BUILDING REACH CODES:  Ongoing Opportunities

BUILDING REACH CODES:  Ongoing Opportunities

This is an in-person event. Attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination along with proof of identification. Please read and check the agreement and safety boxes in the registration. Additional information regarding general event information and check-in process will be emailed directed to registrants 24 hours before the event.

CES Learning Units: 1.5 LU/HSW applied for

Cities and counties adopt reach codes to advance their goals of reducing their carbon footprint, lowering water usage, and other health and life safety goals. Hear from cities and utility companies about their experiences enacting reach codes in Southern California.
• What is a reach code?
• Why do cities/counties enact reach codes?
• Are you going to tear out my gas stove?
• Are reach codes cost-effective for homeowners and commercial buildings?

SPEAKERS:
Ariana Vito – Senior Sustainability Analyst, Office of Sustainability & the Environment, City of Santa Monica
Jay Madden, P.E. – Senior Engineer, Energy Codes & Standards, Southern California Edison
Drew L. Johnstone, CEM, ENV SP – Sustainability Officer, Burbank Water & Power
Jorge E. Centeno, P.E. – Energy Efficiency Engineering, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
Jesse Reyes – Associate, KFA LLP (moderator)

During this forum, we will discuss the following:
I. What is a reach code?
II. Why do cities/counties enact reach codes?
a. Better energy efficiency
b. Natural gas bans
c. More EV charging
d. Water savings
III. What reach codes don’t do? – to address the existing building sector.
a. Tear your gas stove out of your house
b. Sacrifice energy efficiency for electrification
IV. Local cities who have enacted reach codes
a. Santa Monica
b. Pasadena
V. Cities in process
a. Los Angeles
b. Glendale
VI. Reach code paths
a. Local health and safety
b. Change Title 24, Part 6 provisions
c. Change CalGreen provisions
VII. Impacts
a. Air quality, indoor and outdoor
b. Savings, cost-effectiveness
c. Social equity
d. Utility upgrade, Grid reliability

BIOGRAPHIES:

Ariana Vito – Senior Sustainability Analyst, Office of Sustainability & the Environment, City of Santa Monica

Ariana Vito is a Senior Sustainability Analyst in the City of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability & the Environment. She leads the implementation of the City’s Climate Action & Adaptation Plan, which focuses on citywide building and transportation decarbonization strategies to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 or sooner. She has a background in transportation planning and environmental policy and holds a Master of Urban & Regional Planning from UCLA. Ariana chairs the Sustainability Committee for the International Codes Council (ICC) Los Angeles basin chapter.

Jay Madden, P.E. – Senior Engineer, Energy Codes & Standards, Southern California Edison

Jay is a Mechanical Engineer at Southern California Edison, where he provides technical assistance to cities and counties developing electrification reach codes. Past work at SCE included managing projects related to emerging HVAC, industrial refrigeration, and whole building technologies that save energy and reduce peak electricity demand. Prior to joining SCE, Jay Madden spent 30 years designing HVAC, plumbing, and medical gas systems for hospitals, data centers, laboratories, and educational facilities. Mr. Madden is a registered Mechanical Engineer in the State of California.

Jay Madden has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and a Master’s in Business Administration from California State Polytechnic State University, Pomona.

Drew L. Johnstone, CEM, ENV SP – Sustainability Officer, Burbank Water & Power

Drew has worked for 14 years with cities, businesses, schools, and residents to advance sustainability practices. Drew has experience balancing innovation and leadership with practicality and bringing multiple voices to the table to implement cutting-edge sustainability programs that succeed. Before joining BWP four months ago, Drew was a Senior Sustainability Analyst for the City of Santa Monica, leading the City’s green building and energy policies and programs. He was responsible for implementing zero-emission building policies, community engagement activities, renewable energy procurement, and greenhouse gas inventories. His professional career started at EcoMotion, a sustainability consulting firm where he performed utility rate analysis, solar feasibility studies, and climate action planning. Drew received his bachelor’s degree in Organizational Studies from Pitzer College.

Jorge E. Centeno, P.E. – Energy Efficiency Engineering, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power

Jorge Centeno is a Mechanical Engineering Associate for LADWP’s Efficiency Solution Engineering Group and is a California State licensed Mechanical Engineer. At LADWP, Jorge’s main role involves supporting potential studies, the development of customer programs, EM&V, and Codes & Standards program. Prior to working at LADWP, Jorge worked as a plan checker at the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) for four years. In this role, he reviewed plans for HVAC, plumbing, fire sprinkler, and elevator systems for code compliance.

Moderator:

Jesse Reyes – Associate, KFA LLP (moderator)

Born and raised near Phoenix, AZ, Jesse discovered his love for architecture after a chance meeting with a teacher who recommended an architectural drafting class because of his interest in math and art. While attending Arizona State University, Jesse discovered his passion for socially meaningful architecture after he had the opportunity to work on K-12 elementary schools for low-income areas around the Phoenix area. Jesse recently joined the KFA team and is excited to work on well designed, low-income projects that provide beautiful livable spaces for everyone. Jesse loves taking advantage of the Southern California weather and is usually outside soaking up the sun by either hiking, picnicking, or beaching. However, December through February, you’ll find him shredding the slopes of Mammoth with his board.

Additional questions to discuss:
● Big picture thinking – what are best practices with ‘reach codes’ that embed opportunities for new job creation and environmental justice through the reprogramming and repurposing of existing facilities?
● What are the equitable workforce development programs we will need to support to transition labor to an evolving skill set?
● What additional ‘just’ transition provisions and programs can the AEC industry support as we electrify the grid?
● What kind of market-based incentives can we deploy to ensure energy retrofitting at scale?
● How can we make sure we don’t make the same mistakes that were made during the PACE program implementation?
● What kind of carbon market reforms do we need to ensure comprehensive decarbonization of the built environment?
● How does this translate into a robust economic recovery strategy?

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