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Circle Economy and ICLEI have partnered up to initiate the go to knowledge hub of case studies about the circular economy in cities. The Cities Collection is a repository of case studies that demonstrate the role of cities in the circular transition, and includes policies, business cases and research articles. Cases in the Collection flow into an ecosystem of digital products which support users in transitioning cities to circularity, for example [Ganbatte](https://ganbatte.world/cities/) and <a href="https://circulars.iclei.org/" target="_blank">ICLEI Circulars</a>, both part of the <a href="https://circulars.iclei.org/circle-lab-for-cities/" target = _blank">Circle Lab for Cities Programme.</a>

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Circular Cities

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Starter Kit collection

Policy case

Impact on the availability of resources as well as their effect on living organisms, ecosystems, and components of the environment.

Ecological Impact

Minimise waste through diversion: Instead of sending waste to landfill, it is redirected into other industrial processes for handling, treatment, recycling, recovery, or reuse in various forms. 

Minimise waste through design: At the outset of a process of project, plan and design such that there is zero waste or minimal waste during production, use, and at end of life. 

Minimise Waste (SDG12)

Producing agricultural products and processing them into food and beverageproducts for consumption

Agri/Food

Societal Services

Collecting waste from households and businesses by means of refuse bins, wheeled bins, containers, etc., and providing treatment, incineration, materials recovery and reclamation, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste

Waste Management

Consider opportunities to create greater value and align incentives that build on the interaction between products and services

Rethink the business model

Deliver services through business models that ensure maximum value

Service business models

Decentralised services that rely on the power of the crowd or the community

Crowd-based services

'Inform' increases the overall levels of awareness and builds the necessary skills and knowledge around the circular economy to foster long-term change.

Inform

'Manage' influences the use and function of physical and material elements within the urban environment. 

Manage

Infrastructure

Develop infrastructure to support resource cycling

Redesign systems to lay the foundation for circular activities and enable the transition to a circular economy 

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Rethink

Eliminate waste by maximizing the recovery of resources at the end of the use phase so that they can be reintroduced into production processes


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Recover

High-level changes to policy and practice (such as taxation systems, investment and procurement guidelines and criteria) that disincentivize activities that perpetuate linear economic systems, as well as vision-setting (goals, roadmaps) to catalyze
action on circularity across the city

Eliminate linear incentives and set goals and incentives for circularity

Ensure that household and business waste is collected and appropriately sorted (by type, label, etc.) to allow for maximum recovery of value.


Collect and sort waste to facilitate recovery

The circular potential of organic wastes is dependent on the quality and low contamination rate of the residual stream that is collected. Food and organic wastes are difficult to sort and separate post-collection, and as such, collecting organic wastes through a mixed collection are often limited to incineration or landfill. Therefore, collecting organic wastes through a separate collection system is key to unlock potential high-value management practices, for example, composting and anaerobic digestion.

Due to the strong influence over the operation of local waste management systems, local governments have a key role in the provision of separate organic waste collection systems throughout the city. Collections systems can vary to suit the specific characteristics of particular neighbourhoods and areas of a city. For example, areas with detached homes have more space for bins, while for apartments with less space, a communal receptacle may be more appropriate. Communication campaigns can help to raise awareness and encourage participation of residents to separate their organic wastes. 


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🍏  Separate organic waste collection infrastructure

Managing municipal food wastes at scale may require complex and costly infrastructures to collect, transport and process these residual materials. Large-scale composting facilities are challenging to place and zone appropriately in space-scarce cities.

Community-based initiatives, for example, community composting, can provide a localised solution to managing urban food wastes. Community composting initiatives are small(er)-scale solutions that are distributed throughout the city, located close to the sources of food waste, reducing the need for complex logistics and collection systems. Community composting schemes can take a variety of forms, for example, in-vessel composting (IVC), as well as vermicomposting (which utilises insects to break down organic materials). Community composting initiatives can generate valuable by-products for use in (urban) agriculture, in gardens and in parks, as well as support community building. 

Local governments can support the development and implementation of community composting schemes through the provision of equipment and infrastructure, for example,  composting boxes. The formation of public-civic partnerships can help formulate the relationships and validate the valuable role such activities can play in the management of organic waste streams. Awareness raising can be facilitated through collaboration with schools. 


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🍏  Community composting

The food system nourishes populations and employs 50% of the global workforce, but:
- it currently drives a quarter of the overshoot on the climate change planetary boundary due to its greenhouse gas (GHG) production, 
- animal farming alone uses over one-quarter of all land, equivalent to the size of the Americas,
- nearly a quarter of freshwater resources are lost due to rampant food waste, and
- it is the single largest driver of biodiversity loss.

A circular food system must address the whole value chain, from production to consumption to waste management. The four key solutions for the food system are:
- Put healthier, satiating foods first: Prioritise satiating and healthy foods with a lower environmental impact—ideally shifting calories from meat, fish, and dairy towards cereals, fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
- Go local, seasonal, and organic: Prioritise the production and consumption of local, seasonal, and organic produce (sometimes in combination with GMO to reduce pests and disease loss on crops), which can lead to a significantly reduced need for chemical inputs, fuels, and processing services that contribute to environmental impacts.
- Mainstream regenerative agriculture: Scale up agricultural practices that regenerate ecosystems, recirculate nutrients and sequester carbon by design. 
- End avoidable food waste: Minimise food loss and valorise waste following the food waste hierarchy along the supply chain and at the consumer level through better management of transport and storage, more refrigeration and smart planning, and technology at the consumer and food service levels.



🍏 Food Systems

Manufactured goods, such as vehicles, textiles, appliances and equipment and their associated production processes are big employers but:
- production processes often rely on fossil fuels and currently drive one-third of the overshoot on the climate change planetary boundary due to its GHG production, 
- material- and energy-intensive industrial activities are linked to deforestation and drive 15% on both the land use and freshwater planetary boundaries, 
- manufacturing goods results in substantial amounts of hazardous industrial waste and leaks chemicals into the environment.

