Case Study: Building a Code Readiness Research Program for a Decarbonized Future

How 2050 Partners Helped Launch California’s Code Readiness Research Program to Support Decarbonization and Electrification

Client

Pacific Gas and Electric Company leads the Code Readiness research program to support the achievement of the state’s building decarbonization goals.

The Issue

The Code Readiness program expanded its scope and improved its data collection on emerging electrification technologies, particularly heat pumps, to ensure that future code cycles would be grounded in reliable performance data. Without clear data and a forward-looking strategy, regulatory advocacy efforts could fall short of best advancing effective, enforceable building codes aligned with the state’s decarbonization goals.

Our role: deliver actionable technical and market data to support future energy code cycles. In this short video, 2050 Partners’ Ted Pope shares how we helped expand a first-of-its-kind Code Readiness research program for the state’s investor-owned utilities. 

Who Should Watch This Video

  • Energy codes and standards professionals
  • State and utility program managers
  • Building decarbonization advocates
  • Researchers and engineers working on emerging technologies
  • Policymakers shaping future building regulations

What You’ll Learn

  • How forward-looking heat pump research in 2017 helped inform the 2022 and 2025 California building code updates
  • Why it’s critical to anticipate market trends and track emerging technologies during long-term research projects
  • The importance of aligning technical research with clear regulatory objectives from the start
  • How 2050 Partners’ deep experience in codes and standards shaped the program’s structure, focus, and long-term impact

Why It Matters

As states race to meet climate targets, timely, targeted data on emerging technologies is critical. This project highlights the value of early planning, regulatory alignment, and research agility in shaping future energy codes that are both ambitious and achievable. It’s a blueprint for how utilities and their partners can proactively shape decarbonization policy with the right technical foundation.

Contact us today to learn more about the Code Readiness program or how 2050 Partners can help support your decarbonization goals.