Sausalito will require builders to use low-carbon concrete.
The policy, part of a periodic energy and building code update to comply with state law, was approved Tuesday by the City Council.
The council also updated its code to reflect the state’s latest environmental building code standards and adopt so-called “reach codes,” which exceed that baseline by allowing property owners to choose from a menu of improvements that reduce climate-changing emissions.
The council gave preliminary approval to the residential standards last fall, but technicalities delayed final approval of several energy efficiency measures, a staff report said. Those updates were removed from the amendments presented to the council on Tuesday. A section adding the low-carbon requirement was added.
“Low-carbon concrete standards address emissions from construction materials, specifically concrete, which is a significant source of embodied carbon,” said Alexandra Anderson, sustainability and resiliency manager. “Marin County adopted low-carbon standards in 2019, becoming a national leader in this space.”
“Since then, the local market has adapted, making these materials readily available and cost competitive for use in both public and private projects,” she said.
The action by Sausalito follows Mill Valley’s recent adoption of a similar low-carbon concrete requirement.
Mark Palmer, chair of the Sausalito Sustainability Commission, praised California’s ongoing building code updates and the low-carbon concrete provision.
“California has shown that strong building standards work,” he said. “California’s energy consumption per capita is among the lowest in the nation, second only to Hawaii, and it’s been declining — down nearly 9% in the last decade.”
“States without these commitments have seen energy use go up,” Palmer said. “Building codes are one of society’s most successful, boring technologies. When they work, nothing happens. Roofs stay on. Walls don’t collapse. Fires spread more slowly, and people are protected. And because nothing happens, we forget what we paid for.”
Anderson and Palmer both said the city needs to do more to meet the state’s carbon reduction targets.
“Reducing emissions from natural gas in buildings is particularly important given that 28% of Sausalito’s emissions come from natural gas use,” Anderson said.
“Sausalito must reduce current emissions by roughly 80% over the next 20 years,” Palmer said. “That requires every sector to contribute, especially buildings where the city has direct authority through its building code.”
The code updates were unanimously adopted by the council after little discussion.
Councilmember Jill Hoffman said she voted no last fall because it was unclear if certain energy efficiency requirements would result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
“We’re now taking it out,” she said. “Other jurisdictions have done studies and there’s no significant greenhouse gas reductions for that section.”