recitals herein as separate and additional findings of fact in support of adoption
of the ordinance.
SECTION 3. Severability. If any word, phrase sentence part, section, subsection
or other portion of this amendment or any application thereof to any person or
circumstance is declared void, unconstitutional, or invalid for any reason, then such word,
phrase, sentence, part, section, subsection, or other portion, or the prescribed application
thereof, shall be severable, and the remaining provisions of this amendment, and all
applications thereof, not having been declared void, unconstitutional or invalid, shall
remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 4. Findings. The City Council finds that:
1. Each of the changes or modifications to measures referred to therein are
reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical
conditions in the area encompassed by the boundaries of the City of San Luis
Obispo, and the City Council adopts the following findings in support of local
necessity for the changes or modifications:
a. San Luis Obispo is situated along a wildland -urban interface and has been
identified as a Community at Risk from wildfire and is extremely vulnerable
to wildfires and firestorms, and human activities releasing greenhouse
gases into the atmosphere cause increases in worldwide average
temperature, drought conditions, vegetative fuel, and length of fire seasons -
contributing to the likelihood and consequences of fire.
b. The City of San Luis Obispo is situated at the base of a watershed of the
Santa Lucia Mountains and flooding of San Luis, Chorro, Stenner, Old
Garden, and Brizzolara Creeks results in conditions rendering fire
department vehicular traffic unduly burdensome or impossible, as
witnessed in major floods that occurred in 1952, 1961, 1969, 1973, 1978,
1982, 1995, and 2023. Furthermore, flood conditions described above
create the potential for overcoming the ability of the fire department to aid
or assist in fire control, evacuations, rescues and other emergency task
demands inherent in such situations. The resulting overburdening of fire
department personnel may cause a substantial or total lack of protection
against fire for the buildings and structures located in the City of San Luis
Obispo. The afore-described conditions support the imposition of fire
protection requirements greater than those set forth in the California State
Building Standards Code and support the imposition of more restrictive
requirements than set forth in the California Energy Code for the purpose
of reducing the City's contributions to Greenhouse Gas Emissions resulting
in a warming climate and related severe weather events.
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c. The aforementioned flood and rain events result in conditions wherein
stormwater can inundate the wastewater treatment system as witnessed in
major floods that occurred in 1952, 1961, 1969, 1973, 1978, 1982, and
1995. Furthermore, rain events and flood conditions described above create
a condition referred to as Inflow and Infiltration (I/I) that allow rain and flood
waters to flow and/or seep into the wastewater system and overcome the
ability of the wastewater collection system and Water Reclamation Facility
(WRF) to convey and treat sewage. The resulting overburdening of the
wastewater system can result in threats to public health, public and private
property and water quality and violations and fines from the State of
California, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or others. To the
extent that climate change has the potential to make these conditions
worse, more restrictive Energy Code requirements to achieve reduced
greenhouse gas emissions are necessary.
d. Seasonal climatic conditions during the late summer and fall create
numerous serious difficulties in the control and protection against fire
situations in the City of San Luis Obispo. The hot, dry weather in
combination with Santa Lucia (offshore) winds has resulted in wildland fire
history on the brush-covered slopes on the Santa Lucia Mountains, Cerro
San Luis, Bishop Peak, and the High School Hill, and the South Hills areas
of the City of San Luis Obispo. The aforementioned areas surround the City.
When a fire occurs in said areas, such as occurred in 1985 when the Los
Pilitas Fire burned six days and entered the City and damaged many
structures, the entirety of local fire department personnel is required to
control, monitor, fight and protect against such fire situations in an effort to
protect life and preserve property and watershed land. The same climatic
conditions may result in the concurrent occurrence of one or more fires in
the more populated areas of the City without adequate fire department
personnel to protect against and control such a situation. Therefore, the
above-described findings support the imposition of measures to increase
the efficiency of existing buildings in the City to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
e. Failure to address and substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions
creates an increased risk to the health, safety, and welfare of City residents.
