Building Electrification Feasibility Studies

Hi Becky, You can look at zoning articles in MA cities that have Green Building requirements for projects that meet the thresholds for Special Permit, Planning Board for project approval: Cambridge MA - Article 22 (applies to projects over 25,000 GSF in many districts both new construction and major renovation). As part of the application process projects must provide a NetZero narrative to demonstrate how the building systems could approach Net Zero. https://library.municode.com/ma/cambridge/codes/zoning_ordinance?nodeId=ZONING_ORDINANCE_ART22.000SUDEDE_22.20GRBURE
In tandem with this Zoning requirement, the city also has a Building Energy Disclosure ordinance. In the recently adopted MA Climate Bill, projects using fossil fuels will not be able to meet the GHG emission thresholds and will likely be required to renovate systems in order to avoid financial penalities.  Boston, MA. Similiar to Cambridge, Zoning and Large Project Review Approval re:Article 80 requires a GHG calculation for operational energy used on site, a Net-Zero assessment, and frequently will ask teams if they have considered electric and/ or renewable sources for heating, cooling, lighting, DHW. The requirement of electrificaiton is not explicity written into Zoning language but is encouraged in a similiar way to Cambridge through Building Energy Disclosure Ordinance and GHG limits for larger buildings in Boston.
https://library.municode.com/ma/boston/codes/redevelopment_authority?nodeId=ART80DEREAP_IIRELAPRPLDEARPLINMAPLAPREBOREAUVO_BLAPRREREAP This is all changing very quickly in MA after the adoption and signature of a recent Climate Bill 
https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-baker-signs-climate-legislation-to-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions-protect-environmental-justice-communities
that requires our state to create an Opt-In Net Zero Stretch code for adoption by municipalities across the state by 2022. It is being developed now and we expect will be released for public comment in the next few months. 

CA is another state MN cities could look to for how to accomplish electrification. MA is not able to "mandate" electric systems due to how our Constitution and legal precedent is set up. The city of Brookline attempted a ban on natural gas in buildings and that approach was not effective legally. Our current advocacy centers around COP of mechanical equipment and GHG limits, which are approaches that encourage electric systems and do not have the same legal barriers in our state.
Unlike MA, CA cities have successfully "banned" gas from buildings in their zoning code- San Jose is one municipality that comes to mind.  https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/12/02/san-jose-adopts-historic-natural-gas-ban-but-with-a-controversial-exemption/#:~:text=The%20San%20Jose%20City%20Council,buildings%20beginning%20in%20August%202021.&text=The%20city's%20newly%2Dexpanded%20natural,existing%20homes%20or%20commercial%20buildings. Good luck!   Alison Nash AIA | LEED AP ID+C | CHPC |  WELL AP    (she/  her/  hers)
Associate, Sustainability Practice Leader
Direct / 617-778-0118
24 FARNSWORTH STREET 4^TH FLOOR
BOSTON, MA 02210 
DIMELLASHAFFER.COM
OFFICE / 617-426-5004

Hi Becky, To Alison’s point, several California cities have either banned natural gas in new construction or heavily incentivized its ban. The California Energy Commission just unanimously passed a mandate to include similar measures in our next code cycle, for buildings seeking a permit starting Jan. 1, 2023. https://www.energy.ca.gov/news/2021-08/energy-commission-adopts-updated-building-standards-improve-efficiency-reduce-0 A few code cycles ago San Francisco required some projects to do a feasibility study for PV + battery storage and ZNE. Having gone through this, I don’t think requiring a feasibility study is a very helpful mandate. Instead, it’s better to mandate electrification unless a feasibility study proves it’s not feasible. This is the current language: Compliance Guidelines: All-Electric New Construction For projects that submit an initial application for permit to construct new buildings June 1, 2021 or after, San Francisco Building Code 106A.1.17.1 requires all-electric design and construction. All space-conditioning, water heating, cooking, and clothes drying systems must be all-electric, and installation of infrastructure, piping systems, or piping for distribution of natural gas or propane to such uses indoors or outdoors is prohibited. The ordinance allows limited installation of gas piping systems for commercial food preparation, and in isolated cases if, after exhausting all options, all-electric construction is determined to be physically or technically infeasible. See Administrative Bulletin 112 for details. https://sfdbi.org/sites/default/files/AB-093.pdf p. 6 It’s worth noting that this is a very different climate zone, and our heating demand is minimal (mostly needed in August, haha). If helpful I can connect you with Eden Brukman, the city’s senior green building coordinator who leads this work. Prior to this role, Eden has been an SDL and staff at HPDC and ILFI. Good luck! Mara p.s. I have new contact info: mbaum@dialogdesign.ca – note the “ca” instead of “com” at the end. (DIALOG was originally a Canadian company.) Mara Baum​ FAIA, LEED Fellow, LFA, WELL AP, EDAC PARTNER | ARCHITECTURE + SUSTAINABILITY MAIN 628.444.6130 DIRECT 415.503.5750 500 Sansome Street – Suite 370 San Francisco , CA , 94111‑3215 dialogdesign.ca From: Alison Nash