Here, circular solutions must tackle the full value chain, but material demand must also shrink: this will necessitate a societal shift to favouring sufficiency over excess and reducing consumption to sustainable levels. Our four key solutions for manufactured goods are:
- Mainstream industrial symbiosis and efficiency : Achieve process improvements, scrap diversion and reduction in yield losses through greater industrial symbiosis and efficiency. Foster tighter collaboration within and between industries to deliver powerful material and emissions savings.
- Extend the lifetime of machinery, equipment, and goods: Maximise the lifetime of goods that serve our daily needs to bring a number of environmental benefits. 
- Buy what's needed: Reduce the number of purchases of common electronic goods, appliances, and other equipment to sufficiency levels. 
- Eschew fast fashion in favour of sustainable textiles: Drastically reduce new clothing purchases. All used clothing should go on to be repaired, reused or, if needed, recycled appropriately. Prioritise natural and local textile manufacturing, as well as higher-quality and more durable garments. 




👕📱 Consumer Goods

Businesses

Communities

Governments

When organic wastes are landfilled, the value and nutrients are lost and irrecoverable. Landfilling also causes additional environmental pressure, for example, the decomposition of food and organic waste in landfills emits greenhouse gases into the climate. Reducing the space required for landfills creates opportunities for better use. 

Local governments have an important role to play in the elimination of the landfilling of organic wastes. Municipalities with the legislative authority to do so can introduce legislation that bans organic wastes from being landfilled and fines non-compliance.

Municipalities can ensure that municipal organic wastes are collected and diverted from landfill by mandating certain processing techniques, for example, composting or anaerobic digestion. 
 


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🍏  Phase out landfilling of organic waste

Impacts

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Industries

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A framework of policy instruments that enabled and encourage the transition to the circular economy

Policy Instruments

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A framework of policy instruments that enable and stimulate the transition to the circular economy

The principles of a circular economy concern designing out waste, regenerating ecosystems and keeping items in use. Decoupling the economy from material flows—improving the rate of resource productivity faster than the economic growth rate—is also a consistent guide. By evolving with the growing number of applications of circular economy principles, and consolidating these strategies across thematic areas, Circle Economy’s Key Elements Framework (KE) renders the elements of the circular economy salient and serves as a basis to derive contextual strategies and interventions. 


The Framework consists of:
- Core Elements: Activities directly handling product or material flows; and uniquely,
- Enabling Elements: those that remove obstacles for core actors.


Key elements of the circular economy

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Circle Economy's framework of strategies and activities that define the circular economy

The Circular City Actions Framework provides urban changemakers with five complementary strategies they can use to start working towards a more circular system. 

The framework is action-based to provide users with concrete strategic directions and showcase the desired outcomes of each strategy. 
The framework consists of five complementary **strategies**, under which **sub-strategies** provide further detail. Finally, each sub-strategy consists of a diversity of tangible **solutions** which are framed in relation to key thematic areas. 

Note: solutions are currently focused on:
- 🍏 **Food systems**
- 🏢  **Built environment**
- 👕📱  **Consumer goods**
- ⚡ **Energy Systems**
- 🚌 **Mobility Systems**
- 💧 **Water Systems**

More thematic areas are coming soon...

'Click through each of the five strategy cards below to explore the framework and circular economy case studies in more depth!'



This framework was developed in collaboration with ICLEI, Metabolic and Ellen MacArthur Foundation with support from the MAVA Foundation. Read more about it [here]( https://circulars.iclei.org/action-framework/). 



Circular City Actions Framework

An action-based framework for local governments working towards circular cities

Thematic Areas

City Stakeholders

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Based on the work of [Bocken et al. (2016)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309699661_Product_design_and_business_model_strategies_for_a_circular_economy), the Four Flows Framework serves as a simple framework for managing resource flows in a circular economy by using less (Narrow), using for longer (Slow), using again (Cycle), and using clean, regenerative materials and energy (Regenerate).

These different principles of circular economy can be applied to our socioeconomic metabolism: we can design stocks like buildings, infrastructure, machinery, and vehicles to be rich resource mines for the future, and design manufactured goods and consumables to be cycled and made regenerative. Furthermore, the focus must also centre on getting more value out of fewer materials. Achieving the aims of a circular economy—minimising material use, regenerating the Earth, and preventing material losses—can be done through these four key strategies mentioned above.

Source: Circle Economy. (2023). *[The circularity gap report 2023](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2023)* (p.22). Amsterdam: Circle Economy. 

Four Flows Framework

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Schedule & Hours of Operation Beginning on March 21, 2022 through September 30, 2023, Cupertino residents can pick up compost and mulch at Sunnyvale's SMaRT Station. Compost is available during the SMaRT Station's normal hours of operation, 8a.m. – 5p.m. seven days per week. The SMaRT Station is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Location   301 Carl Road Sunnyvale, CA 94089    Details Cupertino residents will need to show proof of residency, must provide their own shovels and containers, and are limited to 96 gallons of compost or mulch per week.  No appointment is needed.  Cupertino residents MAY NOT bring items for disposal at the SMaRT Station, as the agreement between Cupertino and Sunnyvale is limited to compost and mulch. However, Cupertino residents can use the CRV Buy-Back Center, which is open to the general public regardless of residency. Please note: the CRV Buy-Back Center is now appointment only. Schedule an appointment online or call 408-752-8530. The SMaRT Station Center Buy-Back Center hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week 