2. The single-family residential energy standards imposed by this Ordinance are
cost-effective, as supported by the "2022 Single Family Retrofit Statewide Cost
Effectiveness Study" and the "2022 Applications to 2025 Energy Code Memo."
cost effectiveness study and addendum prepared by the California Energy
Codes and Standards Statewide Utility Program. Specifically, the City finds that
there are at least four cost effective measure packages:
a. Package 1, installing the efficiency measure of R-30 Floor Insulation would
save energy relative to the base code and would achieve a benefit to cost
ratio of 2.3 on an on-bill basis.
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b. Package 2, installing the efficiency measure of R-19 Floor Insulation would
save energy relative to the base code and would achieve a benefit to cost
ratio of 2.3 on an on-bill basis.
c. Package 3, installing a Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH), would save
energy relative to the base code and would achieve a benefit to cost ratio
of 1.6 on a “Long-term System Cost” (LSC basis).
d. Package 4, installing a Heat Pump Space Heater, would save energy
relative to the base code and would achieve a benefit to cost ratio of 4.2 on
an LSC basis.
3. The standards imposed by this ordinance are consistent with AB 130 (2025)
because they are necessary to implement a local code amendment that is
adopted to align with a general plan approved on or before June 10, 2025, and
that permits mixed-fuel residential construction consistent with federal law
while also incentivizing all-electric construction as part of an adopted
greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy. Specifically, the standards
imposed by this ordinance are on:
a. The standards imposed by this ordinance align with a General Plan
approved on or before June 10,2025 as follows:
i. Land Use Element of the General Plan Policy 9.4 (Climate Action
Plan) - The City shall maintain and implement its Climate Action Plan
to reduce community and municipal greenhouse gas (“GHG”)
emissions consistent with State laws and objectives.
ii. Land Use Element of the General Plan Policy 9.7 (Sustainable
Design) - The City shall promote and, where appropriate, require
sustainable building practices that consume less energy, water and
other resources, facilitate natural ventilation, use daylight e ffectively,
and are healthy, safe, comfortable, and durable.
iii. Conservation and Open Space Element of the General Plan Policy
2.2.1 (Atmospheric Change) - City actions shall seek to minimize
undesirable climate changes and deterioration of the atmosphere’s
protective functions that result from the release of carbon dioxide and
other substances.
iv. Conservation and Open Space Element of the General Plan Goal 4.2
(Sustainable energy use) - Increase use of sustainable energy
sources such as solar, wind and thermal energy, and reduce reliance
on non-sustainable energy sources to the extent possible with
available technology and resources.
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v. Climate Adaptation and Safety Element of the General Plan Policy
HE-4.3 (Green and Healthy Buildings) - The City shall support fuel
switching retrofits (from fossil fuel to high-efficiency electric
appliances), energy efficiency retrofits, and distributed energy
resources as low-carbon solutions to create safe, cool, and healthy
buildings and consider programs and projects that support these
retrofits as critical to maintaining community safety and to supporting
disaster preparedness.
b. The standards imposed by this Ordinance permit mixed -fuel residential
construction consistent with federal law while also incentivizing all-electric
construction. The single family and non-residential standards include cost
effective compliance pathways for mixed-fuel and residential construction
and do not require equipment efficiencies greater than the federally
mandated minimum efficiencies in accordance with the federal standards
enacted under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
c. The standards imposed by this Ordinance implement an adopted
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Strategy as follows:
i. The standards make progress towards the City’s Communitywide
carbon neutrality by 2035 and a sub -goal of 50 percent reduction in
emissions from existing buildings by 2030, as adopted in the Climate
Action Plan for Community recovery (adopted 2020) and the 2023 -
27 Climate Action Plan Work Program (adopted 2023).
ii. The standards implement the 2023-27 Climate Action Work Program
Green Buildings Action 2.1.E, which directs staff to, “Develop an
equitable framework for requiring electrification retrofits and develop
cost effective building electrification policies for additions and
alterations.”
SECTION 5. CEQA. This ordinance is categorically exempt from CEQA because
it is an action taken by a regulatory agency for the purpose of protecting the environment
(CEQA Guidelines Section 15308). In addition, this ordinance is exempt from CEQA
under the general rule, 15061(b)(3), on the grounds that these standards are more
stringent than the State energy standards, there are no reasonably foreseeable adverse
impacts, and there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant
effect on the environment. The following findings are made in support of these
determinations:
1. The purpose of the implementation of a Reach Code is to reduce the amount
of greenhouse gas emissions in the City of San Luis Obispo that are produced
from buildings.
