Important reach code resources
- Local Energy Codes – A statewide program offering a wealth of resources, tools, and support to adopt reach codes
- List of Adopted Reach Codes – Learn about adopted reach codes in California
- Cost Effectiveness Explorer – Free tool to help build energy policies for buildings
Important ELECTRIFICATION resources
- AllElectricDesign.org – This free Electrification Technical Assistance Program provided by PCE and SVCE offers extensive technical assistance to architects, builders, developers, design engineers, contractors, and energy consultants to learn about all-electric building technologies and electric vehicle infrastructure.
- Switch is ON – Discover the power of an all-electric home with tools and resources to upgrade from gas to electric appliances.
- Regionally Integrated Climate Action Planning Support Program (RICAPS) – The 20 cities in San Mateo County and the County government are working together to plan and implement measures to reduce GHG emissions (mitigation), and to plan for climate change (adaptation). A working group of cities meets monthly and a countywide technical contractor supports the cities and the County by helping them develop climate action plans, GHG emission inventories, and by providing guidance on plan implementation.
- City of Palo Alto Guide to Electrification – This municipal resource outlines strategies, policies, and practical guidance for electrifying buildings, infrastructure, and services.
Recent Research Studies
- Bill Impacts of Home Electrification Across the Bay Area – A study of building electrification simulations that forecast real-world scenarios and show that heat pumps can lower customer bills today throughout the Bay Area.
- Bay Area Air Quality Management District: Assessing Ambient Air Quality and Health Impacts from Natural Gas Building Appliances in the Bay Area (December 2022)
- Coalition for Clean Air: Southern California’s Hidden Air Pollution Problem: Gas Furnaces & Water Heaters (December 2024)
- Building Decarbonization Compass – The Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC) aligns critical stakeholders on a path to transform the nation’s buildings through clean energy, using policy, research, market development and public engagement.
- Redwood Energy – Redwood Energy has been electrifying homes since 2011, and is a partnership of Sean Armstrong, Michael Winkler and the 22 staff of Redwood Energy that are recruited from diverse backgrounds. They are a collaborative, innovative design firm that has worked on more than 400 all-electric, solar powered apartment complexes.
- SVCE Permit Modernization Resource Center – Resources addressing how buildings can be electrified without expanding the electrical service capacity.
Relevant Legal Information
AB130 Resources:
AB 130 prevents state agency or local changes to the residential building standards for the next six years, unless the changes fit into one or more exceptions in the law. See the following information to learn about AB130 and speak with your legal counsel about adopting a reach code.
- California AB130 – Legislative Bill Text
- Blog from Shute, Mihaly and Weinberger: What Now? Opportunities remain for local government building code changes after AB 130
- Flowchart for Utilizing Exception 5
- Review Submission Document Instructions & Templates
- See Draft Recitals and Findings under Reach Code Development
- The Bay Area Reach Codes Technical Team is up to date on the latest requirements and available to review your documents before submission
- Rinnai America Corp. v. South Coast Air Quality Management District (2024) – Trade associations representing home builders, manufacturers, hotels, apartments, and restaurants, as well as the pipefitters trade union, sued the South Coast Air Quality Management District (“SCAQMD”) in California, arguing that its newly adopted zero-emission nitrogen oxide (“NOx”) standard for water heaters is preempted by the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act (“EPCA”).
- California Restaurant Association v. City of Berkeley (2019) – Learn about the specifics around the litigation against Berkeley’s Gas Ban ordinance. The codes developed by the Bay Area Reach Code team have a varying level of risk associated with adoption, but all were designed to address and meet the requirements of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) which the litigation claimed was preempted by Berkeley’s Gas Ban ordinance.
