Draft California Building Energy Performance Strategy Report: Senate Bill 48 Implementation Report

In 2023, the California Legislature required the California Energy Commission (CEC), in collaboration with other specified state agencies, to develop a strategy for using statewide building benchmarking data to track and manage the energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of large buildings to achieve the state’s goals, targets, and standards. This document contains the CEC’s draft recommendations for public comment and discussion.

Residential and commercial buildings in California consume more than 70 percent of the total electricity and more than 50 percent of the total gas used in the state, generating roughly 25 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. California cannot achieve midcentury climate and social goals without addressing building performance. By promoting clear and achievable building performance targets, California could encourage proactive investments in energy efficiency, building electrification, and load flexibility to support state goals.