REPORT TO SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION and PLANNING COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Forward a Recommendation to the City Council to approve a Phased Reach Codes program and implement Phase 1 for new Residential and Non-Residential Construction Projects: Introduce an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 16.42 (Energy Code) of Title 16 (Buildings and Construction) and Find that the Action is Exempt from CEQA
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
Sunnyvale's Climate Action Playbook, adopted in 2019 includes six key strategies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Strategy 2 is Decarbonizing Buildings, which aims to reduce natural gas use and shift to all-electric buildings. To help achieve environmental goals, many communities have adopted "reach codes." These are local energy codes for building design and construction that go beyond minimum state requirements. The codes help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting electric versus natural gas energy use. Staff is recommending a phased Reach Codes program that would start with all electric construction for new buildings. Remodels, improvements and chargers for electric vehicles would come later. Reach codes apply to both residential and nonresidential buildings. Staff recommends implementation of Phase 1 through introduction and adoption of an amendment to the Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 16 (Building and Construction).
BACKGROUND
Sunnyvale adopted its first Climate Action Plan in 2016 to assist the City in achieving the 2020 State of California climate targets. In 2019, the City adopted an updated plan, called the Climate Action Playbook (Playbook, and sometimes referred to as CAP 2.0) to identify a pathway to meet and exceed to State's longer-term climate targets for 2030 and 2050. The Playbook includes six key strategies to reduce GHG emissions. Strategy 2 is Decarbonizing Buildings, which aims to reduce natural gas use and shift to all-electric buildings. As of 2018, nearly 38 percent of community-wide GHG emissions in Sunnyvale c...
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