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5.11 Air Resources

California. In this capacity, CARB conducts research; sets the California Ambient Air Quality
Standards (CAAQS), as shown in Table 5.11-1; compiles emission inventories; develops
suggested control measures; oversees local programs; and prepares the SIP. For regions that
do not attain the CAAQS, CARB requires the air districts to prepare plans for attaining the
standards. These plans are then integrated into the State SIP. CARB establishes emissions
standards for (1) motor vehicles sold in California; (2) consumer products (e.g., hair spray,
aerosol paints, barbecue lighter fluid); and (3) various types of commercial equipment. It
also sets fuel specifications to further reduce vehicular emissions.

Airborne Toxic Control Measure to Limit Diesel-Fueled Commercial Motor Vehicle
Idling

The California Code of Regulations (CCR, specifically, Title 13, Section 2485) places
restrictions on vehicular idling. It requires that on or after February 1, 2005, any person that
owns, operates, or causes to operate any diesel-fueled commercial motor vehicle with gross
vehicular weight ratings of greater than 10,000 pounds must prohibit vehicle idling for more
than five consecutive minutes at any location. Additionally, diesel-fueled internal
combustion engine auxiliary power systems (APS) must be prohibited from operating for
greater than 5 minutes at any location when within 100 feet of any property zoned for
individual or multi-family housing units, schools, hotels, motels, hospitals, senior care
facilities or child care facilities.

Title 24 Energy Efficiency Standards

The Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings (24 CCR 6)
were established in 1978 in response to a legislative mandate to reduce California’s energy
consumption. The current applicable standards are the 2013 Standards, effective July 1,
2014. The 2016 Code was published on July 1, 2016, and will go into effect on January 1,
2017 (CBSC 2016). The 2016 code is estimated to be at least 28 percent more efficient for
than the 2013 Code for residential buildings and 5 percent more efficient for nonresidential
buildings (CEC 2015a, 2015b). The requirements of the energy efficiency standards result in
the reduction of natural gas and electricity consumption. Since natural gas use produces
criteria pollutant emissions, a reduction in natural gas consumption results in a related
reduction in air quality emissions.1 Additional discussion of the Title 24 energy efficiency
standards is included in Section 5.21, Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Title 24 Green Building Standards
The 2013 California Green Building Standards Code (24 CCR 11), also known as the
CALGreen code, contains mandatory requirements for new residential and nonresidential
buildings (including buildings for retail, office, public schools and hospitals) throughout
California (CBSC 2016). The 2016 CALGreen Code was effective January 1, 2017 (CBSC
2016b). The development of the CALGreen Code is intended to (1) cause a reduction in
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from buildings; (2) promote environmentally responsible,
cost effective, healthier places to live and work; (3) reduce energy and water consumption;
and (4) respond to the directives by the Governor. In short, the code is established to reduce

1 Because electricity is not generated on site, the emissions associated with electricity generation are not included in the
emissions calculations.

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Draft EIR