Los Angeles, California

Population: 3.8 Million

Los Angeles is the largest city in California and second largest city in the country, with a population of nearly four million people. The city lies at the center of a massive metropolitan area in Southern California and is known for its warm climate, unique geography, and the ethnic diversity of its population. LA has also established its climate leadership through LA’s Green New Deal, a 2019 update to the City’s original Sustainable City pLAn, which committed LA to becoming a carbon-neutral city by 2050. LA’s municipally-run electric utility is on track to realize a carbon-free electric grid by 2035, ten years ahead of the state of California’s goal, and the City has set a target to achieve a zero carbon building stock by 2050. LA is also committed to reaching these goals by creating an accessible and inclusive green economy and by integrating equity, resilience, and health into its climate efforts.

BEI worked with LA from 2020-2023 as part of our work with cities selected for the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge. BEI conducted a Building and Housing Stock Analysis for LA to better understand the local building stock, focusing on medium- and large-sized buildings over 7,500 square feet. The analysis incorporates data on building location, ownership type, and technical information along with social vulnerability and environmental risk factors to help inform potential new policies that can reduce the energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from these buildings. BEI also assessed the impacts of different potential energy or GHG targets for LA buildings, which can help inform stakeholder engagement efforts to design policies for existing buildings. 

LA recognizes the need to expand supportive programs and funding to help lower energy use and GHG emissions for its under-resourced buildings, particularly those that house low-income residents who are at risk of displacement due to rising housing costs. In 2022, the City embarked on a deep stakeholder and community engagement process, working with local tenants, housing advocates, workforce partners, and building owners to understand community needs and priorities. This engagement process culminated in three reports to Council from the Housing Department, Department of Building & Safety, and the Climate Emergency Mobilization Office, outlining how the City must design programs and policies to expand affordability and access to economic, health, safety, and comfort benefits of building upgrades. In 2022, recognizing the cost-saving and health benefits provided by new all-electric buildings, LA’s City Council voted to eliminate natural gas in most new construction. In 2023, BEI helped the City understand  the recommendations and key considerations of LA’s engagement efforts and how to incorporate them into planned equitable building policies and programs.