Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, new buildings in Berkeley, Calif., will have to be 100% electric.
The City Council recently passed the ordinance, the first of its kind in the U.S. The measure bans gas hook-ups in new houses, apartments, and commercial buildings. Existing buildings will not be affected.
More than 50 other California cities are considering the use of local building codes and ordinances to encourage or require all-electric new construction, which could eliminate the use of fossil fuels for heating buildings.
A representative of the utility Pacific Gas & Electric told the Berkeley City Council that his company does not want to invest in new gas infrastructure that would get stranded before the end of its life. One council member’s staff demonstrated an electric induction cook top to address concerns about a ban on natural gas stoves.
Others speaking in favor of the ordinance pointed out that phasing out gas from new buildings will not only slash carbon emissions, but it will also reduce local air pollution by avoiding combustion gases inside buildings and in the community. In addition, safety would be improved by reducing the risk of gas fires in California’s numerous earthquake-prone areas.
Related Stories
| Aug 30, 2012
Federal government cancels defense contracts worth $2.15 billion
This action may foreshadow federal spending cuts scheduled for year's end if Congress takes no action on the federal budget.
| Aug 30, 2012
Public comment period is open for CRRC-1 standard
The CRRC-1 standard covers specimen preparation and test methods for measuring the initial and aged solar reflectance and thermal emittance of roofing products.
| Aug 30, 2012
LEED system's footprint reaches 2 billion sf, with 7 billion sf in the pipeline
About 7 billion more sf of commercial space is expected in the pipeline.
| Aug 30, 2012
Georgia drops LEED wood source standard on state projects
Currently, LEED green building standards only accept timber products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
| Aug 21, 2012
AGC offers second edition of the Federal Government Contractor: Ethics & Compliance Programs manual
This publication helps contractors appreciate the grounds for an alleged violation of the expected standards of business conduct and ethics, and to develop, implement, and document an effective ethics and compliance program.
| Aug 21, 2012
Federal Safe Building Code Incentive Act’s bipartisan support, no notable objection, bodes well for passage
The Safe Building Code Incentive Act would give states a little extra post-disaster federal funding if they enacted and enforced nationally recognized building codes for businesses and residences before disaster strikes.
| Aug 16, 2012
New York’s Barclays Center project accused of ignoring noise, pollution regulations
Construction crews racing to finish the Brooklyn Barclays Center are ignoring strict regulations to reduce noise and pollution, a new report by critics has found.
| Aug 16, 2012
Harness saves life of worker cleaning Washington state Capitol
Fall-protection equipment helped save the life of a worker who was cleaning the Washington state Capitol building in Olympia, after the platform he was using gave way.
| Aug 16, 2012
CSI webinar on August 21 focuses on electronic energy control
The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) is sponsoring a free webinar on August 21 at 2:00 p.m. (EDT) on electronic energy control.
| Aug 16, 2012
Public sector pushes sustainable building forward
Not usually noted for its innovation, the public sector has done the most to advance sustainable building, according to a recent panel of green building professionals.
