California is well-known for being ahead of the curve, and even a game changer, when it comes to many policies. For example, the state has stricter fuel emissions standards than the federal government, which prompted vehicle manufacturers to make all of their cars more fuel efficient. Another example is the recent single-use plastics policy encouraging product manufacturers to downsize their packaging and make sure more plastics are recyclable. California’s Title 24 policy is also ahead of the curve compared to other states. However, Title 24 doesn’t reach beyond California’s borders like the fuel emissions and plastics policies do.
What is California’s Title 24 Policy?
Title 24 is a section of California’s building standard code that determines the Building Energy Efficiency Standards for new construction and existing properties. The standards are updated every three years by the California Energy Commission (CEC), which allows the standards to adjust with advancements in technology. Title 24’s main purpose is to encourage individuals and businesses to do their part to reach California’s goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045. The standards have various requirements for solar energy, energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and apply to all kinds of structures from private residential and multifamily residential to commercial buildings.
Inspiring Mass Adoption of Solar and More Benefits
As the first solar mandate in the US, Title 24 is enabling the mass adoption of solar energy for commercial and multifamily real estate. Additionally, the policy contributes to:
- Reducing energy costs with utility bill savings for businesses and residents.
- Cutting greenhouse gas emissions by shifting to renewable energy.
- Ensuring a more reliable power supply by reducing grid dependence.
- Lowering the state’s contribution to climate change.
With such clear benefits, a state solar mandate seems to be the best way to move the needle on climate change and emissions more quickly. Mass adoption of solar may not happen fast enough without some incentive or requirement at the state level. The Federal Tax Credit simply isn’t enough to encourage this investment in renewable energy for commercial and multifamily real estate.
Why Aren’t Other States Implementing a Title 24 Policy?
While we can’t speak to every challenge that other states face, there are a few issues likely preventing their own Title 24 policies. Many states have a diverse population that opposes government mandates of any kind, which can make it challenging to pass a solar mandate or any energy-efficient building mandate. Also, it takes time to put everything in writing, vote on it, revise it, and eventually approve it. Passing new policies is not generally a fast process. Furthermore, states that don’t have a Net Metering or Virtual Net Metering policy to help single-family and multifamily residential property owners make some return on their investment would probably face backlash if they mandate solar energy. To top it off, not all states have as many incentives or rebates as California to help people fund their renewable energy systems. California has faced its share of challenges in developing these policies and facilitating the switch to renewable energy. But, California continues to figure it out and can be an example for the rest of the country.
A Nationwide Pro-Solar Adoption Movement
Studies have found that installing more efficient systems in buildings from the start actually leads to increased revenue, longer leases, and major cost savings. One survey even discovered that 84% of multifamily residents say that living in an environmentally friendly building is very important or moderately important to them. With advancements in technology and California as a model for other states to follow, now is the perfect time for pro-solar adoption policies for large buildings nationwide. If we have learned anything from California’s environmental policies, it’s that you cannot wait for change to happen on its own, you have to make it happen. Any state that cares about climate change should enact policies similar to Title 24 to make mass adoption of solar happen in their state. To learn more about how investing in solar for your property helps with title 24 compliance and generates a new NOI visit our website and schedule a demo.
Pioneering the Future of Multi-Tenant Solar Energy Management
2024 was a trailblazing year for Ivy Energy, where we shattered barriers, redefined possibilities, and delivered innovative solutions to address the multi-tenant solar split incentive challenge. By driving product advancements, forging impactful partnerships, and scaling operational processes, we empowered multi-tenant properties to embrace clean energy with confidence.
A Year of Growth and Market Expansion
Ivy has grown its active project pipeline 450% compared to 2023, with a line of sight to clear +600% in active projects by the end of the year. Our tech-enabled solutions empower more communities than ever. With $18M in Series A funding (Read more) and the strategic acquisition of Glow Energy (Read more), we are poised for unprecedented growth and impact. This investment enables us to enhance our technology, streamline operations, and expand our reach into new markets nationwide.
Entering new markets with increased resources allows us to address diverse energy challenges and deliver tailored solutions to property owners and tenants. Additionally, the launch of our consulting arm provides expert guidance for our clients and partners to save money and enhance ROI while navigating intricate solar investments.
