Energy Efficiency, Green Bldg, Renewable Energy
The County of San Diego is concerned with protecting the environment and encouraging resource-efficient building and planning. As part of this effort, the Department offers a Green Building Incentive Program, enforces mandatory energy efficiency requirements, and promotes and supports additional energy saving and resource conservation measures that advance the goal of sustainability.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
The California Energy Commission has adopted the NEW 2016 Building Energy Efficiency Standards effective January 1, 2020. The 2016 Building Energy Efficiency Standards will be effective for permit applications filed through December 31, 2019. Building permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2020, must comply with the new standards.
The new standards have been updated for a number of reasons, including:
- A response to Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which mandates that California reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
- Pursuing California energy policy that energy efficiency is the resource of first choice for meeting California’s energy needs.
For more information and relevant forms, please link to the Energy Efficiency
Standards.
GREEN BUILDING INCENTIVE PROGRAM
The purpose of the Green Building Incentive Program is to encourage homeowners and builders to build using environmentally sound practices. This program is in line with the County’s Strategic Plan which has established goals of safeguarding our environment and quality of life and encouraging responsible development.
The County of San Diego Green Building Incentive Program is designed to promote energy efficiency, natural resource conservation, and water conservation in new and remodeled residential and commercial buildings. Eligible participants can benefit from program incentives that, along with the potential for long-term savings, make building green a viable alternative to traditional construction.
For more information, please see the Green Building Incentive Program informational brochure (PDS #273).
CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE
The 2019 California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen Code) was adopted by the California Building Standards Commission will be effective for MANDATORY use on January 1, 2020.
The purpose of this code is to improve public health, safety, and general welfare by enhancing the design and construction of buildings through the use of building concepts having a positive environmental impact and encouraging sustainable construction practices in the following categories:
- Planning and design
- Energy efficiency
- Water efficiency and conservation
- Material conservation and resource efficiency
- Environmental air quality.
In advance of the mandatory effective date, the Department strongly encourages everyone to be aware of this new code and familiarize themselves with the upcoming regulations.
For more information, please see the following:
California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) CALGreen Information
ENERGY LINKS
General:
Center
for Sustainable Energy (CSE)
U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy (EERE)
California
Energy Commission (CEC)
San Diego Gas and
Electric (SDGE)
Energy Efficiency Links:
California Energy Commission, Title 24
SDGE Residential Rebates and Programs
SDGE Commercial Rebates and Savings
Renewable Energy Links:
Center for Sustainable Energy, Renewable Energy
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Renewable Energy Rebate and Incentive Programs:
California Solar Initiative (CSI)
Solar Water Heating Pilot Program
Acknowledgement:
This material is based upon work supported by the Department of
Energy under Award Number DE-EE0000902.
Disclaimer: This
report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency
of the United States Government. Neither the United States
Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees,
makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal
liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or
usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process
disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately
owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product,
process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or
otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its
endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States
Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of
authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those
of the United States Government or any agency thereof.
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