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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09124j/t/�� Fjv?&?�ly Po*d ORDINANCE NO. 912 (1981 Series) AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO REQUIRING CERTAIN FACILITIES TO EMPLOY SOLAR WATER HEATINGyTO INCORPORATE FEATURES TO FACILITATE SUCH SYSTEMS, OR TO PROVIDE LIFE -CYCLE COST COMPARISONS WHEREAS, the City Council has adopted an Energy Element of the General U `1 U'L- Plan, with the goal of making the city more energy self.ttr.eliant and economically secure through the use of local energy sources; and WHEREAS, the City is concurrently adopting regulations and guidelines for the provision and protection of solar access throughout the.City; and WHEREAS, the use of solar water heating systems has been shown to be generally cost- effective-in this climate and latitude, considering costs of installation and operation in comparison with rising fossil -fuel and electricity prices; and WHEREAS, the technology to heat water directly by sunlight is readily available; and WHEREAS, the.state.and federal governments advocate greater use of solar energy systems and have established tax incentives for such systems; BE I.T ORD'AI'NED by the Council mf the City of San Luis Obispo, as follows: SECTION 1. The Solar Water Heating Regulations, fully contained in the attached Exhibit A, are adopted. SECTION 2. After review and consideration, the Community Development Director's approval of a negative declaration of envirnnmental impact is affirmed. SECTION 3. This ordinance, together with.the ayes and noes, shall be published once in full, at least three (3) days before its final passage, in the Telegram - Tribune, a newspaper published and, circulated in said city, and the same shall go into effect at the expiration of thirty days after its said final passage. 0 912 EXHIBIT "A" ARTICLE VIII - BUILDING REGULATIONS CHAPTER 9 - SOLAR WATER HEATING REGULATIONS SECTION 8901: PURPOSE These regulations are intended to reduce the dependence of city residents and businesses on fossil fuels for water heating where solar water heating has been shown to be generally feasible and cost effective. SECTION 8902: REQUIREMENTS 8902.1 Swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs After certification-by-the California Energy--Commission of .provisions of _these regulations relevant-to the.r,equirements of,. this subsection, each new swimming pool, hot tub or spa installed within the city shall employ a solar water - heating system as the primary source of heated water and shall not rely on an electric or fossil -fuel water-heating system except as a back -up source to provide heated water when solar energy will not be sufficient. 8902.2 Buildings with hot -water systems After the effective date of these regulations, each new building or group of buildings proposing a hot -water system which does not use solar energy shall include: A. An accessible space appropriately located and of sufficient size to allow installation of a tank for storage of solar- heated water; and B. Accessible plumbing components to facilitate future connection of a solar water - heating system to the building's water heating system. Such components shall include: Removable pipe segment of sufficient length to enable installation of a valve and "T" in the cold water line; or An insulated plumbing loop; isolated by valves, extending to -the likely solar collector location; or Any other arrangement which in the opinion of the Chief Building Official would facilitate future connection of a solar heating system and which , in the interim, would not,cause excessive heat loss from the heated water. 8902.3 Users of large amounts of heated water After the effective date of these regulations) applications to build the types of facilities listed immediately Below which do not propose a solar, solar- assisted, or solar pre- heated hot -water system shall be accompanied by life -cycle cost calculations comparing the type of water - heating system proposed with an equivalent solar, solar- assisted, or solar pre- heated system. A. Commercial laundries; B. Self - service laundries; C. Common laundry facilities within residential projects with more than four dwellings; D. Multi - family residential projects with central or circulating hot -water systems, having more than four dwellings, and all multi - family residential projects with more than8 dwellings; E. Hotels and motels or the addition to a hotel or motel of more than four units; F. Group quarters residential projects designed for occupancy by more than ten individuals; G. Restaurants and food take -out establishments with more than 400 square feet of floor area for customer use; H. Gymnasia and athletic clubs and sports facilities providing shower facilities; I. Food processing,,dyeing, chemical, and beverage industries; J. Commercial, industrial, office, and