The Arcata City Council has adopted a new local energy efficiency ordinance also known as a “Reach Code.” California cities and counties have the authority to adopt local energy ordinances, sometimes called “Reach Codes,” that are more stringent than the minimum standards defined by the state’s energy efficiency standards.
The City of Arcata’s new Residential New Construction Ordinance requires newly‐constructed, low‐rise residential buildings to exceed minimum compliance requirements using either energy efficiency measures only or a combination of energy efficiency measures and the Photovoltaic Compliance Credit (PVCC).
By encouraging new residential buildings to be more energy efficient, Arcata’s greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced and more aligned with California’s related policy goals, such as the California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32), which requires the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
The implementation of this ordinance will also provide an energy cost-savings benefit. The estimated energy cost savings outweigh the initial incremental costs, making new housing more affordable than the status quo. Once buildings are built to the more efficient standards, the benefits will be felt for decades to the end-user, the community and the environment.
The new ordinance can be viewed online here. For more information, please call 707-822-8184.