Meaningful Operational Updates
At Ivy, innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about creating digital tools that empower our clients and their tenants:
- PropTech Integrations: Partnered with RealPage, Entrata, and Yardi to automate rent roll syncing, move-in/move-out updates, and direct charge posting to resident ledgers. These integrations reduce monthly processing time by up to 2 hours per property while enhancing data accuracy and operational efficiency.
- NEM Credit Delay Optimization: The Utility Coordination team adopted the CPUC informal complaint process to reduce delays in NEM activation after PV solar system commissioning. This improvement cut the average resolution time for delayed NEM credits from 123 days in 2023 to 49 days in 2024, allowing property owners to see Net Operating Income over two months sooner on average.
Platform Advancements that Lead the Industry
Our engineering team broke new ground, ensuring our platform stays ahead of the curve:
- Migrated to a new infrastructure processing system for faster processing and further automation improvements across operational features.
- Introduced IvyDual in response to regulatory requirements in California, which allows us to enter new markets where consolidated billing is not viable.
- Achieved SOC 2 Compliance, reaffirming our commitment to data security. (Read more)
- Built initial public API for Conservice integration and new utility data access pathways, strengthening our platform’s versatility and reliability.
Empowering Positive Experiences with CX
At Ivy Energy, our customers rely on us as true partners in their clean energy journey, helping them achieve long-term NOI growth while providing exceptional support for property owners and tenants. We consistently deliver this experience by simplifying complex utility processes and offering our white-glove service that ensures our clients feel supported, informed, and empowered to succeed. This year, Ivy’s Customer Experience Team launched two significant platforms:
- Ivy Implementation Portal: A step-by-step, transparent portal that simplifies solar implementation for our clients and partners across multiple organizations. (Watch a walkthrough of the new portal here.)
- Resident Help Center: Educate tenants about the solar program with helpful resources and offer direct support online or by phone. (Explore the Help Center)
Shaping the Future Through Thought Leadership
In 2024, Ivy Energy reinforced its position as an industry leader; our Virtual Grid 3.0 impressed the judges and earned first place in Solar Power World’s “Best in Show” award for large-scale solar innovation. (Read more)
Leadership team members Alex Dogan, Tanya Kuhn, and Sean Nam were celebrated in San Diego Business Journal’s Leaders of Influence in Technology 2024 for their contributions to advancing sustainable energy. (Read more) Ivy was also featured in Alt Energy Magazine (Read more), San Diego Business Journal (Read more), and on Solar Academy. (Read more)
Logan Carter showcased Ivy’s groundbreaking innovations in a main stage speech at Cretech NY (Watch here), an engaging appearance on the IMN Podcast (Listen here), and a deep-dive interview with Chris Moreno, also known as “Mr. PropTech.” (Watch here) Ivy’s policy team further expanded its influence by authoring a Model VNEM Whitepaper, a critical guide to enabling multi-tenant solar models nationwide. (Read the Whitepaper).
Measurable Environmental Impact
This year, Ivy Energy amplified its environmental contributions, with contracted units in implementation set to offset an astounding 109 million pounds of CO2. Meanwhile, active units have already offset 9 million pounds of CO2, demonstrating our ongoing dedication to reducing carbon emissions.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we celebrate 2024’s successes, we are always looking to the future. In 2025, we’ll continue to push boundaries, deliver innovations that empower our clients, improve tenant experiences, and lead the multi-tenant housing sector toward a sustainable future.
A Message from Dover Janis, CEO of Ivy Energy
“2024 was a year of progress and adaptation. While utility-caused delays challenged our growing pipeline, our focus on agile problem-solving reduced their impact and kept the market moving forward. This is a testament not only to the dedication and focus of our team but also to the strong macro-level foundation that the onsite energy business model provides for real estate owners, even in the face of monopoly-driven resistance. With a large and expanding customer base and hundreds of projects, we have continued to validate the transformative potential of clean energy solutions for shared communities. I’m incredibly proud of our team—now among the most mature, knowledgeable, and experienced in the industry—as we trail blaze the path forward. The market is primed to grow and drive transformative change in local communities. I’m deeply grateful to our partners and customers, whom we have the privilege of serving every day as we continue to lead the way.”
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