GREEN BUILDINGS COMMITTEE
Action Alert: Culver City’s City Council To Discuss Building Electrification on Monday, October 10
Culver City is planning to consider an electric-only policy for new buildings at the City Council meeting. The city also has the option of adding additional efficiency measures and solar requirements that can make building electrification even more impactful and cost effective.
We ask supporters to send a public comment via email and/or to speak during the council meeting to urge Culver City to draft an ordinance to require new buildings be all-electric, without gas-burning appliances, with additional efficiency measures, moving Culver City further away from harmful fossil fuels.
Visit our Culver City B.E. Action Alert page to read more about what’s happening, and see a sample comment and additional talking points.
Glendale City Council To Vote On Reach Code Package On October 25
Glendale, CA, is considering a package of three building code updates: building electrification for all new buildings; increased EV charging requirements for new buildings; and increased PV charging requirements for new multifamily and commercial buildings.
Climate Reality Project Los Angeles Chapter is a proud member of the Glendale Building Electrification Working Group, which supports the proposal. The Working Group has given feedback on the proposal and organized public participation in the process, resulting in a stronger proposal.
On October 25, 2022, the City Council is scheduled to vote on the ordinance.
Read the Glendale Building Electrification Working Group’s fact sheet for more details.
Win: Pasadena Building Electrification Policy Implemented
Climate Reality Project Los Angeles Chapter is a proud member of the Pasadena Building Electrification Coalition, which formed to promote an all-electric building policy for the city, to go into effect as soon as possible and with the fewest exceptions possible.
On August 8, 2022, the City Council voted to enact phase one of the building electrification policy, applying to most multifamily, commercial, and mixed use buildings. Visit our coalition webpage to learn more.
LA County Building Electrification Policy Tracker
Want to know where communities in Los Angeles County stand with building electrification reach codes? Check out our building electrification policy tracker.
Committee Goals
The Green Buildings committee has the following goals: 1) promote efficiency and electrification of buildings, 2) work in coalition with other organizations and stakeholders to get local cities to follow the lead of other cities around the state in banning new gas hookups, and 3) support a just and equitable transition of existing buildings away from methane gas.
Upcoming Committee call
Joining our monthly call is a great way for new people to get involved. During the calls, we share news about green buildings and building electrification and updates on our campaigns.
When: The date for our next call has not been set yet.
SIGN UP For Our Monthly Newsletter
Sign up for our monthly Green Buildings email newsletter to get updates on building electrification around Los Angeles and the registration link for our next committee call. Click here for a recent example.
Sign up using the form below, which also opts into the chapter’s general email list.
Headlines - Stories From Our Newsletter
October 8, 2022: L.A. City Update: New Plan Would Ban Gas in New Construction by April 1, 2023
May 15, 2022: Santa Monica's Draft Building Electrification Policy
May 15, 2022: Berkeley Gas Ban Lawsuit
May 15, 2022: Calif. State Green Buildings Legislation Round-Up
May 15, 2022: Pasadena All-Electric Buildings Proposal Status Update
April 12, 2022: Glendale, Pasadena & LA County Making Progress Toward All-Electric Buildings
March 14, 2022: LA County To Consider Building Electrification Motion
February 10, 2022: LA City Council Motion Would Ban Gas In New Construction By Jan 2023
January 7, 2022: NYC Just Passed a Major Building Electrification Ordinance. Is LA Next?
November 16, 2021: Pasadena is the next building electrification battleground
October 15, 2021: California 2021 Legislative Session Wrap-Up
Confronting the Climate Crisis Requires Equitable Building Electrification
In California, 25% of greenhouse gas emissions come from our buildings. To eliminate these emissions, we need energy efficiency, a renewable electricity grid, and elimination of gas-burning appliances.
To eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, we will need to replace all gas-powered appliances, a massive retrofit effort. This will be a huge job creator, but also very expensive.
Our committee believes an equitable solution means making sure everyone, including renters and people in lower-income neighborhoods, are able to benefit from this transition. That's why we are advocating for an inclusive process to identify the best, most equitable and affordable pathways to transition.
Resources
“How Climate Activists Won a Building Electrification Code” webinar (September 28, 2021), presented by our committee and featuring speakers from 350 Sacramento on how they worked in coalition with other environmental and labor groups to get a strong building electrification ordinance for new buildings passed. The Sacramento building electrification ordinance is especially interesting in that it includes a pledge to tackle the challenge of retrofitting existing buildings as well.
Building Decarbonization Coalition and their “The Switch Is On” website that provides education about home electrification as well as practical information like links to contractors and rebates.
Sierra Club tracker of local Building Electrification Ordinances in California
Coverage of California's new energy code for 2023 in Canary Media
"A Matter of Degrees" Podcast episode on how SoCal Gas fought against the Santa Barbara building electrification reach code, but environmentalists won: The Devious Plan to Keep Us Hooked on Gas