Project Description

The purpose of this project is for the California Energy Commission to respond to a mandate from the California State Legislature to prepare a report to recommend a set of integrated strategies which will cost effectively reduce peak and overall energy use in existing residential and nonresidential buildings in California. These strategies may include mandatory measures and/or voluntary measures associated with "trigger events" during the life of the building that are prime opportunities for making energy efficiency improvements. The report will also identify any resource requirements and obstacles to be overcome, as well as necessary market actions for successful implementation of the proposed strategies.

Project Mission

The project mission statement for this project is:

Produce a compelling, credible and objective action plan for the legislature that results in the implementation of a set of integrated strategies that will cost-effectively reduce peak and overall energy use in existing residential and nonresidential buildings in California.

Project Vision

The project vision statement, which describes the desired long-term future state that we expect will result from the implementation of this project, is:

Most reasonable and cost-effective energy efficiency improvements have been made in existing buildings. Buildings are operated in an energy efficient and peak-conscious manner, which contributes to a more resilient energy supply and delivery system. California homes and work places have a reputation for being affordable, safe, comfortable and healthy places in which to live and work.

Project Schedule

The project schedule provides a tentative timeline for workshops and reports for this project. Since serious budget and staffing constraints have delayed the commencement of work on this project, it is not possible to deliver a comprehensive report to the legislature that fully addresses the subject by the January 1, 2004, date stated in AB 549. Therefore, the Commission will provide an interim report to the legislature by January 1, 2004, and a comprehensive set of recommendations to the legislature no later than October 1, 2005.

Project Scope

The scope of the AB 549 project includes:

• Characterizing the various types of existing building types including events in the lives of the buildings that would serve as trigger points for improvements.



• Analyzing opportunities for improving the efficiency of existing residential and nonresidential buildings.



• Quantifying current market penetration, potential energy savings, peak demand savings and cost of each measure or package of measures.



• Prioritizing measures.



• Analyzing delivery strategies for increasing the adoption of each measure including both voluntary and regulatory mechanisms.



• Prioritizing delivery strategies.



• Developing a report to the California legislature which will provide a plan of action with a mix of strategies that most effectively reduce peak demand and energy use in existing buildings, including an outline of any legislation that would be necessary to enact portions of the plan.

The above analysis will build off of the current body of research on energy efficiency in existing buildings. The project scope will not include an evaluation of all current energy efficiency programs. However, the analysis will examine existing programs to identify program gaps, unmet needs and promising new or underutilized program strategies.

Examples of voluntary opportunities and mechanisms that may be examined include:

• Increasing awareness of the value and availability of building diagnostics and assessment services (e.g., HERS ratings and commercial building commissioning), efficiency upgrades, and existing financing and incentive programs.



• Helping manufacturers and installers of building components and equipment to more effectively market high efficiency products and services.



• Providing training for remodeling and renovation trade workers, building owners and managers, and others.



• Providing low interest loans for the purchase of diagnostic equipment by home performance contractors.



• Providing new rebates, grants, interest rate buy-downs, or tax incentives to offset some of the cost of energy assessments or upgrades for existing buildings

Examples of mandatory opportunities and mechanisms that may be examined include:

Requiring minimum efficiency upgrades (that are not covered by Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards) and diagnostic testing and commissioning practices when certain equipment or building components are replaced.

Requiring higher manufacturing standards for equipment and building components (including classes of materials and equipment not currently covered by Title 20 Appliance Efficiency Standards) used in common remodels and renovations.

Requiring that the energy performance of building systems and equipment in certain types and vintages of buildings be assessed through HERS ratings or nonresidential building commissioning, and that this information be provided to the buyer at time of sale.

Requiring that certain building components, building systems or equipment be brought up to minimum levels in conjunction with the sale of a building.

How to Participate

Interested parties are encouraged to provide input during the development of this report to the legislature. There are a variety of ways to provide input and follow the progress of the project:

• Subscribe to our AB 549 email list server to receive relevant documents and notices of upcoming events and work products throughout the course of the project;



• Monitor the AB 549 project web page www.energy.ca.gov/ab549 frequently for updates;



• Participate in public workshops. For those unable to participate in person, audio will be available for most workshops on the web or you can request call-in information to participate via conference call;



• Send comments via email to [ab549@energy.state.ca.us].





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