FREE Energy Code Coach for all those Title 24 Questions

Partnering with 3C-REN, we’re pleased to support the Energy Code Coach program, a free service for design professionals, contractors and building departments to answer energy code or CALGreen questions. Just call (805) 220-9991 or fill out this online form.

Recent Code Coach questions include:

·       2022 PV and battery requirements for a 3-story multi-family alteration

·       Commissioning requirements for a new tenant improvement

·       Information regarding multifamily incentives for heat pumps

·       Required forms during permit submission and upon inspection

·       Consequences of differences in window specs per Title 24 report and in field

You can always reach out to us directly and we’ll get your question answered and logged in. Contact us!

Want to Reduce Embodied Carbon in Your Next Project?

We all know that carbon emissions are at the root of climate change. Operational carbon (from the energy used to operate a building) has been dropping for a decade or more. But what of the carbon that is emitted during the manufacturing of materials and actual construction of that building?

Unlike a utility bill that quantifies the electricity or gas used in a month, our buildings don’t generally come with labels showing the carbon emissions incurred before we even step foot inside. This embodied carbon (EC) is knowable however – via a document called an EPD, or environmental product declaration.

EPDs can take many forms and may include information beyond just carbon emissions, such as data about the manufacturing process, sourcing, and other environmental measures. Importantly, they provide third-party verified data that can be used to compare the EC in products in a standardized “apples-to-apples” platform.

The simplest way to use EPDs is to compare the EC data for “Stages A1-A3” of a product, which include extraction, upstream transport, and manufacturing. (“Stages” is the term used in a full Life Cycle Analysis, from manufacture to use to end-of-life.)  This comparison is often done during conceptual or schematic design to inform broad decisions about structural materials.

Data from a manufacturer’s EPD showing Global Warming Potential in kg CO2 equiv.

EPDs can be found on manufacturer websites, if they’ve gone to the trouble of generating them. Here, we show a section of an EPD for 1 meter of I-Joist material. The embodied carbon is listed for stages A1-A3 and equals 1.82 kg CO2 equivalent.

This same data is also accessible in a variety of searchable databases. The EC3 Tool (below) is generally limited to data for stages A1-A3, while others offer data for the full life cycle. Here, we found the EC data for the same I-joist product and were able to compare it against other products in the same category.

EPD data for the same I-joist manufacturer as above and a competitor, compiled in the EC3 searchable database.

On a recent project, we conducted a simple EC analysis during the conceptual design phase. Starting with foundation, structure, and enclosure materials, we identified the industry baseline EC for a building of the same size, structure, and use. We then researched the embodied carbon content of products that would likely be specified for the project, as well as alternative products that would be readily available. With this information in hand, we were able to generate a rough estimate of potential EC savings in the proposed design.

In the case of structural wood for example, we were able to identify two manufacturers that could provide LVLs of the specified size and strength. Both reported EC below the industry baseline of 400 kg CO2 per m3. However, one was significantly lower than the other – a 31% reduction vs. 55%. This then informed the project team’s specifications moving into design development and ultimately contributing to a Zero Carbon certification on the horizon.  

Interested in reducing the embodied carbon in your next project? Contact us!

What Does It Look Like When a Community Prioritizes Inclusivity?

On July 27, from 6- 7:30 p.m., Anyeley Hallová, founder of Adre, an equity-centered real estate development company, will present on how to prioritize inclusivity and sustainability in building development projects.

Hallová will share her experience delivering innovative and equity-centered development projects, discuss how to create tangible advancements in the built environment, and what inclusive, sustainable development looks like, from start to finish.

Hallová currently serves on the board of the U.S Green Building Council (USGBC) and is the Chair of Oregon’s Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC). The Urban Land Institute recognized her as one of their “40 under 40” and one of the best young land-use professionals from around the globe. In 2022 she made the Grist 50 Fixers list of emerging U.S. leaders in climate, equity, and sustainability who are working on fresh, real-world solutions to the world’s biggest challenges.

For more information and ticketing, visit the event website.

Electrify Your Ride With the Help of Your Energy Provider

Summers are full of cruising to the beach, trekking on a day hike, or taking in the fresh air and views that the central coast has to offer. With all these great destinations, have you considered the journey you’re taking to reach them? If you’ve thought about making the switch to electric transportation, your energy provider might be able to help you.

Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) is a community choice energy agency that aims to help communities along the Central Coast by generating clean and renewable energy, while relying on existing agency’s infrastructure to deliver to its consumers. This means you may receive an energy bill from PG&E, who handles maintenance, transmission, and billing, but the energy is procured by 3CE. It’s service area includes the counties of Monterey, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo, except for unincorporated areas of San Luis Obispo County.

If you are a customer of 3CE, you may be eligible for a new program Electrify your Ride, a one-stop shop for incentives to help you make the transition from gas to electricity. The program provides rebates for a variety of options, including electric cars or bikes, or to prepare your home ready for charging them. The program is currently open and runs until September 30th, 2022, with plenty of funds available.

You can apply for any and all of the four available rebates in any order. They are offered for new purchases made in the eligibility period of October 1, 2021 to November 15, 2022.

• The Electric Vehicle (EV) Rebate is for new or used EVs such as Electric Battery, Plug-In Hybrids, and Electric Motorcycles that are registered with the California DMV to an address in 3CE Service Area. Used vehicles have some more requirements, such as 8 model years or newer (in 2022, 2015 or newer), less than 75 thousand miles, and no recalls.

• The E-Bike Rebate is for all new E-bikes purchased in the eligibility period. All classes of E-Bikes are available, and you could even receive an extra $100 if you purchase your bike from a store in the 3CE Service Area.

• The EV Charger Rebate is for new chargers that are Wi-Fi enabled and are Level 2 EV Chargers (240-volt power source).

• The EV Readiness Rebate applies toward electrical work done by an authorized laborer as well as material and labor cost for an installation to get your home ready for your EV purchase.

Base Definition: All residents enrolled in CCCE.

Tier 1 Definition: Income Qualified Residents within 201% – 400% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL)

Tier 2 Definition: Income Qualified Residents within 200% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL)

For more information about the rebates and the details of applying, see https://3cenergy.org/electrifyyourride. 3CE staff are available to help and they anticipate a turnaround of 45-60 days for your application once submitted. With a cleaner energy network and potentially a new e-bike to cruise to the beach, maybe electrifying your home is in your future as well.

There are plenty of savings to be found in switching from gas to electric. If you are interested in all-electric construction or just electrifying part of your project, the team at In Balance Green Consulting can help. Contact us!