While the SB 1383 regulations do not allow businesses to opt-out of recycling and organics recycling requirements, they do have an exemption clause where businesses that meet the de minimis or physical space criteria can be exempted from some of the SB 1383 requirements.     If your business creates only a small amount of food scraps and other organic material compared to your overall amount of waste service, you might be eligible for a de minimis waiver. Check if you meet the Waiver A or Waiver B criteria described here, and if you do, fill out the form with the link below: Waiver A Requirements  More than 2 cubic yards of solid waste (recycling/trash/organics): approximately 12 large or 24 regular trash bags Less than 20 gallons of organic waste subject to collection in a blue container (clean paper) or a green container (food scraps and soiled paper) per week: approximately 2 tall kitchen bags      A 6 foot tall man stands next to a 4 cubic yard dumpster that is 4.5 feet deep, 6 feet wide, and 4 feet tall. The dumpster holds approximately 24 tall or 48 regular trash bags. Next to the dumpster is a smaller, 20 gallon organics curbside container that holds approximately 2 tall kitchen bags and is 23.5” deep, 34.5” tall, and 19.75” wide.     Waiver B Requirements  Less than 2 cubic yards of solid waste (recycling/landfill/organics): approximately 12 large or 24 regular trash bags Less than 10 gallons of organic waste subject to collection in a blue container or a green container per week: approximately 1 tall kitchen bag      A 6 foot tall man stands next to a 2 cubic yard dumpster that is 3 feet deep, 6 feet wide, and 3 feet tall. The dumpster holds approximately 12 large trash bags or 24 regular trash bags. Next to the dumpster is smaller, 10 gallon green organics container that is 17 inches tall and 16 inches wide.     To issue a waiver, the City must verify the business meets the threshold and the City can rescind the waiver if it's finds that the business exceeds the threshold.      What this means for businesses: In order to receive a waiver from paper recycling cart or to self-haul your recyclable paper, a business must generate less than the threshold amount (less than 10 or 20 gallons per week) of paper. In order to receive a waiver to NOT have an organics recycling cart a business must generate less than the threshold amount (less than 10 or 20 gallons per week) of organics waste (yard materials, food scraps, and food-soiled paper).      The City may waive a commercial business’ or property owner’s obligation to comply with some or all of the organic waste collection service requirements if the commercial business or property owner provides documentation, or the City has evidence from its staff, a hauler, licensed architect, or licensed engineer demonstrating that the premises lack adequate space for recycling and/or organic waste containers.  The City is required to re-inspect all businesses that receive a waiver at least every five years to ensure that the business is still meeting the de minimis and physical space waiver requirements. It’s important to note that the SB 1383 exemption criteria is more strict than the previous organics waivers allowed by the City of Cupertino.  If your business currently has been granted a waiver for recycling and/or organics recycling service by the City in the past, you will need to submit a new exemption waiver request and meet either the de minimis or physical space waiver qualifications.  If you believe your business should be exempt from having organics or recycling collection, please fill out this form. A City representative will reach out to your shortly. For questions about exemptions, please contact stevenh@cupertino.org. 

 Yard trimmings, food scraps, and other types of organic waste can be recycled into new products like:  Compost Mulch Biofuel Electricity  Beginning January 1, 2022, SB 1383 requires cities and counties to procure annually a quantity of recovered organic waste products. These procurement requirements will strengthen California’s green, self-sustaining economy. Demand for these products will drive infrastructure investment and create new green collar jobs in the state.  Paper Procurement All departments in a jurisdiction that make paper purchases will be required to purchase and keep purchase records for paper products that:  Contain postconsumer recycled content Are recyclable  As there is so much paper present in the solid waste disposal stream, the procurement of recycled-content and recyclable paper will grow demand for these products and support recycling to help meet the organic waste diversion goals of SB 1383. Requirements:  All paper purchases must contain 30 percent postconsumer recycled content, when available at no greater cost than nonrecycled products Products must be recyclable as defined by FTC “Green Guides” (16 CFR 260.12) Jurisdictions must require vendors to certify postconsumer content and recyclability claims  For more information on the SB 1383 recycled-content paper procurement requirements, please refer to CalRecycle’s Recycled-Content Paper Procurement web page. 

Why are bioplastic or compostable plastic containers and utensils not allowed in the organics cart?  This is a commonly confused item! Bioplastics are plastics made from organic materials such as corn starch and often contain polylactic acid (PLA). PLA has similar properties to PET and looks like ordinary plastic. This can break down in certain facilities but not in the composting facilities near us. The closest industrial composting facility that accepts corn starch PLA bioplastics is in Los Angeles. Any fiber-based foodware is generally okay. The rule of thumb is if it looks like plastic and has a compostable logo, it should go in the trash. If it looks like it is made from paper, wood, or bamboo, it can go in the compost. BPI-certified compostable bags are the exception as they are allowed by our compost processor to help collect food scraps.   What happens to the material after it leaves the curb?  Recology collects all organic waste from residents and takes it to their transfer station facility in San Jose, where it is consolidated into a larger truck and taken to South Valley Organics in Gilroy, CA. Food scraps and yard waste are processed together to create compost.  Where can I buy compostable bag liners?  BPI-certified compostable bag liners can be found at most grocery stores, hardware stores, big box stores like Target, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, and online stores such as Amazon. Here is an example of a BPI Certified pail liner that fits the kitchen containers offered by the City.   My house or apartment complex doesn't have organics collection, what can I do?  If you are in a single family home and do not have a green cart, contact Recology to request one. If you live in an apartment building, start with your property manager to request service. A Waste Zero Specialist may work with the property manager to assess the right level of service for the property. Recology can be reached at: RecologySouthBay@Recology.com or (408) 725-4020.  What is the environmental impact of sorting my food waste?  Food waste that decomposes in a compost process is in an aerobic environment. This allows the food waste to break down and not release methane or carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (unlike rotting in the landfill). Check out more data about the impacts of food waste diversion as it relates to our greenhouse gas emissions on our climate action webpage.   Why can’t I just use my garbage disposal for food scraps?  The kitchen “garbage” disposal is intended for liquid wastes and small bits of food residue from dish washing. Food often contains fats, oils and grease that are the cause of many residential sanitary sewer backups.   Who can I contact with questions? Contact Recology for questions about collection service or carts. The City of Cupertino Environmental Programs team is here to help with any questions about sorting or waste prevention.  RecologySouthBay@recology.com or call (408)725-4020 Environmental@cupertino.org or call (408)777-3236 

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Cupertino

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City of Cupertino

The city of Cupertino, CA, is committed to diverting organic waste from landfills. It has implemented multiple compost initiatives, including curbside composting, a bulk compost site, home composting and commercial organics to target different sources of organic waste.