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2. The Reach Code approval process requires that the City determines that the
local standards will require buildings to use no more energy than current
statewide requirements. Furthermore, the California Energy Commission
approval process requires that the City make the findings as part of its approval
process. Therefore, the Reach Code standards can only go into effect if they
protect the environment by making buildings more efficient.
SECTION 6. The Chief Building Official is hereby authorized and directed to
transmit a copy of this ordinance to the California Energy Commission and the California
Building Standards Commission as required by California Health and Safety Code
Section 17958.7.
SECTION 7. Violations. Violation of the requirements of this Ordinance shall be
considered, at the City’s election, an infraction of the City of San Luis Obispo Municipal
Code punishable by all sanctions prescribed in Chapter 1.12, or an administrative
violation punishable as provided under Chapter 1.24 .
SECTION 8. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be effective as of January 1,
2026 and will be enforced upon approval by the California Energy Commission and the
Building Standards Commission.
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SECTION 9. Ordinance Summary. A summary of this ordinance, together with the
names of Council members voting for and against, shall be published at least five (5) days
prior to its final passage, in The New Times, a newspaper published and circulated in this
City. This ordinance shall go into effect at the expiration of thirty (30) days after its final
passage, but not before January 1, 2026. A copy of the full text of this ordinance shall be
on file in the Office of the City Clerk on and after the date following introduction and
passage to print and shall be available to any member of the public
INTRODUCED on the 18th day of November 2025, AND FINALLY ADOPTED by
the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo on the 2nd day of December, 2025, on the
following vote:
AYES: Council Member Boswell, Francis, Vice Mayor Shoresman, and
Mayor Stewart
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
___________________________
Mayor Erica A. Stewart
ATTEST:
_______________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________
J. Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the
City of San Luis Obispo, California, on _______________________.
___________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
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Exhibit A
Section 15.04.065
AMENDMENTS – ENERGY STANDARDS – ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS
A. Adoption of Codes and Applicability
The effective date of this ordinance shall be January 1, 2026 and is applicable to
existing single family residential buildings. The ordinance shall be enforceable
upon approval from the California Energy Commission and the Building Standards
Commission.
B. Add the following definitions to Subchapter 1, Section 100.1(b):
MAJOR ADDITION is any change to an existing building that increases
conditioned floor area by 500 or more square feet in a one-year period.
TIER 1 MAJOR ALTERATION is any construction or renovation to an existing
structure whose work valuation is $100,000 or more in a one-year period. A Tier 1
Major Alteration may include increased conditioned floor area in its work scope.
TIER 2 MAJOR ALTERATION is any construction or renovation to an existing
structure whose work valuation is $200,000 or more in a one-year period. A Tier 2
Major Alteration may include increased conditioned floor area in its work scope.
C. Amend Section 150.0 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS –
MANDATORY FEATURES AND DEVICES to read as follows:
Single-family residential buildings shall comply with the applicable requirements of
Sections 150.0(a) through 150.0(w).
D. Add new Section 150(w) to read as follows:
(w) Mandatory Requirements for Existing Building Additions and Alterations.
Existing Building Additions and Alterations shall meet the requirements
of Items 1 through 3 below, as applicable:
1. Major Addition. Any Major Addition shall install a set of measures
from the Measure Menu Table, Table 150.0 -I to achieve a total score
that is equal to or greater than 8. In addition, all mandatory measures
listed in Table 150.0-I shall be installed. Measure verification shall be
explicitly included as an addendum to the Certificate of Compliance to
be filed pursuant to 2025 Title 24, Part 1, Section 10-103. Installed
measures shall meet the specifications in Table 150.0-J.
2. Major Alteration. Any Tier 1 Major Alteration shall install a set of
measures from the Measure Menu Table, Table 150.0-I to achieve a
total score that is equal to or greater than 8. In addition, all mandatory
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measures listed in Table 150.0-I shall be installed. Measure
verification shall be explicitly included as an addendum to the
Certificate of Compliance to be filed pursuant to 202 5, Part 1, Title 24
Section 10-103. Installed measures shall meet the specifications in
Table 150.0-J.
