Climate action and adaptation plan Building energy reach codes

In August 2024, the City adopted its inaugural Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), a greenprint to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2045. A community greenhouse gas inventory shows that natural gas usage from residential buildings comprises 25% of total community greenhouse gas emissions. Measure BE-2 of the CAAP directs the electrification of residential buildings to reduce natural gas consumption by 26% by the year 2030. A key strategy listed in the CAAP to make progress towards this goal is the adoption of reach codes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from building energy.

A reach code is a local ordinance which adds additional requirements to the state’s building code in order to address issues such as greenhouse gas emissions reduction, energy efficiency, air quality, public health, safety, and more. Reach codes are informed by community input and feedback as they apply to residential and non-residential building owners.

At this time, the City is currently considering adoption of reach codes for existing single-family residential buildings. If adopted, potential requirements may include installing electrification measures such as a heat pump space conditioning system when replacing or adding a central air conditioner, with the option still available to keep a gas furnace provided other efficiency measures are installed. Learn about the full list of policies under consideration below.

The City plans to adopt reach codes for other building types in the near future to further align with CAAP goals.

Please participate in the development of these codes to ensure they are a reflection of our community vision.

---

This website is constantly growing with new updates and resources. Check back often!