What’s with all the RENs?

You may have noticed more programs and offerings by Regional Energy Networks lately. Also known as “RENs” (like a wren), these public agencies are formed through a state-regulated process run through the Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). RENs are funded through the small user fee we all see on our utility bills. Those fees generally go to the large investor-owned utilities (IOUs) like PG&E and Edison for energy efficiency programs. But several years ago, some local counties got together to request that a portion of those funds go directly to the local communities, to meet gaps the large IOUs weren’t able to address. RENs throughout the state now serve as program administrators and deliver energy programs to local communities – all at no cost to the customer!

A few RENs, including those in the Bay Area and Central Coast, have been operating for several years while others have recently been approved and are just now getting set up. Here is the current list and general territories.

1.        BAYREN – San Franciso Bay Area

2.        SoCalREN – Southern California

3.        3C-REN – Tri-Counties: SLO, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties

4.        I-REN – Inland: San Bernardino and Riverside Counties

5.        CCR REN - Central California Rural areas including San Joaquin Valley, Eastern Sierra and northern Central Coast

6.        Rural REN – Northern California

7.        SDREN – San Diego

Together, these seven RENs cover 94% of California residents! For coordination and efficiency, they are all part of a convening entity known as CalREN.

Each REN establishes its own objectives and programs, which are reviewed by the CPUC. Programs can include direct incentives for home or business energy upgrades, training for contractors and professionals, career programs for youth, and code support for building departments. Each REN focuses on its community needs, particularly underserved and hard-to-reach populations.

Be sure to sign up for your REN’s newsletter so you can take advantage of classes, incentives, articles and more. CalREN links to all of the RENs in the state.

At In Balance Green Consulting, we’re proud to partner with 3C-REN, I-REN and CCR-REN to provide Building Performance Training, Energy Code and CALGreen Training and Energy Code Coach services.

If you have questions, reach out and we’ll put you in touch with the best REN for you and your project.

An Overview of 2025 Energy Code Updates

Every three years California updates its building codes under Title 24. The Energy Code, Part 6, is no exception, but unique to the Energy Code, California by law must show cost effectiveness, meaning long-term operational savings will offset any upfront cost increase.  This process requires the California Energy Commission (CEC) to continually evaluate proposed energy saving measures before they become part of the new code. According to the CEC the proposed 2025 Standards are estimated to provide $4.8 billion in statewide energy cost savings.

The new 2025 Energy Code was formally adopted by the CEC in September 2024 and will take effect January 1, 2026.

Some key take-aways from the 2025 code cycle include:

•       Encourage energy efficient heat pump technology for space and water heating

•       Expand PV systems and battery storage standards

•       Improve indoor air quality by strengthening ventilation standards

•       Save water and save energy by reducing water use in homes and non-residential buildings

Libraries, which are often used as shelters, are now singled out with increased requirements for PV solar and battery energy storage systems.

And Restaurants, which are considered high energy users, have a fairly dramatic increase in the PV and battery capacity requirements under the 2025 Energy Code Standards.

Through our partnerships with Regional Energy Networks (RENs), we will be offering free online energy code update courses throughout this year and into 2026. Classes are usually one hour and cover different project types.  For 3C-REN (SLO, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties), check out their training calendar, and of course you’re welcome to connect with the free Energy Code Coach service.

We’re also providing training and energy code coach services for Inland REN (I-REN – San Bernardino and Riverside Counties), and the newly-formed Central California Rural REN (CCR-REN – Central Valley, Monterey, Inyo and more). If you have a group that would like training, reach out – we may be able to come to you!

We look forward to supporting our region in implementing the current code while preparing for the new code cycle.

Cypress & 7th Achieves GreenPoint Rated Certification

In Balance Green Consulting is excited to announce that the Cypress & 7th Apartments, an affordable multifamily housing project in Lompoc, has earned GreenPoint Rated Certification! In Balance Green Consulting worked alongside GreenPoint Rater, Josh Gardner, RRM Design Group, Abbott | Reed Builders, and the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara (HASBARCO) to achieve certification. The project is nestled in a neighborhood in southeast Lompoc surrounded by single family housing near community services like parks, schools, a medical center, and more.

The Cypress & 7th Apartments complex is comprised of 15 affordable housing units and one manager’s unit. The project efficiently uses the 17,000 square foot site, prioritizing density to conserve resources and increase the amount of housing units available, rather than the area being used for a few single family residences. Despite the site constrictions, the project includes a community room with central laundry, covered patios and balconies attached to each unit, and a barbeque area for residents.