3. Electric Readiness. Any Major Addition and/or Major Alteration (Tier
1 and Tier 2) shall include electric readiness scope per 150.0(n)1.A.i
through 150.0(n)1.A.iii or 150.0(n)1.b.i through 150.0(n)1.B.ii at a
designated space that is suitable for the future installation of a heat
pump water heater (HPWH).
Exception 1 to Section 150.0(w): The project is the result of a repair as defined
by Title 24 Part 2 Section 202.
Exception 2 to Section 150.0(w): If compliance costs exceed 10% of total project
valuation, or due to conditions specific to the project, it is technically infeasible to
achieve compliance through any available set of measures, the applicant may
request an exemption as set forth below. In applying for an exemption, the burden
is on the applicant to show hardship or infeasibility.
(1) Application. Based on the following, the applicant shall identify in writing
the specific requirements of the standards for compliance that the
project is unable to achieve and the circumstances that make it a
hardship or infeasible for the project to comp ly with this chapter. The
applicant may not petition for relief from any requirement of the 202 5
California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) and referenced standards, or
the 2025 California Green Building Standards (Title 24, Part 11) of the
California Building Standards Code. Circumstances that constitute
hardship or infeasibility shall include one of the following:
i. That the cost of achieving compliance is disproportionate to
the overall cost of the project (i.e., compliance exceeds 10%
of total project cost);
ii. That it is technically infeasible to achieve compliance through
any available set of measures.
iii. That strict compliance with these standards would create or
maintain a hazardous condition(s) and present a life safety
risk to the occupants.
(2) Granting of exemption. If the chief building official determines that it is a
hardship or infeasible for the applicant to fully meet the requirements of this
chapter and that granting the requested exemption will not cause the
building to fail to comply with the 2025 California Energy Code (Title 24,
Part 6) and referenced standards, or the 202 5 California Green Building
Standards (Title 24, Part 11) of the California Building Standards Code, the
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chief building official shall determine the minimum feasible threshold of
compliance reasonably achievable for the project. If an exemption is
granted, the applicant shall be required to comply with this chapter in all
other respects and shall be required to achieve the threshold of compliance
determined to be achievable by the chief building official.
(3) Denial of exemption. If the chief building official determines that it is
reasonably possible for the applicant to fully meet the requirements of this
chapter, the request shall be denied, and the applicant shall be notified of
the decision in writing. The project and compliance documentation shall be
modified to comply with the standards for compliance.
(4) Appeal. Any aggrieved applicant or person may appeal the
determination of the chief building official regarding the granting or denial of
an exemption or compliance with any other provision of this chapter. An
appeal of a determination of the chief building official shall be filed in writing.
Exception 3 to Section 150.0(w): If the dwelling unit has previously installed
measures from the Measure Menu, Table 150.0-I, and compliance can be
demonstrated to the building official, then these measures shall not be required to
be newly installed. If the dwelling unit has previously installed Electric Readiness
measures per 150.0(n)1.A.i through 150.0(n)1.A.iii or 150.0(n)1.b.i through
150.0(n)1.B.ii, and compliance can be demonstrated to the building official, then
these measures shall also not be required to be newly installed.
Exception 4 to Section 150.0(w): The applicant may request an exemption to any
requirements of this chapter which would impair the historic integrity of any building
listed on a local, state, or federal register of historic structures, as determined by
the chief building official and as regulated by the California Historic Building Code
(Title 24, Part 8). In making a determination of exemption, the chief building official
may require the submittal of an evaluation by an architectural historian or similar
expert.
Exception 5 to Section 150.0(w): An alteration that consists solely of seismic
safety improvements.
Exception 6 to Section 150.0(w): An alteration that consists solely of roof and/or
window projects.
Exception 7 to Section 150.0(w): When an addition or alteration results in the
creation of a new residential unit, the square footage or project scope value of that
unit shall not be counted towards “Major” addition or alteration threshold.
Exception 8 to Section 150.0(w): A Major Addition or Major Alteration to a
residential unit constructed in 1992 or later shall only be required to install the
electric readiness measures per section 150.0 (w)3.
