Dateline Santa Monica  — The City Council voted last week to approve an ordinance requiring rooftop solar systems for all new construction in the city of Santa Monica—both residential and commercial.

The ordinance goes into effect 30 days after last week’s vote, on May 27, and extends the city’s history of adopting local requirements that advance the transition to high performance green buildings for all.

Timing of the ordinance capitalizes on market trends in the solar industry. With the cost of solar installation decreasing, Santa Monica residents and developers are expected to generate cost-effective renewable energy, to improve the value of their property, and to contribute to the city’s robust long-range goals for energy and climate mitigation, including reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.

“In Santa Monica we are moving away from buildings powered by fossil fuels in favor of clean and cost-effective solar energy,” said Dean Kubani, Santa Monica’s Sustainability Manager.

“This not only is the smart thing to do, it is imperative if we are to protect our kids and grandkids from the worst effects of climate change.”

The update to the Santa Monica Municipal Green Building Ordinance states:

• New single family dwellings are required to install a solar electric photovoltaic (PV) system, with a minimum total wattage of 1.5 times the square footage of the dwelling (1.5 watts per square foot). That means a 2,000-square foot home would need a 3 kilowatt system, which is a typical size already seen on many homes.
• New multi-family dwellings and non-residential hotel, motel are required to install a solar electric PV system, with a minimum total wattage 2.0 times the square footage of the building footprint (2.0 watts per square foot of building footprint). That means a four-story building, with a building footprint of 10,000 square feet, would need a 20-kilowatt system.
  With the noted decreasing cost of solar, the cost-benefit ratio is said to be strong.

Case studies have shown that these requirements are estimated to increase upfront construction costs by 2.8 percent on average for a single-family home, while reducing long term electricity costs by 65 percent on average. This results in overall savings to homeowners and significant reductions in carbon emissions.

For multi-family homes, the numbers are 0.5% percent and 24 percent on average, respectively. On commercial, 0.75 percent and 11 percent on average.

“I am proud to represent a district that recognizes the global responsibility this nation faces to deploy the best strategies at our disposal to prevent climate change and stimulate the green economy,” said state Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica).

“As California moves forward with the most progressive climate strategy in the country, we welcome leaders like Santa Monica who push the boundaries.”

The ordinance is the third solar mandate in the country to take effect, following Lancaster and Sebastopol who began requiring solar in 2013. San Francisco’s recently adopted solar mandate will take effect in January.

“Santa Monica is entering summer in the midst of transformational developments,” said Mayor Tony Vazquez.

The solar ordinance has special meaning to him, he said, since he attended the historic climate summit in Paris last winter.

“Covering our new buildings with renewable energy helps us address the challenge of climate change while ensuring Santa Monica builds cost-effective, resilient properties that maintain value,” Mr. Vazquez said.

For questions on implementing the new requirement, Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability & the Environment may be contacted at www.sustainablesm.org.

Ms. Du Brow may be contacted at julie@dubroworks.com

About City of Santa Monica (https://www.smgov.net/)