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Figure A5.3. California Households Average Energy Use, 2008
Source: CPUC 2008, p. 10.
Almost all new homes in California are now equipped with central air conditioning, compared to only about one quarter three decades ago. In addition, new homes are much bigger now and are concentrated in hot inland communities. To meet this load, electricity capacity increased more than sevenfold. By 2006, peak demand for residential air conditioning units was 14,316 MW, causing over 30 percent of California’s total peak power demand in the summer.5 Commercial buildings, which include office buildings as well as stores, restaurants, warehouses, schools, hospitals, public buildings and facilities, and others, cover more than 5 billion square feet of space. This sector is responsible for 38 percent of California’s power and over 25 percent of its natural gas consumption. Lighting, cooling, refrigeration, and ventilation account for 75 percent of all commercial electric use, while space and water heating and cooking account for over 90 percent of gas use.6
Drivers for Developing and Strengthening Building Energy Efficiency Standards California develops and regularly updates its own Building Energy Efficiency Standards (BEESs), which are more stringent than the national model codes.7 According to the California Building Officials, “California’s 2005 Residential Energy