Building Codes Assistance Project

A law requiring annual energy-use reporting for all of California's nonresidential buildings takes effect in January 2009, and the state Department of General Services has been working closely with utilities to streamline the reporting process. Beginning in 2010, owners of commercial buildings must disclose their energy usage and Energy Star rating to potential buyers, leasers, and financiers.

[Updated December 4, 2008]

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has completed the rulemaking process for the 2008 Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings (Title 24, Part 6, of the California Code of Regulations). The Energy Commission adopted the 2008 Standards on April 23, 2008, and the Building Standards Commission approved them for publication on September 11, 2008.

California has received a $500,000 grant to build the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards Learning Management System, an online system developed in partnership with Building Media Incorporated, to educate building department professionals to enforce the 2008 Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards and the next Standards update.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom approved a green building ordinance in early August that imposes strict requirements on newly constructed residential and commercial buildings within the city, as well as building renovations. For homes, the ordinance requires ratings from the GreenPoints rating system by Build It Green, a professional non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote healthy, energy and resource-efficient buildings in California.