(1) Existing law, the California Building Standards Law, establishes the California Building Standards Commission within the Department of General Services. Existing law requires the commission to approve and adopt building standards and to codify those standards in the California Building Standards Code. Existing law requires the commission to publish, or cause to be published, editions of the code in its entirety every 3 years, and to publish, or cause to be published, supplements as necessary in the intervening period. Existing law requires all state agencies that adopt or propose to adopt a building standard to submit the building standard to the commission for approval and adoption. Among other things, existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, on or before January 1, 2019, and in consultation with the Contractors State License Board, local building officials, and other stakeholders, to approve a plan that promotes compliance with specified regulations relating to building energy efficiency standards in the installation of central air conditioning and heat pumps, as specified.
Existing law establishes the Department of Housing and Community Development in the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency. Existing law, the State Housing Law, requires the department to adopt, amend, or repeal rules and regulations for the protection of the health, safety, and general welfare of the occupant and the public relating to specified residential structures, as provided, which apply throughout the state.
This bill would require the California Building Standards Commission, on or before July 1, 2026, and in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, to adopt passive and active strategies, including the use of mechanical ventilation, to achieve a maximum safe indoor air temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit for newly constructed residential dwelling units. The bill would also require the Department of Housing and Community Development, on or before July 1, 2026, and in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, to develop a load calculation methodology for meeting both minimum heating requirements and cooling maximum temperatures in residential dwelling units in all climate zones in the state, as specified.
The bill would require the California Building Standards Commission to approve and adopt building standards, as part of the next triennial update to the California Building Standards Code, adopted after January 1, 2026, that include the passive and active strategies adopted, and the methodology developed, as described above. The bill would require the California Building Standards Commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development, on or before January 1, 2027, to each submit a report to the Legislature that includes the passive and active strategies and the methodology, respectively, subject to specified requirements.
(2) The California Constitution establishes the Public Utilities Commission and authorizes the commission to establish rules for all public utilities, subject to control by the Legislature. Existing law requires the commission to designate a baseline quantity of gas and electricity that is necessary to supply a significant portion of the reasonable energy needs of the average residential customer, as specified, and to develop a separate baseline quantity for all-electric residential customers, as defined.
The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to the calculation of baseline quantities in high-heat climate zones determined by the Public Utilities Commission.