Proposed energy efficiency upgrade ordinance for older homes to be revisited ⋆ The Palm Springs Post

*A mobile phone is used to control a smart home app. (Photo: Shutterstock)*

A city subcommittee plans to revisit a proposed energy efficiency upgrade ordinance for older homes, which could increase project costs by up to 30%.

The ordinance, which aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions from residential buildings, is being adjusted to address concerns from residents and builders about its complexity and potential costs. The ordinance as written focuses on cost-effective upgrades like insulation, LED lighting, and electric-ready appliance installations.

City staff told the Sustainability Commission’s Climate Action Subcommittee last week that their goal of presenting the ordinance to the Palm Springs City Council this month has been pushed back.

Two main issues stood out when it was first introduced last November: the ordinance’s complexity and its potential financial impact on homeowners. The current draft includes a point system with two separate tables based on project costs and building age, which many found confusing.

“The complexity is hitting stakeholders as really overwhelming when they first look at it,” said Palm Springs Sustainability Director LP McCloy. McCloy added that even commissioners and city staff could see how overwhelming the ordinance in its current state is.

Based on permit data modeling, some projects could see cost increases of 10% to 30% under the current proposal.

With all the feedback in mind, city staff plans to update the ordinance to reduce upfront costs and complexity while maximizing carbon reduction and cost savings for homeowners.

The revised ordinance will also prioritize support for low-income projects and streamline certain simpler project types like re-roofing.

Once updated, the ordinance will be presented to the Sustainability Commission for feedback before it is brought to the City Council as an informational item. Due to existing land use agreements, the tribal planning commission and council will also review it.

“We want to bring forward a product that’s robust, ambitious, and achievable,” McCloy said. She noted that if people find complying too difficult, they might resort to unpermitted work, “And we won’t see any carbon emission reductions.”

The subcommittee plans to keep the ordinance on its monthly agenda for updates. A revised draft may be available for review as early as next month.