SAN JOSE (CBS SF) – The new building in unincorporated Santa Clara County must have all-electric heaters and appliances, as well as connections for charging electric vehicles, according to a new ordinance passed by regulators on Tuesday.

The ordinance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions prohibits natural gas connections in new buildings and calls for the use of electricity for “water heating, space heating, cooking, drying clothes, indoor and outdoor fireplaces as well as decorative devices”. New homes must also have cabling for the installation of battery storage systems.

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For residential and non-residential high-rise buildings as well as hotels and motels, the measure also requires the installation of solar power.

When charging electric vehicles, the requirements vary depending on the size of the building. Single-family houses and townhouses require at least two electric vehicle sockets. Today, larger non-residential projects require high-capacity charging systems and dedicated parking spaces for charging.

According to district officials, the measure goes beyond state requirements that encourage all-electric construction.

Supervisor Otto Lee said in a statement: “This is clearly in line with our climate protection plan and will help us achieve our goal of being 100% CO2 neutral by 2045.”

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In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, officials claim that all-electric designs are generally less expensive because they don’t require natural gas lines, meters, and vents.

Jasneet Sharma, director of the district’s sustainability bureau, touted building electrification and the use of electric vehicles as a cost-effective, low-risk way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“That means improved indoor air quality and safety for our residents, fewer gas-powered vehicles on our roads and fewer pollutants in the atmosphere,” said Sharma.

Some exceptions apply, including hospitals and correctional facilities and buildings where all-electric devices are “not feasible”. Also excluded are certain accessory apartments (ADU) that are completely contained in a single-family house that is already piped for natural gas.

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The regulation comes into force in February.

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