City of Berkeley - Energy Conservation Ordinance (California)

Last modified on February 12, 2015.

Rules Regulations Policies Program

Place	California
Name	City of Berkeley - Energy Conservation Ordinance
Incentive Type	Building Energy Code
Applicable Sector	Commercial, Multi-Family Residential, Residential
Eligible Technologies	Building Insulation, Caulking/Weather-stripping, Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building, Duct/Air sealing, Equipment Insulation, Lighting
Active Incentive	Yes
Implementing Sector	Local
Energy Category	Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs
Website	http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=16030
Date added to DSIRE	2007-03-22
Last DSIRE Review	2012-05-18
References	DSIRE

Summary

The City of Berkeley has an ordinance requiring certain energy conservation measures to be installed in residential and commercial properties upon the sale of the building or major renovations over $50,000 in valuation.

The Residential Energy Conservation Ordinance (RECO) requires the ceiling insulation to be R-30, sealed and insulated furnace ducts, insulated water heaters and hot water pipes, weatherstripping around all exterior doors, improved the lighting efficiency, and improved water efficiency. These measures must be installed by the seller at the time of sale, and the seller and/or licensed real estate agent or broker handling the sale is responsible for compliance with this code. The maximum required expenditure to bring a residential structure into compliance is three-quarters of one percent of the final sale price for a structure not containing more than two units. The maximum expenditure for structures containing three units or more is fifty cents per square foot. The maximum expenditure in the case of renovation of fifty thousand dollars or more is one percent of the renovation costs. Any required measures not installed as a result of the spending cap must be installed during future sales or renovations to the property until all measures have been installed.

The Commercial Energy Conservation Ordinance (CECO) requires commercial property owners selling or renovating their property to install a variety of energy conservation measures for HVAC equipment, water systems, lighting, commercial refrigeration equipment, motor-driven equipment and the building envelope. The maximum total cost of the energy conservation measures to be installed upon sale of a commercial building is the lesser of one percent of the assessed value prior to sale or one hundred fifty thousand dollars. Upon subsequent sales of the building, any remaining energy conservation measures shall be installed subject again to the expenditure limit. The maximum cost for measures installed upon a major renovation is the lesser of five percent of the total construction cost or one percent of the assessed value of the entire building prior to the renovation.

Incentive Contact

Contact Name	Public Information Officer
Department	City of Berkeley
Division	Planning Department
Address	2120 Milvia Street
Place	Berkeley, California
Zip/Postal Code	94704
Phone	(510) 981-7762
Email	planning@ci.berkeley.ca.us
Website	http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/planning/

Authorities (Please contact the if there are any file problems.)

Authority 1:	Berkeley Municipal Code 19.72

Authority 2:	Berkeley Municipal Code 19.16

Authority 3:	CECO Self-Audit Guide

Authority 4:	RECO Compliance Guide

• Incentive and policy data are reviewed and approved by the N.C. Solar Center's DSIRE project staff.