All-Electric Homes: Benefits for Builders

As you’ve likely heard by now, California’s building code is moving to electrify new construction of all types, and over the next few years this will become more and more common. Cities and local jurisdictions are also increasingly favoring reach codes that require all-electric construction. This webinar will present potential benefits for builders of all-electric homes under the current 2019 and proposed 2022 code, and address some potential misconceptions about electrification.

• Costs – electric water heaters, heat pump HVAC systems, and electric household appliances are viewed as more expensive than mixed fuel or natural gas versions. The cost differences are often less than expected, and once differences in installation and infrastructure costs are factored in, an all-electric building can be less costly to build than the alternative
• Compliance – switching from mixed fuel to all-electric will typically increase the compliance margin or a building, which can allow savings to be made elsewhere while still meeting Title 24 efficiency requirements and providing high-quality products
• Solar and storage – all-electric buildings are better positioned to take advantage of the benefits of the solar PV required by the 2019 code, using it to offset more of the customer’s utility bills. Compliance credits in the new code make the addition of battery storage an increasingly attractive proposition for the builder, while the increasing price difference between peak and off-peak charges adds to the benefit to buyers
• Health and environment – homebuyers are increasingly citing indoor environmental quality as a significant factor when choosing a new home. Electric appliances have significant advantages in this field, which will be discussed in this workshop. Benefits to the outdoor environment from reduced carbon emissions will also be discussed as a selling point