09/06/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/06/2024 20:16
Published on September 06, 2024
The City has required sustainable, climate-friendly construction for years to protect the local environment, reduce air pollution, and achieve its climate goals. New enhanced energy efficiency codes take effect in Palo Alto on October 4, 2024. Changes allow both all-electric and mixed fuel construction and require all new and altered buildings to comply with these enhanced energy efficiency codes.
These new changes advance Council direction following the suspension of the 2022 all-electric mandate for new constructionincludingsubstantial remodels as a result of a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals finding that the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) preempts state and local building codes that impermissibly regulate energy use by products covered by EPCA, like natural gas appliances.
If you are in the building design and construction industry and/or an interested property owner, a virtual information session will be held to answer your questions on Friday, September 20, 9 - 10:30 a.m. This will be recorded and shared on the City's project pagefor public awareness.
Many Palo Alto buildings and homes have already gone all-electric, and you can too atwww.cityofpaloalto.org/GoElectric.