CALGreen 2022: New Requirements for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment for Residential Projects

One significant change in the new CALGreen 2022 update is for Electric Vehicle Charging. With a higher expectation for providing Electric Vehicle infrastructure and equipment, you’ll want to plan early for incorporating these requirements. In this article, we will cover the updates for residential projects, then address non-residential projects in a follow-up article.

Throughout the 2022 CALGreen Code, there are varying requirements for the quantity and type of spots for Electric Vehicles. You will find these three terms used to describe them:

• Spots are EV Capable when you provide the electrical panel space, conduit (no wire), and a termination box for a future 208/240--volt, 40-amp circuit. This allows for the opportunity to install a Level 1 or Level 2 electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) charger.

• Spots are EV Ready when you provide a space that is fully wired and ready for the installation of a 208/240-volt, 40-amp receptacle, or charge station.

• Spots are EV Charging Station with the installation of Level 2 EVSE chargers. These should be stand-alone chargers in common-use parking areas so that building occupants can have access to it.

EVSE – Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment: Chargers that are specified based on input voltage. Level 1 EVSE are simple portable cables at 120 V (left). Level 2 EVSE are more permanently installed charger at 208/240 V that can be wall mounted receptacle or a charging station (right).

In 2022, we see no change in one- and two-family dwellings, but Multifamily (which includes hotels and motels) now has requirements based on the number of dwelling units. The new updates are described below with an example to illustrate the application.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Parking Updates for Residential

New one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses with attached private garages (4.106.4.1) are currently still required to install raceways (conduit) that can accommodate the set up for a Level 2 EVSE. They do not yet have to be installed, but the conduit should be available for future installation.

Multifamily development projects with fewer than 20 dwelling units (4.106.4.2.1): Of the total provided parking spaces, 10% must be EV Capable and 25% must be EV Ready.

Multifamily development projects 20 dwelling units or more (4.106.4.2.2): Of the total provided parking spaces, 10% of spaces must be EV Capable, 25% of spaces must be EV Ready, 5% of spaces must be EV Charging Stations (EVCS).

In terms of accessibility, one in every 25 charging spaces, but not less than one, shall also have an 8-foot wide minimum aisle, to accommodate a van. Although that space should be on the accessible path of travel and may use the 8-foot aisle of an adjacent accessible spot, it does not count as one of the van-accessible spaces per CBC Chapter 11A. For hotels, motels and public housing, reference the requirements of Chapter 11B.

Stay tuned for our update on CALGreen EV Charging requirements in the Non-Residential chapter.

Note: this article provides an overview of the EV Charging requirements; additional details and exceptions may apply to your project. Review the code sections directly, connect with the free 3C-REN Energy Code Coach service, or reach out to us.

Sizing a PV System for the 2022 Energy Code

The 2022 California Energy Code, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2023, has a new requirement for renewable energy systems for multi-family and non-residential projects. The calculation is based on conditioned floor area, building use, climate zone and other factors. Although the requirement is prescriptive, almost all projects will need to include PVs and batteries in order to meet the thresholds for reducing carbon emissions.

Here’s a 6-minute video where we walk through the Prescriptive method for sizing a standard baseline PV system, the results of which can be used to inform the design team of PV parameters and constraints early in the design process. 

For your specific project be sure to review the code language as to allowable exceptions, especially if it appears your project may not receive much sunlight, or may have a small solar accessible roof area.

More questions? Reach out: andy@inbalancegreen.com

A Peak into Green Building Classes - For High Schools!

We know that the future of energy efficiency and sustainable building depends on new people entering this field, whether transitioning from adjacent careers or brand new to the work force. The Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN) has scores of course offerings for designers, builders and other industry professionals, but has just added a new program to the mix: Green Building for high school students. At In Balance Green Consulting, we’ve had the pleasure of providing these introductory 1-hour classes, which not only supports new career paths for these youth, but also wowed our team with the hands-on learning these young people are offered.

Career Technical Education has seen a resurgence of investment, and it’s been exciting to see the ‘classrooms’ for many of these programs. With indoor shop space and support yards, students ages 14 – 18 are frequently building parts, or all, of a tiny home, including pouring concrete, framing walls and roofs, wiring lights, installing plumbing and HVAC, hanging drywall, installing siding, and even finishes in some cases.  Other courses cover drafting, design and engineering, alongside related fields like machining and wood shop.

In our “Introduction to Green Building” class, we review the energy and resources that go into a building, discuss the potential negative impacts of construction and suggest ways to mitigate those impacts. We talk about design, highlighting traditional building methods and contemporary climate-responsive projects, then talk about products that are low-emitting or use recycled content, for example. We pass around product samples, such as wool carpet, recycled glass counter tops, rigid insulation, and bamboo panels.

There are some very impressive programs throughout the central coast! To highlight a couple of rockstar programs (in their own words):

ACE Charter High: Architecture Construction and Engineering (ACE) Charter High School in Camarillo provides a scientific, technical, analytical, and liberal arts based high school experience through progressive and collaborative teaching practices. Through career pathways, ACE students explore a rigorous, contextual, project-based curriculum that prepares students for lifelong learning as well as direct-entry into college, professional apprenticeship programs, or a technical career.

Santa Maria CTE: The Santa Maria High School District has a Career Technical Education Center that just opened in 2021. The facilities are state-of-the-art, bringing together students from three different high schools throughout the district. The career focus is to ready students for apprenticeship programs or to community colleges for ongoing education and certifications.

Thousand Oaks High School: TOHS has a Residential and Commercial Construction pathway. Students learn the basics in 15 different trades, which will increase their opportunities for hiring in the future, and are introduced to industry standard techniques to be competitive in future job interviews. They compete in building competitions to demonstrate construction skills, develop student leadership and teamwork. Each unit of study provides students a hands-on learning experience to reinforce the concepts in order to further the learning and skill development. 

Do you know a high school program that would be interested in a guest speaker on green building? Reach out and let us know!

West Cox Cottages Achieves GreenPoint Rated Certification

West Cox Cottages is an innovative, all-electric, affordable housing project in Santa Maria serving people with special needs. It includes 12 single-story duplexes and quadplexes with 30 total rental units, a common space with a computer media center, laundry facilities, and an onsite caretaker. In Balance Green Consulting worked with the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara (HASBARCO), consulting on energy optimization, photovoltaic (PV) sizing, GreenPoint Rated certification, and California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (TCAC) documentation.

Aerial of West Cox Cottages, Santa Maria

The project achieved its GreenPoint Rated certification by incorporating important features that improve energy and water efficiency, enhance indoor air quality, support resource conservation, and promote livable communities. Identifying GreenPoint certification early on helped guide the design process, ultimately leading to the decision to install Sanden Heat Pump Water Heaters, Fujitsu ductless mini-splits, and a 123.75 kW PV system.

One unique element of this project is that there were two separate builders. Atlas Performance Industries, Inc. (API) built the units as modular units at their facility, then transported them to the project site where the second builder team, Halsell Builders, took care of on-site construction. This method of modular construction provides benefits in the speed of construction, limiting weather delays, decreasing delivery trips to the job site (reducing overall transportation emissions), storing fewer materials on site, and causing less disruption to the surrounding neighborhood during construction.

Pre-fabricated parts into a whole

The now occupied West Cox Cottages project serves as a great example for how to prioritize all-electric features in multi-family housing, while pursuing GreenPoint Rated certification to build a better home for all occupants. Congratulations to the team!