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7.A. - Page 8 of 285 <br />conditioning equipment. The concern for using all -electric space conditioning equipment <br />relates to fluctuating temperatures, as electric appliances are more inconsistent than <br />non -electric appliances in maintaining temperature. Maintaining constant temperatures <br />is essential to ensuring consistency and safety in experiments, lab results, and health care. <br />This can be achieved with an all -electric system; however, staff have received feedback <br />regarding the upfront costs and affects to other designed elements of these changes, that <br />the designs for all -electric systems is very new and is still developing, and that requiring <br />it now could be high in cost relative to potential benefits should these be improved in the <br />future. <br />• Staff received feedback from the development community and residents regarding <br />concerns about Health Facilities containing all -electric space conditioning systems and/or <br />all -electric water heating systems. In addition, the design and potential structural changes <br />to facilitate heat pump systems can impose significant costs to a project. These concerns <br />were echoed by health care representatives at the BOBR meeting. <br />• Exception 1 would be unique to Redwood City for cities considering an all -electric reach <br />code. <br />Exception 2 — Buildings containing a Scientific Laboratory Area may contain non -electric space - <br />conditioning and water -heating systems. <br />• Staff received feedback from the development community and residents regarding <br />concerns that Scientific Laboratory Areas contain all -electric space conditioning systems <br />and/or all -electric water heating systems and the design and potential structural changes <br />to a building to facilitate heat pump system can impose significant costs to a project. <br />• Other cities that have adopted a similar exception regarding scientific laboratories are <br />Brisbane, Menlo Park, and Mountain View. <br />Exception 3 — New residential buildings may contain non -electric cooking appliances and <br />fireplaces. <br />• As discussed in the City Council meeting on October 28, 2019, this exception notes that if <br />natural gas is allowed for cooking appliances and fireplaces in new residential buildings, <br />it should be equally applicable to all types of new residential building. This exception <br />would apply to new single-family homes, duplexes, and all multi -family units. However, <br />low-rise residential buildings (single family homes and structures under four stories) will <br />be required to be pre -wired to be electric capable. <br />• Other cities that have adopted this exception are Brisbane, Menlo Park, Pacifica, and <br />Saratoga. <br />Exception 4 — Emergency Centers. <br />• Gas may serve as a back-up energy source to power certain appliances in the event of <br />emergencies. This is beneficial to emergency centers in the event of power failure during <br />an emergency. Additionally, as the number of emergency centers is limited, the GHGs <br />contributed from these facilities are relatively minimal. <br />Page 8 of 12 <br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.ore <br />260 <br />