Code Updates and Information from BCAP

The Buildings Code Assistance Project (BCAP) is reporting the following information:

EE Global 2010

Join over 700 of energy efficiency’s most notable leaders, representing 40+ countries, at the Energy Efficiency Global Forum & Exposition (EE Global), being held May 10-12, 2010 at the Washington DC Convention Center. With over 80% of 2009 participants self-identifying as executives or managers, EE Global 2010 will provide access to decision makers and offer executive-level insight and dialogue. Focusing solely on energy efficiency from the perspective of all energy end-use sectors (buildings, industrial and transportation), and with coverage of all cross-cutting issues (finance, policy, technology, and market transformation), EE Global serves as an exchange of best practices and policies for global implementation of energy efficiency.

Illinois

As directed by legislation approved in August, the Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) has officially adopted the Illinois Energy Conservation Code, which became effective January 29. The new statewide code (71 IAC 600) incorporates the 2009 IECC for residential buildings and privately funded commercial buildings and ASHRAE 90.1-2007 for publicly funded commercial buildings (previously, there was not a mandatory residential statewide energy code based on the IECC). An automatic update provision directs the CDB to adopt each subsequent version of the IECC within nine months of its publication, with an effective date three months afterwards.

Connecticut

On October 15, the Codes Amendment Subcommittee (CAS) of the Connecticut Department of Public Safety’s State Codes and Standards Committee announced that it intended to review and consider proposals amending the 2009 IECC for inclusion in the 2010 Amendments to the 2005 State Building Code (which currently uses the 2006 IECC) to comply with Public Act 09-192. CAS met initially on December 9 and accepted proposals through December 31. The SCSC met again on January 27 to receive and review the proposed changes to the 2009 IECC.

Michigan

An ad hoc committee of building-related stakeholders within the Construction Code Commission (within the state’s Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth, or DELEG) has been reviewing proposed changes to the Michigan Uniform Energy Code, or MUEC (currently based on the 2003 IRC and ASHRAE 90.1-1999). The committee is expected to make its final recommendations on February 24 for a residential code equivalent to the 2009 IECC and a commercial code equivalent to ASHRAE 90.1-2007. The committee will then issue a proposed rule draft for public comment that must then pass through the state’s formal regulatory process. An effective date is hoped for some time between October 2010 and January 2011.

New York

After giving initial approval to a proposed state energy code update on December 16, the New York State Uniform Fire and Building Code Council has scheduled a series of four public hearings on the approved changes March 1-4. Public comments using this form will be accepted until March 15. The proposed 2010 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State would be based on the 2009 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2007 (the current ECCCNYS is based on the 2004 IECC supplement and ASHRAE 90.1-2004). The New York Department of State (NYS-DOS) hopes to implement the new energy code by the end of this year.

Pennsylvania

The 2009 Uniform Construction Code (UCC) – which incorporates the 2009 IECC with alternative compliance paths through the 2009 IRC (Chapter 11) and the 2009 Pennsylvania Alternative Residential Energy Provisions (PA-Alt) – was approved in December and became effective on January 1, 2010. This month, the Pennsylvania Builders Association filed for a preliminary injunction against the 2009 UCC. A hearing date has been scheduled for Monday, March 1 in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.

Tennessee

On January 28, a companion bills (HB 3215 and SB 3192) were introduced in the Tennessee House and Senate that would establish ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 as the minimum energy standard for all new buildings that are not 1- and 2-family dwellings. The bills, however, also allow jurisdictions to adopt Standard 90.1-2001, its equivalent, or a more stringent code. The state currently does not have a mandatory energy code for this construction. If it became law, the legislation would be effective July 1, 2010.

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