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Browse the store →CALIFORNIA CLIMATE LEADERSHIP
How mineral scale prevention supports California's nation-leading building decarbonization goals, reduces energy costs, and helps meet Title 24 requirements.
California ranks #1 in energy efficiency for the seventh time in 16 years.
California Energy Commission data shows that buildings account for 25% of the state's total greenhouse gas emissions. The 2025 Energy Code update (effective January 1, 2026) is designed to save Californians nearly $5 billion in energy costs over 30 years and reduce GHG emissions equivalent to over half a million homes [1].
comes from buildings
2025 Code Now in Effect
California Energy Commission
Official Release - January 13, 2026
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The 2025 update of the California Energy Code went into effect Jan. 1, 2026 for new buildings and major renovations. The 2025 code will save Californians almost $5 billion in energy costs over 30 years, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of over half a million homes, and improve indoor air quality [2].
ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS THE "QUIET WORKHORSE"
"Energy efficiency is the quiet workhorse of the clean energy transition. Efficiency reduces Californians' bills, improves their health and comfort, and reduces strain on the electricity grid," said CEC Commissioner Andrew McAllister. "When we build and upgrade homes to use less energy, California families save money, and communities get cleaner air and a more reliable electricity system." [3]
The 2025 code introduces a major conceptual shift from Time Dependent Valuation (TDV) to Long-Term System Cost (LSC)—a new energy metric that factors in lifecycle costs, emissions, and grid impacts [4].
The 2025 code is expected to catalyze 500,000 heat pump installations within the first three years, cutting around 4 million metric tons of greenhouse gases [5].
For Single-Family Homes:
Energy use "budgets" encourage heat pumps for space heating, cooling, and water heating.
Updated HVAC efficiency and controls (smart thermostats with energy pricing data).
Increased efficiency of exterior walls and windows [6].
For Multifamily Homes:
Heat pump encouragement for space heating/cooling through energy budgets.
Electric-ready requirements for water heating and cooking.
Strengthened ventilation standards and EV charging access [7].
For Commercial Buildings:
Heat pumps encouraged for space heating/cooling in select new buildings.
End-of-life rooftop HVACs replaced with high-efficiency systems.
Electric-ready requirements for commercial kitchens [8].
California Energy Commission: energy@energy.ca.gov
Building Standards Branch: Energy Code Information
California Energy Commission | 715 P Street | Sacramento, CA 95814
Contact CEC
By building homes to the 2025 California Energy Code instead of the latest national standards, Californians will save nearly half on their energy bills. Many new U.S. homes aren't even built to the latest national model code, making new California homes some of the most efficient in the country [9].
Energy use "budgets" encourage heat pumps for space heating, cooling, and water heating
Updated HVAC efficiency and controls (smart thermostats with energy pricing data)
Increased efficiency of exterior walls and windows
Heat pumps are central to California's decarbonization strategy—but their efficiency depends on clean heat transfer surfaces. 1 mm of scale buildup has been recorded at a 15% increase in energy demands; ⅛ inch thickness on heating elements can result in 20%-25% efficiency loss [10]. For a home designed to meet strict energy budgets, scale can silently push you over compliance limits.
The 15% Efficiency Killer
Scale acts as an insulator on heat pump components, forcing them to work harder and consume more energy—directly undermining California's energy budgets.
97.5% Direct Contact Ratio
Ultra-pure copper impulse bands transfer frequency energy through pipes, breaking scale crystals into smooth, non-sticking particles that wash away.
The 2025 code encourages heat pumps for space heating and cooling through energy "budgets." For low-rise buildings of three or fewer habitable floors, heat pump water heaters are encouraged for units with individual water heaters. New electric-ready requirements make it easier to install clean electric appliances [12].
Heat pumps encouraged through energy budgets
Electric-ready requirements for water heating and cooking
Strengthened ventilation standards for indoor air quality
EV charging access through dedicated circuits
Improved building envelope efficiency (wall and slab edge insulation) [13]
Multifamily buildings have extensive plumbing networks, centralized water heating, and shared mechanical systems. Scale buildup in these systems leads to:
Increased water heating costs due to energy loss in hot water circuits [14]
Bacterial growth in pipes carrying drinking water (biofilm uses scale as food source)
Rust accumulation leading to corrosion and pipe failure
High maintenance costs for repairs and equipment replacement
Loss of water pressure
Scale buildup reduces pipe diameter, restricting water flow to upper floors and increasing pumping energy requirements—directly impacting energy budgets.
"We no longer receive service calls for tenant showers"
Long-term care facilities (similar to multifamily housing) eliminated scale-related maintenance after Vulcan installation.
Cooling towers & boilers
Multifamily central plants rely on clean heat exchangers. Vulcan continuously descales entire systems without chemicals.
For businesses and nonresidential buildings, the 2025 code encourages heat pumps for space heating and cooling in select new buildings. For alterations, end-of-life rooftop HVAC systems must be replaced with high-efficiency systems (including heat pumps) on stores, schools, offices, and libraries. New electric-ready requirements prepare commercial kitchens for future appliance transitions [15].
Heat pumps encouraged for space heating/cooling
Rooftop HVAC replacements with high-efficiency systems
Electric-ready requirements for commercial kitchens
Updated HVAC efficiency and control standards
Improved building envelope efficiency [16]
LOCAL REACH CODES
The Opportunity: Local reach codes are pushing even faster toward electrification and efficiency. Vulcan's chemical-free scale prevention directly supports these goals by ensuring heat pumps, boilers, and cooling towers operate at peak efficiency—without energy-wasting scale buildup.
Join California building owners using Vulcan to meet Title 24 requirements, reduce energy consumption, and extend equipment life.
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