Full Title: The Energy Code Safe Harbor Toolkit: Plug-and-Play Energy Code Proposals that Promote Heat Pumps in New Buildings
Author(s): Erin Sherman, Daniel Carpenter-Gold, Jonny Kocher, and Jamie Long
Publisher(s): Rocky Mountain Institute
Publication Date: November 29, 2024
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
A growing number of cities and states are eager to make meaningful progress on decarbonizing buildings to achieve climate targets, enhance quality of life for all residents and businesses, and improve energy efficiency. New construction poses an irreplaceable opportunity to build smart from the start: it is the most cost-effective time to improve efficiency and helps prepare the workforce to decarbonize existing homes and businesses. To do this, leaders need policies that make zero-emission new construction the norm and comply with the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA).
In 2023 a federal court decision introduced a new interpretation of EPCA and halted Berkeley’s all-electric new construction ordinance. As a result, in Berkeley and throughout all eight states in the Ninth Circuit, governments are now limited in how they can require all-electric new construction. While many tools to advance building decarbonization remain for Ninth Circuit jurisdictions, and the decision does not limit city or state action in other circuits, the risk of similar legal challenges has caused concern in some jurisdictions.
To help cities and states successfully advance zero-emission new construction for commercial and residential properties with confidence, RMI and the Public Health Law Center have collaborated to release the Energy Code Safe Harbor Toolkit (the Toolkit).