California
Incentives/Policies for Renewable Energy
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Last DSIRE Review: 11/03/2008
| Incentive Type: |
Energy Standards for Public Buildings |
| State: |
California |
| Eligible Efficiency Technologies: |
Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building,
Specific technologies not identified
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| Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: |
Passive Solar Space Heat,
Solar Water Heat,
Solar Space Heat,
Photovoltaics,
Wind,
Biomass,
Geothermal Heat Pumps,
CHP/Cogeneration,
Bio-gas,
Daylighting,
Small Hydroelectric
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| Applicable Sectors: |
State Government
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| Goal: | Solar energy equipment should be installed by January 1, 2009 on any public building or facility, new or existing, where such an installation is determined to be cost-effective over the life of the system, and funding is available. |
| Equipment/Products: | ENERGY STAR products when cost effective |
| Requirement: | Reduction in grid-based energy usage for state buildings by 20% of 2003 levels by 2015; all new and renovated buildings must achieve a minimum "Silver" rating on the LEED scale. |
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Web Site: |
http://www.energy.ca.gov/greenbuilding/index.html
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Authority 1:
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EXECUTIVE ORDER S-20-04
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Authority 2:
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CA Government Code § 14710 et seq.
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Authority 3:
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CA Government Code § 14684.1
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| Date Enacted: | 10/13/07 |
| Date Effective: | 1/1/08 |
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Summary:
On December 14, 2005, California’s governor signed Executive Order S-20-04, creating a Green Building Action Plan to improve the energy performance of all state buildings and reduce grid-based energy usage in state buildings by 20% of 2003 levels by 2015. Under this order, all new and renovated buildings must be rated to at least the “Silver” level of LEED* standards. EO S-20-04 also requires agencies to seek out office space leases in buildings with the ENERGY STAR rating for spaces of 5,000 square feet or more, to identify the most appropriate ways of achieving energy efficiency in their buildings, and to purchase ENERGY STAR products when cost effective.
The order also requires the cooperation of independent agencies including the California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, California State University System, University of California System, California Community Colleges System, K-12 schools, California Public Employees Retirement System, California State Teachers Retirement System, constitutional officers, and legislative and judicial branches in developing benchmarking and commissioning guidelines, suggesting plans for retrofitting existing buildings, ensuring builder and contractor compliance, promoting the Green Building Action Plan in commercial buildings, and fulfilling “green building” requirements in construction practices and real-estate investments. Commercial buildings are also encouraged to take voluntary efforts to help achieve the goal of reducing electricity usage.
California has additional legislation (GC14710-14714) requiring the identification of public buildings where it is feasible to reduce energy consumption, achieve energy efficiencies, produce onsite electrical generation, or reduce the level of peak electricity consumption using alternative energy equipment, thermal energy storage technologies, or cogeneration equipment.
Additionally, Assembly Bill 532 was signed in October 2007, and extends a requirement specifically for solar energy equipment to be installed by January 1, 2009 on any public building or facility, new or existing, where such an installation is determined to be cost-effective over the life of the system, and funding is available.
*Click here for more information on the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.
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Please note: The information on the DSIRE web site provides an overview of incentives and other policies, but it should not be used as the only source of information when making purchasing decisions, investment decisions, tax decisions or other binding agreements. Please refer to the individual contact provided in each record to verify that a specific incentive or other policy is applicable to your specific project.
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