Cupertino's composting programs

Reduced green house gas emissions released into the biosphere

Reduce Emissions (SDG13)

Reduced use of virgin materials and/or an increase of the use of secondary and bio-based materials

Reduce Material Consumption (SDG12)

Reduced use of fossil fuel energy sources and/or increased use of renewable energy

Reduce Energy Consumption

Producing building materials and finished and semi-finished building products for construction

Construction Materials and Products

Utilise bio-based, reusable, non-toxic and non-critical materials

Regenerative materials

Replace energy sources with less impactful alternatives and enact energy efficiency measures

Regenerative energy

Designing to reduce waste during production and use

Design out waste

Designing to enable multiple uses and lifecycles of a product and its materials

Design for cyclability

Designing products that are made to last and to ensure longer use

Design for durability

Performance standards

Other legislation

Ensure that infrastructure and built assets in the city are designed and upgraded to be as resource-efficient as possible.

Design infrastructure and the built environment for resource efficiency

The built environment, including housing, commercial buildings, and the necessary infrastructure for mobility, is essential for our livelihoods, but:
- the extraction of minerals used to produce construction materials is responsible for a quarter of global land use change,
- approximately 40% of global GHG emissions can be attributed to buildings’ construction, use and demolition, and
- construction and demolition processes drive nearly one-third of all material consumption. 

Making the built environment more circular must prioritise a heavy reduction in material use—while also closing the loop on materials and bringing secondary and renewable material choices to the fore. Our four key solutions for the built environment are:
- Make the most of what already exists: Make the most of existing materials by reusing, repurposing, upgrading and renovating following circular approaches. Where new builds are needed, use secondary materials and be as efficient as possible with urban planning solutions that follow circular design principles so that buildings can be reused, repurposed, and easily disassembled in the future.
- Be as energy efficient as possible: From the design phase, utilise circular strategies to create material- and energy efficient buildings. Couple these designs with a rollout of clean energy solutions, and prioritise energy-efficient appliances and retrofitting. 
- Utilise secondary materials: Maximise the high-value reuse of buildings and components where possible. Ideally, enable the utilisation of construction and demolition outputs and ensure that as much of it as possible is recycled to avoid the need for virgin materials, such as sand and gravel.
- Prioritise circular materials and approaches: Transition to using renewable wood, timber or cross-laminated timber instead of steel and concrete, or move to other locally available materials. Utilise mainstream modular construction and prioritise lightweight frames and structures to reduce cement and steel use, as well as green roofs where possible.



🏢 Built Environment

Almost 60% of the built environment required to accommodate the earth’s urban population by 2050 remains to be built. Materials going into the built environment are currently dominated by non-renewable carbon-intensive minerals, such as concrete, asphalt, bricks, sand and gravel. As urbanisation increases, demand for these materials increases and related negative environmental impact follows. 

Substituting conventional materials with renewable bio-based materials can successfully cut demand for virgin materials—thereby decreasing the overall environmental impact of the built environment. Bio-based materials have far lower embodied carbon and can even act as carbon sinks, sequestering emissions from the atmosphere. They can replace hazardous materials like asbestos and improve the health and well-being of communities. Examples of these materials include: wood, bamboo, hemp, crop residues, as well as more sustainable forms of concrete (seaweed-crete, timber-crete, etc.). 

Local governments can promote the adoption of bio-based construction materials, for instance, by drawing up new tender criteria where bio-based products are part of new development projects, or by funding research and then regulating new cutting-edge materials that can substitute conventional construction materials.


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🏢  Bio-based construction materials

Slow strategies aim to keep materials in use for as long as possible, for example through design for durability and repairability. A more circular economy is also a slower one: materials, components, and products—and even buildings and infrastructure—that we lock in stocks are made to last. This will lower material demand in the long run, in essence also serving to narrow resource flows.

Slow

Regenerate strategies phase out hazardous or toxic materials and processes and substitute them with regenerative biomass resources. A circular economy aims to mimic natural cycles—by shifting to more regenerative farming practices, for example—while also maximising the share of circular biomass that enters the economy. Regeneration can happen both at the systems level (by designing regenerative processes) as well as at the product level (by switching synthetic to organic fertilisers, for example).

Regenerate

Cycle strategies aim to cycle and reuse materials at their highest value: they maximise the volume of secondary materials re-entering the economy, ultimately minimising the need for virgin material inputs and therefore also narrowing flows. Of course, virgin materials will always be needed to a degree: all materials degrade and can’t be cycled infinitely, use energy, and require blending with virgin materials to maintain strength and functionality.

Cycle

Was staying at an airbnb on twin peaks. I thought the view from my room was fantastic, but then I happened to walk to this place called Christmas Tree point and was just mesmerised. Ended up trekking there again the next day and even record a full sunrise video of the Silicon Valley. This perhaps is one of the most underrated places in SF. I am not really a photographer and have relied on unsplash community for great photographs…I thought this might be my chance to give back and share this beauty with the larger community.

Green Building Ordinance The City of Cupertino is currently in the process of developing a Green Building Ordinance to support the use of healthy building materials and construction methods, and promote resource efficiency and conservation. The ordinance will address the design, construction, retrofit, operation and demolition of new buildings and existing buildings undergoing major renovations. Staff is working with green building consultant Global Green, to prepare the draft ordinance. Tentative public hearing dates to review and consider the draft ordinance are September 28 for the Planning Commission and either October 19 or November 2 for the City Council.  For updates, and to review background materials, please visit www.cupertino.org/greenbuilding or contact Aki Honda Snelling at 408.777.3313 or akis@cupertino.org. More Info E-Notification Sign-upFor future hearing and notification info, please sign-up for Green Building Ordinance e-list listed under News.

In 2013, the City of Cupertino developed a Green Building Ordinance to support the use of healthy building materials and construction methods, and promote resource efficiency and conservation. The ordinance addresses the design, construction, retrofit, operation and demolition of new buildings and existing buildings undergoing major renovations.The ordinance mandates that all new buildings and structures, additions, renovations and tenant improvements – to which California Green Building Standards Code apply – meet minimum green building requirements.

