United States. In order to reduce energy use in new homes by more than 50%, the California Energy Commission adopted building standards that require solar PV systems starting in 2020.
The new energy efficiency standards are the first in the nation to require solar power. They will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to taking 115,000 fossil fuel vehicles off-road.
The 2019 building energy efficiency standards will be in effect on January 1, 2020, and focus on four key areas: residential smart PV systems, updated thermal envelope standards (avoiding heat transfer from the inside to the outside and vice versa), residential and non-residential ventilation requirements, and non-residential lighting requirements. For the first time, the standards also set requirements for newly built healthcare facilities.
"Under these new standards, buildings will perform better than ever, while contributing to a reliable grid," said Commissioner Andrew McAllister, who is the energy commission's leader on energy efficiency. "The buildings that Californians shop in and live in will run very efficiently while generating their own clean energy. It will cost them less to operate, have healthy indoor air, and provide a platform for 'smart' technologies that will propel the state even further down the path to a low-emission future."
Under the new standards, non-residential buildings will use about 30 percent less energy due primarily to lighting upgrades. For residential homeowners, based on a 30-year mortgage, the Energy Commission estimates the rules will add about $40 to a median monthly payment, but save consumers $80 on monthly heating, cooling and lighting bills.
Source: California Energy Commission.
