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Legislation to protect consumers, help energy efficiency sent to governor
Posted: 08/26/16, 5:56 PM PDT | Updated: 3 days ago
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The State Senate voted Thursday to send Gov. Jerry Brown Senate Bill 1414 by State Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Solano, legislation to protect energy consumers, and help California meet its energy efficiency goals.
“Ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs are critical to the state’s energy and environmental policies,” Wolk said. “SB 1414 will help the state meet its energy efficiency goals and ensure customers receive the full benefits of the energy efficiency upgrades they purchase.”
Unfortunately, research shows that code compliance in residential heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) replacements is low, meaning many of these projects do not capture their full potential energy efficiency savings.
Energy efficiency programs funded by the ratepayers of California’s three investor-owned utilities do not currently require program participants to demonstrate proof of compliance with the California Building Standards Code to be eligible for ratepayer incentives.
SB 1414 requires recipients of energy efficiency rebates or incentives for HVAC installations and retrofits to provide proof of permit closure and certification that the improvement or installation complies with the California Building Standards Code.
Wolk’s SB 1414 also addresses a prevalent problem with contractors, often unlicensed, who make HVAC improvements without attaining the proper permits. The California Energy Commission (Energy Commission) estimates that legally-required permits are obtained for less than 10 percent of HVAC system installations, and that up to 50 percent are not properly installed.
The bill directs the Energy Commission, in consultation with the Contractors’ State License Board, local building officials, and other stakeholders, to approve a plan that will promote the installation of central air conditioning and heat pumps in compliance with the state’s building code and energy efficiency regulations.
“I urge the governor to sign this measure into law to ensure that ratepayer funds are being spent on projects that meet the health, safety, and energy efficiency-related requirements of the state’s building code,” Wolk said.
Posted: 08/26/16, 5:56 PM PDT | Updated: 3 days ago
0 Comments
The State Senate voted Thursday to send Gov. Jerry Brown Senate Bill 1414 by State Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Solano, legislation to protect energy consumers, and help California meet its energy efficiency goals.
“Ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs are critical to the state’s energy and environmental policies,” Wolk said. “SB 1414 will help the state meet its energy efficiency goals and ensure customers receive the full benefits of the energy efficiency upgrades they purchase.”
Unfortunately, research shows that code compliance in residential heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) replacements is low, meaning many of these projects do not capture their full potential energy efficiency savings.
Energy efficiency programs funded by the ratepayers of California’s three investor-owned utilities do not currently require program participants to demonstrate proof of compliance with the California Building Standards Code to be eligible for ratepayer incentives.
SB 1414 requires recipients of energy efficiency rebates or incentives for HVAC installations and retrofits to provide proof of permit closure and certification that the improvement or installation complies with the California Building Standards Code.
Wolk’s SB 1414 also addresses a prevalent problem with contractors, often unlicensed, who make HVAC improvements without attaining the proper permits. The California Energy Commission (Energy Commission) estimates that legally-required permits are obtained for less than 10 percent of HVAC system installations, and that up to 50 percent are not properly installed.
The bill directs the Energy Commission, in consultation with the Contractors’ State License Board, local building officials, and other stakeholders, to approve a plan that will promote the installation of central air conditioning and heat pumps in compliance with the state’s building code and energy efficiency regulations.
“I urge the governor to sign this measure into law to ensure that ratepayer funds are being spent on projects that meet the health, safety, and energy efficiency-related requirements of the state’s building code,” Wolk said.