Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25487. Section 25487.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this article govern the construction of this chapter.
ARTICLE 1. Definitions [25487. - 25498.]
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 1.
in effectCal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25488. Section 25488.
“Title 24 Standards” refers to the nonresidential building standards developed by the commission.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25488.5. Section 25488.5.
“Building standard” means a building standard as defined in Section 18909 of the Health and Safety Code which is adopted by the commission.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25489. Section 25489.
“Lifecycle cost” means an estimate of the total cost of acquisition, operation, maintenance, and construction of any energy system within or related to a structure over the design life of the structure. “Life cycle cost” includes, but is not limited to, the cost of fuel, materials, machinery, ancillary devices, labor, service, replacement, and repairs.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25491. Section 25491.
“Governmental agency” means any public agency, including any agency of the state, each county, city, district, association of governments, and joint power agency.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25492. Section 25492.
“Structure” means any building which has more than 10,000 square feet of floor area and which has a heating, cooling, water heating, or lighting system which is designed to provide lighting and space conditioning more than 1,000 hours per year.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25493. Section 25493.
On or after January 1, 1979, no governmental agency shall commence construction on any new structure unless the new structure complies with Title 24 Standards.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25493.5. Section 25493.5.
On and after January 1, 1980, no governmental agency shall commence construction on any new structure unless the new structure complies with all applicable building standards, as defined in Section 25488.5 and published in the State Building Standards Code.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25494. Section 25494.
Not later than July 31, 1978, the commission shall prepare a manual outlining a methodology by which governmental agencies and the general public may at their option compare the lifecycle costs of various building design alternatives. This manual will provide the information and procedures necessary to evaluate a building’s lifecycle costs in the microclimate and utility service area where it is to be built.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25495. Section 25495.
No later than July 31, 1978, the commission shall develop design guidelines for new construction which include energy conserving options, including, but not limited to, the use of daylighting, heating ventilation and air conditioning economizer cycles, natural ventilation, building envelope solar heat gain control mechanisms, and alternative energy systems such as solar energy for space heating and water heating and load management strategies. These guidelines and the cost analysis done pursuant to Section 25494 may be considered by government agencies at their option for ultimate selection of a building design in the competitive bidding process.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25496. Section 25496.
No later than July 1, 1978, the commission shall develop and make available to government agencies and the general public to be utilized at their option lighting standards for existing buildings. These standards shall address, but not be limited to, task and general area lighting levels, light switching and control mechanisms, and lighting energy budgets. The commission may provide advice and recommendations to the public or any governmental agency as to the standards.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25498. Section 25498.
In addition to any other requirements applicable to such structure, no new state-owned structure shall be constructed which is not equipped with a supplementary solar water heating system, unless such structure is specifically exempted from this requirement by the State Architect for reasons of economic or physical infeasibility.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026