Cupertino adopted an electrification ordinance in late 2019, which requires all new residential and commercial buildings to be constructed all-electric. This forms part of a regional movement in California, where over 50 cities have adopted similar policies in an effort to reduce emissions and achieve climate goals.

The City of Cupertino has set a series of strategies and actions as part of its Climate Action Plan to achieve 83% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. Cupertino wanted to take specific action with regards to buildings to achieve climate goals.

In late 2019, the city adopted an electrification ordinance for all new buildings. The ordinance, established as a "Reach Code", sets a standard for new construction that goes beyond the state-wide building code (2019 California Energy Code). The ordinance requires all new residential and commercial buildings, including accessory dwelling units, to be all-electric and does not allow gas connections, with some small exceptions for commercial kitchens.

By adopting this ordinance the city aims to enhance the cost savings of its buildings, improve the quality of life of its community and the health of the environment. This effort has become a regional movement; Cupertino is part of a group of over 50 cities in California adopting policies that support all-electric new construction.

Photo by Danist Soh on Unsplash.