This Tuesday, July 16th, a groundbreaking ordinance requiring climate-friendly, all-electric new construction in Berkeley will go before the City Council for the first of two public readings. The ordinance, introduced by Councilmember Kate Harrison, would phase out installation of polluting gas infrastructure when issuing permits for new buildings — an important step toward clean, healthy, and affordable homes for our community.
With the passage of this ordinance, Berkeley would be the first city in the country to phase out gas in all new construction. This is a critical step for local leadership's role in solving the climate crisis. Not only will Berkeley put itself on track to meet its emission reduction goals, it will also create a roadmap for other cities and counties across the country to follow. Berkeley's gas phase-out is what responsible, cost-effective climate leadership looks like.
The city council meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 16th at 6:00 PM in the School District Board Room at 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94702. Berkeley residents are encouraged to turn out and tell their elected representatives that you support climate-friendly, gas-free construction. RSVP here!
Background:
In Berkeley, 27% of city-wide greenhouse gas emissions come from the use of gas in the residential and commercial building sectors. Berkeley has set ambitious emission reduction goals — but the city is still 18 percent behind its 2020 target. Building electrification is an essential strategy to curb climate and air pollution and will play an important role in helping us meet these goals.
Electric infrastructure is powered by increasingly clean sources. Here in Berkeley, our municipal buildings are powered by 100% carbon free electricity, and electricity for privately owned buildings is 85% carbon free at a minimum. Shifting to electric power in our buildings dramatically lowers greenhouse gas emissions by cleaning up emissions at the source of generation.
Berkeley's gas phase out isn't just good for the climate fight; it's also good for public health. Gas appliances are responsible for harmful levels of indoor air pollution. A recent study found that a majority of homes with gas stoves have recorded indoor air pollution levels that would be illegal if found outdoors. On top of that, gas stoves have been linked to increased rates of childhood asthma. By phasing out gas in new buildings, Berkeley moves to protect the health of its current and future residents.
Housing stock and affordability is top of mind for many Californians. Building electrification helps address this problem by providing significant cost reductions in new construction. Bypassing gas hook-ups and instead installing infrastructure for electric appliances creates significant savings for builders, on the order of $5,000 for single-family homes and over $2,000 per unit in a multi-family building, according to a recent analysis by the Statewide Utility Code and Standards Team. As Berkeley's population continues to grow, thoughtful, strategic housing management that integrates electrified buildings will be a key determinant in housing affordability.