Energy conservation is a goal of the green building initiatives enacted by the State of California and by the City of Los Angeles. The most recent of these initiatives addresses energy conservation through the reduction of energy consumption, by making buildings solar ready, and by providing capacity for electric vehicle charging.
Buildings consume approximately 39% of the energy and 68% of the electricity produced annually in the United States, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The State of California recognized the large amount of energy consumed by buildings and addressed it through the adoption of California’s Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 6, also known as the California Energy Code. The California Energy Commission adopts efficiency standards prepared by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and other agencies, many of which are the same standards adopted by the U.S. Department of Energy. These standards provide for energy efficient lighting, HVAC, and water heating systems for residential and commercial buildings.
New green buildings in Los Angeles must use less energy than that allowed by the California Energy Code. Green buildings must be better insulated and sealed from leakage. More efficient air conditioning, and ventilation equipment, lighting, and water heating equipment must be used. The reduced energy consumption of these buildings results not only in fewer greenhouse gases emitted from energy production but in lower building operating costs.
New green buildings in Los Angeles must be solar and electric vehicle ready. Low rise residential buildings must have at least 250 square feet of unobstructed roof area and electrical conduit must be installed from the electrical panel to an accessible location in the attic for the future wiring of solar panels. Residential and commercial buildings must be provided with additional electrical panel capacity and installed conduit for the future installation of electric vehicle charging stations at the rate of one for each dwelling unit for single and two family dwellings and up to 5% of the parking spaces provided for larger buildings.
Onsite generation of electricity from clean solar power and on-site charging equipment to facilitate the use of electric vehicles reduces the environmental impact of the buildings and our transportation means. As global competition for fuel accelerates, the rate of return on energy efficiency measures and alternate sources of energy improves.
“Energy Conservation” requirements are referred to as “Energy Efficiency” in the new 2010 CALGreen Code and the 2011 Los Angeles Green Building Code.
To learn more about CALGreen, please visit the following link:
http://www.bsc.ca.gov/Home/CALGreen.aspxl
To learn about the City of Los Angeles Green Building Code Ordinance and related links, please visit the following link:
Los Angeles Green Building Code Ordinance
City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety Green Buildings