Major renovation projects in San Francisco accelerate mandate for all-electric systems

In a bold move towards a more sustainable future, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has passed the All-Electric Major Renovations Ordinance in a unanimous 11-0 vote. This ordinance, an extension of the All-Electric New Construction ordinance, aims to eliminate the use of fossil fuels in existing buildings, improve indoor and outdoor air quality, and make San Francisco a safer, healthier, and more resilient place to live and work.

The new ordinance is a climate-forward building standard that will apply to both commercial and residential structures. It is designed to prevent similar cases like the recent addition of a 46-story glass edifice to a downtown parcel of a five-story brick building, which was allowed to have gas due to being a separate building. The ordinance aims to close a loophole in the new construction requirement.

The city is fast-tracking the approval of the All-Electric Major Renovations Ordinance before a new statewide pause on updates to building codes kicks in. Under the new law, San Francisco and other jurisdictions in California have only until Oct. 1 to adopt stronger building codes unless they claim an exception.

The cost of all-electric construction is estimated to be lower than that of mixed-fuel buildings. Newly built or majorly renovated all-electric single-family homes are cheaper, on average, by more than $2 per square foot. Lawmakers have left room for exceptions to the all-electric standard, including for restaurants that use gas for cooking, buildings composed of 100% affordable housing units, and projects that can't get enough power from the utility in time.

Buildings in San Francisco account for 44% of the city's planet-warming pollution, making them the largest emitter after transportation. With this in mind, San Francisco has vowed to slash carbon pollution by 61% from 1990 levels by 2030 and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, five years faster than California as a whole.

Exemptions from the all-electric standard will be gradual, with buildings composed of 100% affordable housing units having until July 2027 to comply. Building owners seeking exemptions will need to apply to the SF Environment Department.

The Board of Supervisors President, Rafael Mandelman, stated that the city can't build the San Francisco of the future with fuel from the past. The All-Electric Major Renovations Ordinance is a significant step towards San Francisco's commitment to a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable future.

Major renovation projects in San Francisco accelerate mandate for all-electric systems