A Green Building Ordinance in Cupertino, California

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Direct and indirect reduction in economic costs

Cost Savings

Producing building materials and providing services to create residential and non-residential infrastructure and real estate


Construction and Infrastructure

Providing residential and non-residential construction services, such as architectural, engineering, planning, real-estate, contracting, and inspection services

Construction and Real Estate Services

Account for the systems perspective during the design process, to use the right materials, to design for appropriate lifetime and to design for extended future use

Design for the future

Converting fossil fuel based operations to electric

Electrification

Designing products so they use as little materials, water, energy, etc. as possible during use

Design for resource efficiency

Legislation

The City of Cupertino adopted an electrification ordinance in late 2019 to align with the city’s climate action plan to reduce carbon emissions 83% by 2050. It applies to residential and commercial new construction and includes the exterior of new buildings such as outdoor pools, spas and barbecues, as well as Accessory Dwelling Units. The ordinance does not include commercial F, H, and L occupancies; additions and tenant improvements in commercial buildings; and kitchens in commercial buildings, though pre-wiring for each gas appliance is required. Pre-wire provisions include the reserved space in the electric panel, conductors, receptacles, and junction boxes.


  Every three years, cities and counties across the state adopt the new Building Standards Code (Standards) or Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. Cities may adopt building codes more advanced than those required by the state, which are known as reach codes. The next set of codes begins enforcement in January 2020.     Reach codes pull the construction market upward, priming the construction industry for changes that could well be part of the next update for the state baseline energy code. The 2020 reach code effort is also taking place in a regional context, with model codes and studies provided by Silicon Valley Clean Energy, the California Energy Commission, and the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN). This regional approach can also provide certainty and consistency for the construction sector by developing the reach code through the same public process as other statewide codes, and avoiding the pitfalls inspecting projects for compliance that may use many different standards or approaches to achieving greater performance.    About 50 California jurisdictions are considering or have already adopted reach codes as mandatory requirements for newly constructed buildings beginning in 2020. 13 Silicon Valley jurisdictions are considering or have already adopted reach codes for 2020.     How might a reach code impact me?    Building codes govern the way that buildings are designed, constructed, and remodeled. Reach codes generally establish higher standards for new construction where they are proven to provide the owner with benefits that justify any additional costs of development. In some cases, it has been found that all-electric buildings are lower cost to develop than buildings with natural gas.     The reach codes under consideration in Cupertino and other Silicon Valley cities are focused on new residential, commercial, and multifamily buildings that will be seeking building permits after January 2020. The scope of reach codes in the past have generally been limited to permits for newly constructed buildings, with exemptions made for cases where the reach code is not found to be cost effective.     Why Establish Reach Codes?    Cupertino’s Climate Action Plan outlines a path towards creating a healthy, livable, and vibrant place for its current and future residents to live, learn, work, and play. Because reach codes are designed and adopted locally, they serve as an opportunity to help address our community’s specific needs and achieve our climate goals. For example, Cupertino can enhance the safety and cost savings of our buildings by adopting reach codes that support energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electrification. Like the 13 other Silicon Valley jurisdictions who are in the process of studying reach codes, Cupertino is taking the lead on improving the quality of life for our communities and the health of our environment, in a way that provides economic benefits to the consumer and society.    What are the advantages of all-electric buildings?  Eliminating combustion of natural gas in livable areas improves the indoor air quality and improves overall safety associated with fires and gas leaks. A 2002 study by the California Seismic Safety Commission found that damaged gas infrastructure caused 20 to 50 percent of post-earthquake fire ignitions. Electric heat pump appliances (such as water heaters, air conditioning and heaters) are 4-5 times more efficient than equivalent natural gas appliances. Buildings with electric heating are allowed a larger winter baseline quantity of electricity. Additionally, all-electric buildings can more effectively utilize on-site solar generation, which is required in the 2019 Building Code.  What are the potential drawbacks of an all-electric building?  Some people still prefer to cook with gas, though customer satisfaction with electric induction stoves is driving a trend toward electric cooking. Electric heat pump water heaters can take up more space than tankless gas water heaters as they include a hot water storage tank.  Are all-electric buildings viable today?  Yes. Electric alternatives to most equipment are available and most building types, including residential, office, restaurants and many other commercial types, are compatible and benefit from all-electric design. Furthermore, a growing but small number of developers in California are now selecting all-electric buildings for their inherent advantages. Institutions such as the University of California are also building new facilities that are all-electric as a matter of policy, including new housing, laboratories, and classrooms.  What buildings must comply with the proposed reach code?  This proposed reach code applies to all new construction and tear down/rebuilds of low-rise residential, high-rise residential and nonresidential buildings. Modest remodels and tenant improvements that comply with the prescriptive pathway of Title 24 Part 6 are exempt. Additionally, nonresidential building occupancies H, F, and L are proposed to be exempt. For-profit kitchens may request a modification in the case that electric alternatives for specific cooking equipment (i.e. wood-fired pizza oven or grill) are not feasible.  Where can I find the cost effectiveness study?   The statewide study covers all geographical regions in California and Cupertino is located in climate zone 4. The 2019 cost-effectiveness studies can be found on the CA Local Energy Codes website.  Is high-performance technology like fuel cells or resiliency needs like diesel or natural gas fired generators affected?   