Energy efficiency strategies were incorporated to bring down overall energy demands, using electric heat pump space heating as well as ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators, electric ranges, and dishwashers in each unit. In addition to these efforts to reduce the building’s energy demands, the rooftop solar photovoltaic system offsets close to 80% of the tenant electricity demand and 100% of the common space electrical needs!

Since the project is in Santa Barbara County, it falls under Radon Zone 1. GreenPoint Rated requires projects in Radon Zone 1 to incorporate radon mitigation strategies to protect residents from harmful gases. Check out our previous article highlighting radon mitigation strategies from another HASBARCO project.

The strategies used on this project to achieve GreenPoint Rated certification combine to reduce energy, water, and resource consumption, promote community, and improve indoor air quality. The GPR program helps encourage higher-performance homes and best practices in residential construction through a verifiable certification process. Stay tuned for our next round of blogs where we will be exploring another GreenPoint Rated project that is near certification!

New California ADU Legislation Taking Effect

As we all know California has needed, and has been pushing for, the construction of more housing across the state. Over the last few years, we at In Balance Green Consulting have seen a significant rise in the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in our Central Coast area. This has been widespread throughout the state since ADU laws changed and became more viable for existing lots. The cost value proposition of adding an ADU has become more favorable both to adding income-earning dwelling units and to avoiding high rent rates for a family member. At the end of 2024 Governor Newsom signed three more ADU bills that all took effect January 1st this year. Based on our work and how these will play into new projects, we thought it timely to provide a quick overview.

AB 2533 – Unpermitted ADUs and JADUs

The previous code 66332 prohibited local agencies from denying a permit for unpermitted ADUs constructed before 2018 due to non-compliance with building, state or local ADU standards. AB 2533 is an amendment to 66332 which:

·       Adds JADUs to this exception

·       Moved the construction cutoff to January 1st 2020

·       Replaced an exception that allowed denial of a permit based on health and safety of the public and/or occupants. The exception now requires that the project correct any violation of the Health and Safety Code section 17920.3 (substandard buildings) before it can be permitted.

·       Mandates new public notification requirements about the limits on local regulation, pre-application inspection by a private contractor, and substandard-building criteria.

·       Defines the scope of city inspections and limits on remedial action (Gov. Code, § 66332(a)-(f))

Our initial opinion is that much of this legislation will fall on the shoulders of public sector staff to update and improve their county’s and city’s compliance. However, the inclusion of JADUs should make the permitting process and improvement of the many unpermitted JADUs currently in use.

SB 1211 – Replacement Parking Requirements and Multifamily

The replacement parking section of SB 1211 amends the existing 66314(d)(11), which prohibited local agencies from requiring off-street parking spaces to be replaced when an existing parking structure is demolished or converted to an ADU. The amendment also prohibits replacement parking being required when an uncovered space is demolished or replaced with an ADU.

Also under SB1211, the term “livable space” was previously not defined by state ADU law, creating a difficult gray area that local jurisdictions had to navigate when addressing new ADUs proposed in basements, garages, passageways, etc. SB1211 now defines “’Livable space’… [as] a space in a dwelling intended for human habitation, including living, sleeping, eating, cooking, or sanitation.” (Gov. Code 66313€).

SB 1211 also increased the quantity of detached ADUs allowed on existing multifamily dwellings from up to two detached ADUs to now up to eight detached ADUs (or as many detached ADUs as there are primary dwelling units on the lot, whichever is less, see 66323(a)(4)(A)(ii)). A new construction multifamily project remains limited to two detached ADUs.

We always appreciate when California’s legislating bodies issue clarification within their amendments; consistency between jurisdictions and projects makes the permitting and design process much easier. We also anticipate many existing multifamily projects will be adding more ADUs in the near future.

SB 1077 – State Coastal Zone Guidance

Coastal Commission approval is a process that has proved difficult for many projects in the Central Coast and until now has been providing conflicting guidance. With SB 1077, the Coastal Commission must work with Housing and Community Development (HCD) to “develop and provide guidance for local governments to facilitate the preparation of amendments to a local coastal program to clarify and simplify the permitting process” by July 1st, 2026.

There will be at least one “public workshop to receive and consider public comments.” We recommend any interested parties participate in that workshop. Watch the Coastal Commission’s and HCD’s websites for when it will be held.

Although July 2026 seems far off, and we anticipate many projects looking for this resolution sooner, the fact it is being addressed should be reassuring.