AB 844

This bill requires the Department of Safety and Professional Services to create a stretch energy code working group, which is required to establish a stretch energy code.

Under current law, DSPS promulgates rules setting design requirements for construction and equipment for the purpose of energy conservation in public buildings and places of employment (commonly known as the energy conservation code). In general, a local unit of government is prohibited from enacting or enforcing an ordinance establishing minimum standards for constructing, altering, or adding to public buildings or buildings that are places of employment unless that ordinance strictly conforms to applicable DSPS rules.

The bill requires the stretch energy code working group to establish the stretch energy code, which must have separate components for commercial and residential buildings and must establish minimum energy efficiency requirements that may exceed the requirements of the energy conservation code. The bill provides that any county, city, village, or town may by ordinance adopt the residential or commercial components of the stretch energy code, or both, and make the adopted requirements of the stretch energy code applicable within the county, city, village, or town.