Bill Text: CA AB1918 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Energy: design and construction standards.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-08-14 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB1918 Detail]
Download: California-2013-AB1918-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 1918 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 9, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 24, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2014
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Williams
FEBRUARY 19, 2014
An act to add Section 25402.12 to the Public Resources Code, and
to add Section 381.3 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to
central heating and air cooling equipment.
energy.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1918, as amended, Williams. Energy: design and construction
standards.
Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission to prescribe, by regulation, building design
and construction standards and energy and water conservation design
standards for new residential and nonresidential buildings.
This bill would require the State Energy Resources Conservation
and Development Commission to identify and implement methods to
simplify processes and procedures related to compliance with the
above described standards.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including electrical
corporations and gas corporations, as defined. The Public
Utilities Act requires the Public Utilities Commission to review and
accept, modify, or reject a procurement plan for each electrical
corporation. The act requires that an electrical corporation's
proposed procurement plan include certain elements, including a
showing that the electrical corporation will first meet its unmet
needs through all available energy efficiency and demand reduction
resources that are cost effective, reliable, and feasible. Existing
law requires the Public Utilities Commission, in consultation with
the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission,
to identify all potentially achievable cost-effective electricity
efficiency savings and to establish efficiency targets for electrical
corporations to achieve pursuant to their procurement plan. The
Public Utilities Act additionally requires the Public Utilities
Commission, in consultation with the State Energy
Resources Conservation and Development Commission, to identify all
potentially achievable cost-effective natural gas
efficiency savings and to establish efficiency targets for gas
corporations to achieve and requires that a gas corporation first
meet its unmet resource needs through all available gas efficiency
and demand reduction resources that are cost effective, reliable, and
feasible. Pursuant to its existing authority, the Public Utilities
Commission has approved energy efficiency programs for electrical
corporations and gas corporations, with 3rd parties administering a
portion of those programs.
This bill would require the Public Utilities Commission, in an
existing proceeding, to establish, by January 1,
2016, an incentive program for contractors and local
governments to improve the verification of building code compliance
and acceptance of central heating and air cooling equipment following
installation. to authorize a program to improve
compliance with the State Building Standards Code requirements, and
any applicable local ordinances, for heating and air conditioning
equipment through existing energy efficiency programs administered by
electrical corporations and gas corporations, or administered by 3rd
parties on behalf of electrical corporations and gas corporations.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any
order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the
Public Utilities Commission is a crime.
Because certain of the provisions of this bill are within the act
and require action by the Public Utilities Commission to implement, a
violation of the program provisions adopted by the Public Utilities
Commission pursuant to the bill's requirements would impose a
state-mandated local program by expanding the current definition of a
crime.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no yes .
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) California's building energy efficiency standards are
recognized as leading the nation in energy savings. They are an
important component of the state's programs to manage its energy
consumption, conserve natural resources, and improve the quality of
life for all its citizens.
(b) Heating and cooling buildings is one of the largest
electricity end uses in the state and is also the single largest
contributor to peak electricity demand, comprising up to 30 percent
of total demand in the hot summer months.
(c) In the 2008 Strategic Plan to Reduce the Energy Impact of Air
Conditioners, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
Commission identified that a heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning system (HVAC) can increase energy use by 20 or 30
percent if it is poorly installed regardless of its efficiency
rating.
(d) Permits are required for the replacement of heating and
cooling equipment and a code official must verify installation in
compliance with the building energy efficiency standards. The
effectiveness of the building energy efficiency standards is
dependent upon the conscientious efforts of licensed
contractors contractors, local building officials,
property owners, builders, and others in California
to follow these permitting requirements to build buildings and
install components and equipment in compliance with the standards
which deliver cost-effective energy savings to consumers.
(e) California building codes are updated regularly, necessitating
more training and education for building officials performing
permitting, plan checking, and inspections. Providing this education
in tandem with incentives for beyond-code performance will motivate
both local building departments and contractors to prioritize energy
efficiency performance in their day-to-day operations.
(e) Local governments issue required permits for heating and
cooling equipment and are in an unique role to help address low
energy code compliance. As the agencies responsible for enforcement,
local governments are in a distinct position to understand and
identify some of the critical factors limiting full compliance with
the building energy efficiency standards. By continuing to
strategically identify and target these factors, energy efficiency
programs can capitalize on this local government role to further
support increased compliance and capture cost-effective energy
savings to consumers.
(f) In an effort to increase permitted activity, some local
jurisdictions have adopted practices that make it easier to obtain
permits or have implemented pilot programs to educate and train local
building staff. It is in California's best interest to facilitate
the adoption of demonstrated best practices for local building
departments across the state to undertake to maximize compliance with
building codes.
SEC. 2. Section 25402.12 is added to the Public Resources Code, to
read:
25402.12. The commission, in consultation with the Contractors'
State License Board, local building officials, and other
stakeholders, shall identify and implement methods to simplify
processes and procedures related to compliance with standards
established pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 25402.
SEC. 3. Section 381.3 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
381.3. (a) By January 1, 2016, the
commission, in an existing proceeding, shall establish an
incentive program for contractors and local governments to improve
the verification of building code compliance and acceptance of
central heating and air cooling equipment following installation. The
incentives may include, but are not limited to, all of the
following: authorize a program to improve
compliance with the State Building Standards Code requirements, and
any applicable local ordinances, for heating and air conditioning
equipment through existing energy efficiency programs administered by
electrical corporations and gas corporations, or administered by
third parties on behalf of electrical corporations and gas
corporations. The program design may include, but is not limited to,
both of the following:
(1) Assisting local governments employing innovative approaches to
reduce barriers to, and increase compliance with, the permitting
process for heating and cooling equipment. Program elements may
include:
(A) Public outreach campaigns.
(B) Computer-based permitting tools.
(C) Improvements to streamline the permitting process.
(D) Measures to address the market constraints resulting in low
permit compliance.
(E) Establishing programs, such as partnerships with local
governments, to specifically target improving compliance for
installation of heating and air conditioning equipment.
(F) Other measures to achieve greater compliance with State
Building Standards Code requirements, and any applicable local
ordinances, for heating and air conditioning equipment. Measures may
include performance protocols necessary to verify performance
compliance of central heating and cooling equipment.
(2) Technical or financial support, including those methods
identified by local governments to assist local governments with
ensuring compliance with State Building Standards Code requirements,
and any applicable local ordinances, for heating and air conditioning
equipment.
(b) The commission shall evaluate the program's design and
quantify increased permit compliance and energy savings as a result
of permit compliance.
(a) Additional funding, as necessary, for training and
certification programs for central heating and air cooling equipment
installers, local government building officials, contractors,
builders, and school building inspectors licensed through the
Division of the State Architect.
(b) Technical and financial support to establish performance
protocols necessary to verify performance compliance of central
heating and air cooling equipment.
(c) Financial or other support to assist local agencies in
offsetting costs associated with employing innovative approaches to
reduce barriers in the permitting process for heating and cooling
equipment, for example, expediting the permitting process and
measures to achieve greater compliance with state and local building
permit requirements.
SEC. 4. No reimbursement is required by this act
pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local
agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a
new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or
changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of
Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a
crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the
California Constitution.
