Building Energy Efficiencies/Sustainability

The City of Menlo Park has adopted a local amendment that amends §150.2 to the 2025 California Energy Code (Muni Code § 12.16.010 and 12.16.020). The added section establishes a selection of additional energy efficiencies beyond the requirements of the 2025 Energy Code for proposed additions and alterations to existing single-family homes.

The amended section, known as “Flex-Path”, requires proposed additions or alterations to a single-family buildings originally constructed prior to 2011, with a stated project valuation (project construction cost) of $100,000 or more, to include two (2) items  from the list of energy efficiency measures (listed below) in the scope of work in addition to any requirements imposed under the 2025 California Energy Code §150.2. Submittal of documentation is to be included in the plan set at the time of Building permit application.

Field verification of these elements will be confirmed by the City Building Inspector during construction.

It is important to note that the amount of $100,000 shall be automatically adjusted for inflation annually on January 1 of each year beginning in 2025 based upon the California Construction Cost Index published by the California Department of General Services from data produced by the Engineering News Record.

Please refer to Muni Code §12.13.010 and §12.13.020 for the specifics of the requirements.

Choose from the list of additional Energy Efficient and Electrification Measures

• Install R-49 attic insulation and apply air sealing practices in all accessible areas of the building. 
• Seal ducts to meet the requirements of §150.2(b)1.E of the 2025 California Energy Code.
• Install R-15 wall insulation on exterior walls, where the studs are exposed as part of the work scope, to meet the requirements of §150.0(c) of the 2025 California Energy Code.
• Install R-19 insulation at raised floor assemblies meeting standards of 2025 California Energy Code §150.0(d).
• Install R-3 insulation on all accessible hot water piping. Install R-6 insulation to the exterior of existing residential tank storage water heaters.
• Replace all screw in incandescent and CFL lamps with lamps of an efficacy of 45 lumens per watt or greater in all light fixtures per 2025 California Energy Code §150.0(k).
• Replace fuel gas furnace with an electric heat pump system meeting the Requirements of the 2025 California Energy Code §150.2(b)1C or F with another high efficiency electric space heating system if approved by the Building Official.
• Replace fuel gas water heater with a heat pump water heater meeting the requirements of 2025 California Energy Code §150.2(b)1H.iii.(b) or 150.2(b)1H.iii.(c), or with other high efficiency electric water heating system per approval of the Building Official.
• Implement one or more recommendations specified in a Home Energy Score or Home Energy Audit report that has been completed within the last five years and that is submitted with the application for a building permit, with the approval of such a recommendation by the Building Official.

There are two exceptions to the added requirement which are:

1. When a Home Energy Score Report for the single-family building, completed within the last 5 years, demonstrating that the building already has a minimum Home Energy Score of 7, is submitted to the Building Official.
2. The Building Official shall not require the installation of Energy Efficient Measures and Electrification Measures F and/or G if one or more of the following conditions apply:

• An existing space heating system is not required to be replaced when the unique features of the construction of the single-family building structure, including, but not limited to, an existing heating and/or cooling system(s) that are not configured for conversion to forced air systems preclude installation of those measures.
• The installation of the measures is not commensurate with the project’s scope and budget, as determined by the Building Official, because the cost of those measures would exceed 20% of the total project cost or require substantial construction in areas of the residential structure that would otherwise not be part of the project.
• Requiring the installation of measures is otherwise prohibited by other applicable laws.