MAINE
CURRENT CODE
Residential:
State developed code, based
on 2003 IECC- a minimum
only for jurisdictions that
have adopted a code
Commercial:
2003 IECC or ASHRAE/
IESNA 90.1-2004
DEMOGRAPHICS
Population: 1,316,456
Total Housing Units:
664,613
ENERGY
CONSUMPTION
Residential Sector:
107.9 Trillion BTU
Commercial Sector:
71.2 Trillion BTU
80% of the state’s fuel oil
supply is used for heating
the home.
Petroleum is the largest
consumed source of energy
for the state’s residential
sector.
Heating oil for the residen-
tial sector costs $2.24/gal,
just above the national aver-
age.
CODE CHANGE CYCLE
None
BCAP 1850 M St. NW Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20036 | www.bcap-energy.org
Maine will receive $27.3 Million from the federal govern-
ment if the state adopts the latest energy codes:
IECC 2009 (International Energy Conservation
Code)
ASHRAE 90.1 2007 (American Society of Heating
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers)
Accumulated residential sector savings, 2009 to 2020,
would be:
2.4 trillion Btu of energy
164 thousand metric tons of CO2 (Equivalent to an-
nual greenhouse gases for 30,037 passenger vehicles)
$27 million
$27 million would more than pay the full under-
graduate tuition of current students at private univer-
sities in Maine.
FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES:
In February 2009 the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allocated $3.1 billion
for U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program (SEP) to assist states with build-
ing energy efficiency efforts. As one of the requirements to receive SEP grants, state gov-
ernors must certify to DOE that their state will implement energy codes of equal or
greater stringency than the latest national model codes (currently IECC 2009 and Stan-
dard 90.1-2007). Thus, it is in the state’s best economic interests to adopt these standards
statewide and begin enjoying the benefits of an efficient building sector.
CODE ADOPTION AND CHANGE PROCESS: Legislative and Regulatory: Code
adoptions and amendments originate from the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
The PUC issues a final provisional rule and the order approving the rule through the
PUC's rulemaking process. This also means that the Legislature must approve its final
version. The next step is the drafting of a bill that adopts the provisional rule. The rule
must be approved by the Attorney General's office before it goes to Utilities and Energy
Committee which will then hold a public hearing on the bill. Comments are submitted in
writing or in person. The Committee and ultimately the full Legislature revises the rule,
accepts it as is, or rejects it completely.
For more information please consult the Building Codes Assistance Project (www.bcap-energy.org)
or Nick Zigelbaum (nzigelbaum@nrdc.org)
BCAP