The two reach code options presented by Cupertino staff rely on modifications to Title-24, part 6 (energy code) and part 11 (green building code). Neither of these codes regulate the installation of either fuel cells or generators for emergency or baseload energy needs for a facility. The reach codes do not preclude the installation of natural gas for a fuel cell or generator application.  What about businesses that need natural gas to fuel an industrial process?   The 2019 energy code only lightly regulates industrial process loads. The proposed reach codes do not regulate process appliances, or the fuels used to provide those process services. In addition, Staff is proposing specific exemptions for certain building occupancy types that cannot be feasibly built all-electric, including modifications for commercial kitchen equipment.  Does an all-electric building cost more to build?  In most cases, all electric buildings cost less to build than mixed-fuel buildings because building all-electric eliminates the installation cost of the natural gas infrastructure. These studies examine the upfront costs, maintenance costs, and operational costs of all-electric designs and support these conclusions:   What are the proposed solar panel requirements for non-residential and high rise residential?  The State code requires solar PV only for low-rise residential new construction. Cupertino’s all-proposed reachhttps://www.energystar.gov/products/water_heaters code does not include any additional solar PV requirements for non-residential building types.  Can a heat pump water heater match the performance of a gas system?  Yes, a heat pump water heater can equal the performance of a gas equivalent. For example, Rheem's 55 gallon unit can deliver 70 gallons of hot water in the first hour, enough for about four showers. For comparison, Rheem's gas equivalent delivers 79 gallons in the first hour. When selecting any hot water heater, no matter the fuel, make sure it is the right size for your use type. A home with a big family might need a larger 80 gallon tank.  More information about selecting an efficient water heater can be found on the ENERGY STAR website.  Can a central heat pump water heater distribute adequate water supply temperature to multiple units simultaneously?  Yes, when designed appropriately. Many entities are supporting design guideline development, which is expected to be publicly available in early 2020.  How does induction cooking compare to gas cooking?  Public outreach indicates that cooking with gas remains highly desirable among consumers and restaurant owners. However, it is also true that modern induction cooking is not well known in the U.S., with 7% market share in the U.S. as of 2017. Induction cooking provides many benefits including more control over cooking, improved indoor air quality, and enhanced safety, but a learning curve is present as with any unfamiliar technology.  Induction cooking provides more specific temperature control and is more responsive to variations than gas, is much safer, and induction cooktops are easier to clean. The  City of San Jose has an FAQ on induction cooktops. Already popular in other parts of the world, induction cooking is an up-and-comer in U.S. households. The National Kitchen + Bath Association identified it as the fastest growing kitchen trend in its 2018 Design Trends survey. As the market continues to grow, the industry expects wider availability and more options, which could mean increased affordability.   Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have found that cooking with gas lowers indoor air quality and raises a variety of health concerns. Researchers estimated that 60% of California homes where a gas stove was used for cooking at least once a week had indoor pollutant levels exceeding legal outdoor limits. The finding means that millions of people are subjected to levels of nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide in excess of current standards.  How does the Cupertino proposal compare to the Berkeley natural gas infrastructure ban?  Broadly speaking, there are two ways to encourage all-electric new buildings. One is through amendments to the energy code, which is what Cupertino, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, and many neighboring cities have proposed. The other way is by amending the Municipal codes, which is what Berkeley did by banning installation of natural gas infrastructure in many (not all) new planning entitlements. San Jose has taken a hybrid approach first passing an “electric-preferred” amendment to the energy code, which incentivizes all-electric design, and next considering a natural gas infrastructure ban.  Will PG&E be able to handle the additional load from more electric buildings?  PG&E is on record recommending all-electric building codes. They’ve issued a letter to the City of Cupertino indicating they can accommodate the increased load. The requirements for electric utility service planning are no different for an all-electric building compared to a mixed-fuel building, with the reduced burden of service planning for natural gas.  How reliable is the electric grid as compared to natural gas?  PG&E’s grid reliability has been increasing since 2015. The natural gas grid and electric grid both go down on occasion. In fact, during California's primary natural disaster events, wildfires and earthquakes, utilities are supposed to turn the gas off. For example, 26,000 customers had their natural gas lines turned off in Sonoma County during the recent Kinkade fires, with utilities citing the risk of ignition to the natural gas pipeline system. If 100% reliability is a goal for your home or project, electrification with battery and solar backup via microgrid is an effective solution.  What happens to electric water heaters and induction cooktops when the power goes out? Is it better to have a gas stove to be able to cook meals and a gas water heater to have hot water?  It is true that electric water heaters and induction cooktops will not work in the event of an electrical power failure, unless the home has a battery backup system installed. However, gas appliances may not always work in a power failure either. While most older models of gas stoves can be lit manually during a power outage, certain models of newer gas ranges are made with a safety feature called an interlock that prevents the burner from being manually lit. The purpose of an interlock is to prevent hazardous gas leaks by completely cutting off gas flow to the burners in the event of an electrical outage. (To see if your stove is made with an interlock, check the owner's manual or manufacturer's website.) Similarly, gas ovens require electricity to operate and cannot be manually ignited. In addition, operating a gas stove indoors without proper ventilation fan has been shown to create hazardous indoor air quality conditions. Gas on-demand water heaters have a control panel that is powered by electricity, which will also not work in a power outage.  Thus, using natural gas appliances is no guarantee in an electrical outage.  Should Cupertino consider requiring even more EV charging spaces? 

