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California Adopts New Nation’s First Building Code – Solar and Storage Now Standard
The California Energy Commission (CEC) approved the 2022 California Energy Code, which sets the building standards for new construction. With the unanimous vote, this created California as the first state in the nation to require new construction to install solar and battery storage on new commercial buildings and high-rise multifamily buildings. The new Energy Code also includes new standards for single-family homes to have a design in place that will allow an easy installment of battery storage for already existing solar systems.
In addition, solar water heating tech is incentivized to reduce the use of natural gas. This is a step in the right direction for California as new homes and buildings transition off of fossil fuels, such as natural gas, and instead opt into a cleaner energy source such as solar.
The new mandate would increase solar and energy storage across California. The CALSSA estimates that accelerated installation would total the annual PV market to increase about 22%.
The 2022 Energy Code focuses on four key areas in newly constructed homes and businesses:
- Encouraging electric heat pump technology for space and water heating, which consumes less energy and produces fewer emissions than gas-powered units.
- Establishing electric-ready requirements for single-family homes to position owners to use cleaner electric heating, cooking, and electric vehicle (EV) charging options whenever they choose to adopt those technologies.
- Expanding solar photovoltaic (PV) system and battery storage standards to make clean energy available onsite and complement the state’s progress toward a 100 percent clean electricity grid.
- Strengthening ventilation standards to improve indoor air quality.(CEC)
Author: Angelica Cornejo,
Communications Intern for ENACT Systems Inc.
