On May 9, 2018 the California Energy Commission, in a landmark decision, unanimously adopted new standards requiring solar photovoltaic systems to be installed on new homes built in California, beginning January 1, 2020. This first-in-the-nation requirement is a move by the CEC to cut energy use in new homes through energy efficiency standards. The CEC has predicted that this requirement will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to taking 115,000 fossil fuel cars off the road.

The solar home requirements are included in the 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, which address various other efficiency standards of which the solar home requirement is just a part, and apply to all new residences and major home renovations on buildings under three stories. The standards provide alternative methods, such as installing shared group solar-power systems instead of solar on individual residences, to comply if a building is not suitable for solar. In addition, certain exemptions may be available due to location, space or other factors. Other building efficiency standards adopted by the Commission include lighting and ventilation requirements.

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