 Code amendments require all newly constructed buildings to be fueled only by electricity
Cupertino, Calif. – In a bold move aimed at decreasing local dependence on fossil fuels, the Cupertino City Council unanimously voted on Tuesday, January 21, 2020, to require all newly constructed buildings in Cupertino to be all electric.
The City Council’s decision requires, rather than incentivizes, electric appliances for space and water heating, cooking, and clothes drying, along with a higher level of electric vehicle charging than the State Code requires. The City Council’s vote —known as establishing a “reach code”— ensures healthier, safer, and emissions-free buildings in Cupertino.
“The City Council understands that climate change is real and that local decisions not only affect our community but our world,” Mayor Steven Scharf said. “The decision also brings us closer to reaching our ambitious goals set in our Climate Action Plan, which creates a path toward creating a healthy, livable, and vibrant city.”
These reach codes focus on transitioning new buildings and transportation to clean electricity while moving away from dirty fossil fuels. The codes will result in new buildings that improve air quality and promote public health, while offering economic savings.
“Creating Silicon Valley Clean Energy and decarbonizing our electricity supply was the single biggest step we’ve ever taken locally to fight climate change,” said Rod Sinks, Cupertino Councilmember and SVCE Board Member. “This is the latest big step, which will greatly reduce the carbon footprint of new buildings over their long lives.”
On Dec. 17, 2019, during the first public hearing on the topic, the Council voted to add an all-electric requirement for new detached accessory dwelling units, and not allow gas hook-ups for indoor and outdoor fireplaces in new construction. The amendments do allow for an exception process for some commercial kitchens if electricity is not feasible.
In order to meet the State’s carbon reduction goals, cities recognize that more must be done to stop pollution from transportation and buildings. Cupertino is joined by the 11 other SVCE member communities that are evaluating and/or establishing reach codes. Statewide, there are more than 50 communities considering reach codes to address carbon pollution from new construction.
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About Silicon Valley Clean Energy
Silicon Valley Clean Energy is a community-owned agency serving the majority of Santa Clara County communities, acquiring clean, carbon-free electricity on behalf of more than 270,000 residential and commercial customers. As a public agency, net revenues are returned to the community to keep rates competitive and promote clean energy programs. Member jurisdictions include Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Saratoga, Sunnyvale and unincorporated Santa Clara County. SVCE is guided by a Board of Directors, which is comprised of a representative from the governing body of each member community. For more information, please visit SVCleanEnergy.org.
Media Contacts
Michaela Pippin
Communications Specialist
O: 408-721-5301 x1020
michaela.pippin@svcleanenergy.org

UPDATED February 3rd: Contra Costa County shifts to number 54 in the list of cities/counties to commit to phase out gas in new buildings. 
Cities and counties in California serve as guiding lights as the state navigates a transition from gas to clean-energy buildings. Motivated by the climate crisis, worsening air pollution, escalating gas rates, and safety risks from gas, a new cohort of local government leaders is emerging in California. Over 50 cities and counties across the state are considering policies to support all-electric new construction. 
This blog summarizes the cities and counties that have already adopted gas-free buildings commitments or electrification building codes (i.e., “reach codes” that go beyond the statewide building code) and is regularly updated to reflect the latest wins in California. Ordinance language is also linked below.
To urge your city council members to be climate leaders and to create a gas-free future for our homes and buildings, please sign this petition. To get more involved in the campaign, please sign up here for updates on what is happening in your city. 
An interactive map of the cities/counties in California that have adopted building codes, courtesy of our partners at SPUR. 

So far, 54 cities/counties (listed with the most recent area first) have adopted building codes to reduce their reliance on gas. More to come with your help! Stay tuned….
54. Contra Costa County- requires all newly constructed residential buildings, hotels, offices, and retail buildings to be all-electric starting June 1, 2022.
53. Santa Clara County- adopted an all-electric reach code for new residential and commercial buildings, with minor exceptions for certain factories, hazardous materials facilities, hospitals, and laboratories.
52. Solana Beach- requires new construction in residential and commercial buildings to use electric appliances for space heating, water heating, dryers, pools and spas. It sets standards for major renovations to ensure that significant remodels beyond a certain point require these electric upgrades as well. The ordinance also requires all-electric readiness, and has provisions for electric car charging, commercial solar, and prewiring for home battery storage.
51. Santa Clara-  this all-electric reach code applies to both new residential and commercial buildings, and contains minimal exemptions.
50. Encinitas- in accordance with their most recent Climate Action Plan update-- will now require all new residential and commercial buildings to be all-electric, making it the 50th municipality and the first city in San Diego County to require all-electric buildings, with situational exemptions for restaurants, essential service buildings, and special projects.
49. Fairfax- requires all newly constructed residential and commercial buildings to be all-electric, starting March 1, 2022, with an exemption for commercial kitchens. 
48. Emeryville- requires all newly constructed residential buildings to be all-electric, with exemptions for newly constructed nonresidential buildings. However, these buildings must be furnished with conduit or pre-wiring for future electric appliance installation.
47. Santa Barbara- requires all new buildings to be all-electric starting January 1, 2022, though it does offer an exemption for restaurants. 
46. Sacramento-  requires all new buildings under 3 stories to be all-electric by 2023 and extends the mandate to all new construction by 2026. Approved 6/1/2021. 
45. South San Francisco- requires all new residential buildings to be all-electric. Approved 5/26/2021. 
44. Petaluma- Requires all buildings to be all-electric and bans all new gas stations. Approved 5/3/2021. 
43. Daly City- Required all-electric new residential and non-residential buildings with blanket exemptions for 100% affordable housing buildings, commercial kitchens, and laboratories. Approved 4/27/2021. 
42. San Carlos- Requires newly constructed buildings and remodel projects that update more than 50% of the building to be all-electric with some exceptions. Approved 1/25/2021. 
41. Albany- Encourages newly constructed residential and commercial buildings to be electric preferred and requires mixed fuel buildings to exceed the California Energy Code. Approved 12/9/2020. 
40. Oakland- Requires all newly constructed buildings to be all-electric. Approved 12/1/2020. 
39. Ojai- Requires all-electric new construction for buildings with some exceptions. Approved 10/27/2020. 
38. Sunnyvale- Requires newly constructed residential and commercial buildings to be all-electric with an exemption for gas fuel cells. Restaurants may apply for an exemption. Approved 10/27/2020. 
37. Millbrae- Requires all-electric residential and commercial buildings with exemptions for laboratories, restaurants and gas cooking/fireplaces. Approved 10/27/2020. 
36. Los Altos- Requires all newly constructed buildings to be all-electric with exemptions for gas cooking/fireplaces in residential buildings with 9 units or less, laboratories and restaurants. Approved 10/27/2020. 

