SANTA MONICA—A net-zero energy building requirement for all single-family homes will be implemented in Santa Monica starting in 2017, as an environmental measure that is said to be the first of its kind worldwide.
Santa Monica homes constructed starting in 2017 will be expected to generate enough renewable energy to offset the amount of energy used to function over a year’s period of time. The parameters will be assessed according to California Green Buildings Standards code. Santa Monica teamed up with Southern California Edison and TRC Energy Services to ascertain the code and plan accordingly.
The ordinance will be pushed onto construction within single-family residential buildings. The city of Santa Monica will require a 10 percent decrease of non-reusable energy in multi-family and commercial buildings compared to codes in 2016.
In 2015, President Barack Obama mandated that by the year 2030, all federal buildings will have a zero-net energy factor through Executive Order 13514. Based on California’s Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan, ZNE building requirements statewide will be implemented for residential buildings in 2020 and commercial buildings in 2030. Santa Monica has pushed the policy to assist in reducing energy costs.
“Council’s adoption of this new ordinance reflects our city’s continued commitment to the environment. ZNE construction, considered the gold standard for green buildings, is a major component that will help us reach our ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2050,” said Mayor Tony Vasquez.
