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 The
regulations, known as Title 24, required new home construction
and remodeling to meet certain minimum standards in order to
reduce energy waste.
In a state
as diverse as California, developing uniform standards was not
an easy task. Living conditions vary from Imperial County summers,
where the temperature can reach 118 degrees or more, to snowy,
below-zero winters in places like Lake Tahoe.
The Commission's
solution was to divide the state into 16 different climate zones,
and to customize the regulations to fit different conditions.
Substantial energy savings were achieved by the simple act of
requiring insulation in the walls, floors and ceilings of all
new construction. More efficient lighting, improved windows and
less-drafty building designs helped to cut energy use further.
Advances in
household appliances, mandated by the Energy Commission at the
same time as building standards, saved even more energy. California's
tough new energy efficiency standards applied to appliances such
as water heaters, heating systems, air conditioners and refrigerators.
The regulations proved to be so successful they were eventually
adopted on the national level.
By comparing
old and new heating systems, you can see how dramatic the improvements
in appliance efficiency have been. Twenty years ago, most natural-gas-fired
furnaces had efficiency ratings of between 50 to 60 percent.
Today, you can buy natural-gas fired heating systems that are
97 percent efficient. That means that 97 percent of the fuel
used by the furnace can actually reach your home as heat. By
replacing an outdated furnace with one of the most efficient
models, you can cut your natural gas use nearly in half!
Refrigerators
have become much more efficient as well. The amount of electricity
used to run one 1977 model refrigerator can power three new 1999
models.
Working together,
our State's building and appliance standards have produced impressive
results. Since they went into effect, Californians have saved
an estimated $16 billion in energy costs.
The regulations
have produced major benefits for the State as well. For much
of the past two decades, California, with the seventh largest
economy on earth, grew by more than 850,000 people per year.
(That's like adding the total population of Montana to our state,
every year, for nearly 20 years!) By cutting waste and making
more efficient use of energy, however, California kept up with
increasing electricity demand from its growing population. It's
estimated that, if it weren't for the energy savings achieved
by building and appliance standards, California would have needed
to build an additional seven 700-megawatt power plants.
But electricity
isn't the only energy source to benefit from increased efficiency.
Savings in residential natural gas use are no less dramatic.
Although the State's population has grown 53 percent since 1975,
total residential natural gas use has declined 28 percent, more
than offsetting the increase in gas use that would have occurred
otherwise.
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fter
facing the highest gasoline prices in the nation this year, many
unhappy Californians may figure they have become too aware of
energy, thank you very much. But as we head toward winter and
the higher utility bills that cold weather brings, we should
look at the good energy news: new homes built in California use
less energy than ever before. And that translates to more money
in the home-owner's pocket.