35. East Palo Alto- Requires that new residential and commercial buildings be all-electric, with exceptions for affordable housing, and commercial kitchens. Approved 10/6/2020. 
34. Redwood City- Adopted a reach code requiring all-electric new construction for commercial and residential buildings, with exceptions for multiple specific building types such as laboratories. Approved 8/24/2020. 
33. Piedmont- Promotes all-electric new construction for low-rise residential buildings and incentives electrification for renovations of low-rise residences. Approved 7/20/2020. 
32. San Anselmo- Promotes all electric housing by requiring higher energy efficiency requirements for mixed fuel projects and prewiring for al electric kitchens. Approved 4/14/2020. 
31. Burlingame- Requires all electric new construction for projects with exemptions for single-family and commercial projects for gas cooking and fireplaces. Approved 7/6/2020. 
30. Santa Cruz- Requires all electric new construction with exemptions for projects that are deemed to be in the public interest and for restaurant cooking. Approved 3/24/2020. 
29. Hayward- All new residential buildings are required to be all-electric and nonresidential and high-rise residential buildings are electric preferred. Mixed-fuel buildings must install solar panels, and the energy budget must be 10 percent better than code. Approved 3/3/2020. 
28. Richmond- requires all new buildings to be all-electric starting January 1, 2022.
27. San Mateo County- Requires that no gas or propane plumbing is installed in new buildings, and that electricity be used as the energy source for water and space heating and cooking and clothes drying appliances. Approved 2/11/2020. 
26. Campbell- Requires all-electric space and water heating in new residential buildings, accessory dwelling units, and major remodels. Approved 2/4/2020. 
25. Los Altos Hills- Requires electric space and water heating in new low-rise residential buildings. Approved 1/16/2020. 
24. San Francisco recently expanded on their building electrification ordinance, now requiring that all new construction be all electric starting June 1st 2021. Approved 12/17/2019.  
23. Cupertino- Requires all buildings, including accessory dwelling units, to be all-electric. Also requires outdoor pools, spas, and barbeques to be included within the definition of an all-electric building. Approved 12/17/2019. 
22. Los Gatos- Requires all newly constructed single-family and low-rise multifamily buildings to be all-electric. Approved 12/3/2019. 
21. Healdsburg- Requires electrification for most appliances but grants an exemption for gas cooking and fireplaces. Approved 12/2/2019. 
20. Brisbane- Requires all newly constructed single-family homes and low-rise multifamily buildings to be all-electric. Allows exemptions for cooking appliances but requires pre-wiring for electric readiness. Approved 11/21.2019. 
19. Saratoga- Requires all newly constructed buildings to be all-electric. Approved 11/20/2019. 
18. Mill Valley- Requires all newly constructed residential buildings to be all electric. Approved 11/18/2019. 
17. Pacifica- Requires electrification for most appliances but grants an exemption for gas cooking and fireplaces in new residential buildings. Requires water and space heaters, cooking appliances, fireplaces, and clothes dryers to be all-electric for new nonresidential buildings. Public agencies providing emergency services and nonresidential kitchens are exempted. Approved 11/12/2019. 
16. Santa Rosa- Requires all newly constructed low-rise residential buildings to be all-electric. Approved 11/12/2019.  15. Milpitas- Limits gas infrastructure for newly constructed buildings on city-owned property. Approved 11/5/2019. 
14. Alameda- Limits gas infrastructure for new residential construction on city-owned property and as of May 18, they've expanded the code to require newly constructed buildings to be all electric with some exceptions. Approved 11/5/2019.
13. Palo Alto- Requires all newly constructed low-rise residential buildings to be all-electric, plus higher energy-efficiency standards and electrification readiness in mixed-fuel non-residential buildings. Will revisit all-electric requirement for non-residential new construction in 2021. Approved 11/4/2019. 
12. Morgan Hill- Phases out gas hookups in all newly constructed residential buildings and most nonresidential buildings.  Approved 10/23/2019.   
11. Mountain View- Requires electrification for new residential and nonresidential buildings. Does not exempt gas stoves, fireplaces, or firepits in residential buildings. Approved 10/22/2019. 
10. Marin County- Offered three compliance pathways for newly constructed buildings in unincorporated buildings: one for all-electric construction, one for limited mixed-fuel construction that has fewer efficiency requirements because it uses less gas but allows gas stoves, and one for mixed-fuel construction that requires the most strict compliance with Cal Green Tier 1 and electrification-readiness requirements. Approved 9/24/2019.
9. Davis- Requires higher energy-efficiency standards and electrification readiness in mixed-fuel buildings. Approved 9/24/2019.  
8. San Jose- San Jose passed a natural gas prohibition for all new building types, with limited temporary exemptions, becoming the largest city in the nation to do so. Approved 9/17/2019.
7. Menlo Park- Requires all-electric new construction for  residential buildings as well as new nonresidential buildings but allows an exemption for cooking appliances in low-rise residential buildings.  Approved 9/10/2019.
6. Santa Monica- Requires additional energy-efficiency measures for new residential and nonresidential buildings that use gas.  Approved 9/10/2019.
5. San Mateo- Requires new residential buildings and buildings with office-use to be all-electric. Adds additional requirements for rooftop solar and electric vehicle charging. Approved 8/27/2019.
4. San Luis Obispo- Requires additional energy efficiency and electrification readiness for all newly constructed buildings and adds a small fee for new mixed-fuel buildings based on expected gas consumption.  Approval of updated code 6/16/2020.
3. Windsor- Mandates all-electric new construction for low-rise residential buildings, including single-family homes, multifamily homes with fewer than four stories, and detached accessory dwelling units ( but attached ones are exempt).  Approved 8/27/2019.
2. Berkeley- Phases out gas hookups in all newly constructed residential buildings and most nonresidential buildings. Approved 7/15/2019.  
1.Carlsbad- Requires heat pump water heaters or solar thermal water heating in new residential buildings that have fewer than four stories. Approved 2/26/2019. City and county leadership is essential not just for local climate action but also to convince the California Energy Commission to require or at least support all-electric new construction in the statewide building code (Title 24). 
The CEC updates Title 24 every three years. The 2022 version of Title 24 was adopted on December 14, 2021 and will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. The next iteration of Title 24 will come out in 2025, giving Californians plenty of time to push for an even stronger rule! All of this community and city support for more-ambitious building codes sends a strong signal to the CEC to align the statewide building code with climate science and require all-electric new construction. Californians deserve nothing less.

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.