public facilities with more than 20,000 sq. ft. gross floor area. SECTION 8903: ENFORCEMENT AND EXCEPTIONS The Chief Building Official shall interpret and enforce these regulations. The Chief Building Official shall grant exceptions to the requirements of these regulations if a permit applicant demonstrates: A. A hot -water system using waste -heat recovery or heat from non - depletable energy sources will supplant essentially the same amount of energy that could be provided by solar energy -- a system which would substantially reduce the use of fossil fuel or electricity for water heating will be employed; or B Sufficient solar exposure is not available and cannot be made available by means readily available to the applicant. Circumstances which would .preclude sufficient solar exposure and warrant an exception include, without limitation: 1. Shading during a substantial part of the year or day by neighboring landforms,, structures, or vegetation; 2. Insufficient building or site area under control of the applicant upon which the necessary area of solar collectors could be installed. SECTION 8904: PLANS AND PERMITS The requirements for plans and permits shall so far as possible be the same as provided in'Municipal Code Article 'VIII, Building Regulations. In addition to the requirements of the Building Regulations, including applicable plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and structural features, plans for solar water - heating systems for swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs shall indicate a collector type,_area, and orientation sufficient to contribute not less than 60% of the total water - heating potential, together with plumbing devices and insulation to efficiently deliver such heated water in conjunction with any back -up heating system which may be proposed. Life-cycle cost comparisons which may be required by these regulations shall include all initial and operating costs and cost - savings, including applicable tax incentives, and shall generally follow the methods and employ the energy -price inflation factors provided by the California Energy Commission. The comparisons shall take into account the particular water -use patterns of each proposed facility. SECTION 8905: INSPECTIONS Facilities and equipment installed pursuant to these regulations shall be subject to inspection by the City as provided in Municipal Code Article VIII, Build ing!.:Regulations. SECTION 8906: FEES Fees for plan check and inspections pursuant to these regulations shall be as provided for other building projects, except that upon the recommendation of the Chief Building Official, the council may by resolution establish fees to recover costs not borne by building- permit fees. SECTION 8907: DEFINITIONS For the purpose of these regulations, the following terms and phrases shall have the indicated meanings: Fossil fuel means natural gas of geologic origin:, oil, coal, or any fuel derived from them. Hot tub or spa means any container which is normally filled with heated water in which people immerse themselves, whether public or private, recreational or therapuetic, and with or without means for circulating or aerating the water. Non - depletable energy source means solar heat, heat from combustion of a biomass fule such as wood, plant wastes, or methane from decomposition of organic material, or electrical energy produced exclusively from such a source or from wind or hydro - generation or photovoltaic cells. Solar water heating system means any system using sunlight to heat water, whether by active circulation or thermosyphoning effect, and with or without a separate heat transfer fluid. Swimming pool means any man -made pond -or container more than 18 inches deep, used for swimming, bathing, immersion, or diving, whether public or private, and including above - ground and portable pools. This definition shall not be construed to include bathtubs or other similar appurtenances normally installed in bathrooms. ORDINANCE NO. 912 (1981 Series) Page 2 INTRODUCED AND PASSED TO PRINT by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo at a meeting thereof held on the 17th day of November 31 1981, on motion of Councilwoman Dovey , seconded by Councilman Griffin and on the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Dovey, Griffin, Dunin, Settle and Mayor Billig NOES: None ABSENT: None e Major aMelanie C. Bil ATTEST: City C erk Pamela Vo s VV * L- i v V' "Wv City Administrative ficer City Attorney Community PevelopmeftNDirector ief Building Official .1 Waste -heat recovery means the use of heat which would otherwise be dissipated without performing any useful function, including, without limitation, heat from steam- turbine generation of electricity, from internal combustion engines, from equipment or fluid's used in industrial processes or from ventilating heated spaces, incinerators, or furnaces.