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E. Add new Table 150.0-I to read as follows:
Table 150.0-I: Measure Menu
Measures
Target Score
8
E1 – Lighting Measures Mandatory
E2 - Water Heating Package 2
E3 - Air Sealing 1
E4 - R-49 Attic Insulation 2
E5 - Duct Sealing 2
E6 - New Ducts + Duct Sealing 4
E7 - Windows 3
E8 - R-19 Floor Insulation 8
E9 - R-30 Floor Insulation 10
E10 - Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) –
Replacing Gas
12
E11 - Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) –
Replacing Electric
5
E12 - Heat Pump Space Heater 11
ER1 - Solar PV + Electric Ready Pre-Wire 13
Note: the measures in the Measure Menu table shall conform to the
specifications in Table 150.0-J
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F. Add new Table 150.0-J to read as follows:
Table 150.0-J: Measure Specifications
ID Measure Specification
Energy Efficiency Measures
E1 Lighting Measures – Install lighting with an efficiency of 45 lumens per watt or greater in all interior and exterior screw-in fixtures.
Install photocell controls or energy management systems on all exterior lighting luminaires consistent with current Title 24 section
150.0 (k)3 requirements for new single family residential buildings. Alternative means of exterior lighting timing controls, includ ing
smart home devices, may be approved.
E2 Water Heating Package: Add exterior insulation meeting a minimum of R-6 to existing storage water heaters. Insulate all accessible
hot water pipes with pipe insulation a minimum of ¾ inch thick. This includes insulating the supply pipe leaving the water he ater,
piping to faucets underneath sinks, and accessible pipes in attic spaces or crawlspaces . Upgrade fittings in sinks and showers to meet
current California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11) Section 4.303 water efficiency requirements. Water heaters 20
gallons or less, or water heaters that are not able to add exterior insulation may not take credit for this measure.
E3 Air Sealing: Seal all accessible cracks, holes, and gaps in the building envelope at walls, floors, and ceilings. Pay special attention to
penetrations including plumbing, electrical, and mechanical vents, recessed can light luminaires, and windows. Weathe r-strip doors if
not already present. Compliance shall be demonstrated with blower door testing conducted by a certified Energy Code Compliance
(ECC) Rater no more than three years prior to the permit application date that either: a) shows at least a 30 percent reduction from
pre-retrofit conditions; or b) shows that the number of air changes per hour at 50 Pascals pressure difference (ACH50) does not
exceed ten for Pre-1978 vintage buildings, seven for 1978 to 1991 vintage buildings and five for 1992 -2010 vintage buildings. If
combustion appliances are located within the pressure boundary of the building, conduct a combustion safety test by a profess ional
certified by the Building Performance Institute in accordance with the ANSI/BPI-1200-S-2017 Standard Practice for Basic Analysis of
Buildings, the Whole House Combustion Appliance Safety Test Procedure for the Comfortable Home Rebates Program 2020 or the
California Community Services and Development Combustion Appliance Safety Testing Protocol.
E4 R-49 Attic Insulation: Attic insulation shall be installed to achieve a weighted assembly U -factor of 0.020 or insulation installed at the
ceiling level shall have a thermal resistance of R-49 or greater for the insulation alone. Recessed downlight luminaires in the ceiling
shall be covered with insulation to the same depth as the rest of the ceiling. Luminaires not rated for insulation contact mu st be
replaced or fitted with a fire-proof cover that allows for insulation to be installed directly over the cover. In buildings where existing R-
30 is present and existing recessed downlight luminaires are not rated for insulation contact; insulation is not required to be installed
over the luminaires.
E5 Duct Sealing: Air seal all space conditioning ductwork to meet the requirements of the 2022 Title 24 Section 150.2(b)1E. The duct
system must be tested by an ECC Rater no more than three years prior to the alteration or addition permit application date to verify
the duct sealing and confirm that the requirements have been met. This measure may not be combined with the New Ducts and Du ct
Sealing measure in this Table. Buildings without ductwork or where the ducts are in conditioned space may not take credit for this
measure.
E6 New Ducts and Duct Sealing: Replace existing space conditioning ductwork with new R -8 ducts that meet the requirements of 2025
Title 24 Section 150.0(m)11. This measure may not be combined with the Duct Sealing measure in this Table. To qualify, a
preexisting measure must have been installed no more than three years before the alteration or addition permit application da te.
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ID Measure Specification
E7 Windows: Replace at least 50% of existing windows with high performance windows with an area -weighted average U-factor no
greater than 0.27.
E8 R-19 Floor Insulation: Raised-floors shall be insulated such that the floor assembly has an assembly U-factor equal to or less than U-
0.037, or shall be insulated between wood framing with insulation having an R -value equal to or greater than R-19.
E9 R-30 Floor Insulation: Raised-floors shall be insulated such that the floor assembly has an assembly U-factor equal to or less than U-
0.028, or shall be insulated between wood framing with insulation having an R -value equal to or greater than R-30.
E10 Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) Replacing Gas: Replace existing natural gas storage water heater with a heat pump water heater
that meets the requirements of Section 110.3 and 150.2 (b) 1.H.iii.b .
E11 Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) Replacing Electric: Replace existing electric resistance storage water heater with a heat pump
water heater that meets the requirements of Sections 110.3 and 150.2 (b)1.H.iii.b.
E12 Heat Pump Space Heater: Replace all existing gas and electric resistance space heating systems with an electric -only heat pump
system that meets the requirements of Sections 110.2, 150.2(b)1.C, 150.2(b)1.E, 150.2(b)1.F, and 150.2(b)1.G.
Solar PV and Electric-Readiness Measures
ER1 PV and Electric Ready Pre-Wire: Install a solar PV system that meets the requirements of 202 5 Title 24 Section 150.1(c)14.
In addition to the solar PV system, Include electric readiness components per:
A. One of:
a. 150.0(n)1.A.i through 150.0(n)1.A.iii, or
b. 150.0(n)1.B.i through 150.0(n)1.B.ii
B. 150.0(t)
C. One of
a. Energy Storage Systems (ESS) Ready, as specified in Section 150.0(s), or
b. EV Charger Ready as specified in the California Green Building Code, Title 24, Part 11, Section A4.106.8.1,which
otherwise applies to new construction.
Docusign Envelope ID: 7FC8B616-4D28-4AF1-9657-A965733465D8
O 1572
G. Modify Section 150.2(a) ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR ADDITIONS
AND ALTERATIONS TO EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS to
read as follows:
Additions. Additions to existing single-family residential buildings shall meet the
requirements of Sections 110.0 through 110.9, Sections 150.0(a) through (n), (p),
(q), (w) and either Section 150.2(a)1 or 2.
H. Modify Section 150.2(b) ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR ADDITIONS
AND ALTERATIONS TO EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS to
read as follows:
Alterations. Alterations to existing single-family residential buildings or alterations
in conjunction with a change in building occupancy to a single -family residential
occupancy shall meet either Item 1 or 2 below.
1. Prescriptive approach. The altered component and any newly installed
equipment serving the alteration shall meet the applicable requirements of
Sections 110.0 through 110.9 and all applicable requirements of Sections
150.0(a) through (l), 150.0(m)1 through 150.0 (m)10, 150.0(p) through (q), and
150.0(w); and
2. Performance approach. The Energy Budget for alterations is expressed in terms
of Long-term System Cost (LSC), and the altered component(s) and any newly
installed equipment serving the alteration shall meet the applicable requirements
of Subsections A, B, and C below.
a. The altered components shall meet the applicable requirements of
Sections 110.0 through 110.9, Sections 150.0(a) through (l), Sections
150.0(m)1 through 150.0 (m)10, Sections 150.0(p) through (q), and
Section 150.0(w). Entirely new or complete replacement mechanical
ventilation systems as these terms are used in Section 150.2(b)1L, shall
comply with the requirements in Section 150.2(b)1L. Altered mechanical
ventilation systems shall comply with the requirements of Secti on
150.2(b)1M. Entirely new or complete replacement space-conditioning
systems, and entirely new or complete replacement duct systems, as
these terms are used in Sections 150.2(b)1C and 150.2(b)1Diia, shall
comply with the requirements of Sections 150.0(m)12 and 150.0(m)13.
Docusign Envelope ID: 7FC8B616-4D28-4AF1-9657-A965733465D8