Week of December 6, 2010

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CODE ALERT BULLETIN

Brought to you by the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) and its new website the Online Code Environment & Advocacy Network (OCEAN)
Welcome to the weekly Code Alert Bulletin designed to share information and support timely participation in state and local activities related to the adoption of building energy codes. Each bulletin will highlight immediate opportunities to influence the outcome of state and local policy, indicate code status, and recommend action. We believe that by broad dissemination of these opportunities among energy efficiency supporters, we will collectively increase our impact at the state and local level and improve the outcome of policy debates and legislative and regulatory proceedings. We invite you to pass this email along to others who support energy efficiency improvements at the state and local level and would like to receive this information. If you are aware of activity that needs to be on this list, or would like to provide feedback on this bulletin, please contact Paul Karrer at (202) 530-4347 or pkarrer@ase.org.

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* State Alerts *
Connecticut DPS Public Hearing on 2009 IECC Adoption Dec. 8 Florida Commission Rule Adopting Hearing for 2010 FBC Dec. 7-8 Nebraska 2009 IECC Adoption Bill to be Filed in Next Session North Carolina Code Council Hearing on Compromise Code Dec. 14 South Carolina Code Council Accepting Volunteers for Green Code Committee Locality Update Boston, MA

* General Alerts *

 ICC/ASHRAE Free Downloads Available for 2009 IECC, ASHRAE 90.1-2007

Calendar *

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Connecticut
Alert Status: The Connecticut Department of Public Safety held a public hearing December 8 to take written and oral comments on a proposed 2011 Amendment to the 2005 State Building Code to adopt the 2009 IECC. In October 2009, the Codes Amendment Subcommittee (CAS) of the DPS State Codes and Standards Committee announced its intent to review and consider proposals amending the 2009 IECC to comply with Public Act 09-192. The state had previously updated its energy code through the 2009 Amendment which adopted the 2006 IECC on August 1, 2009. More Information: BCAP Connecticut Code News | Dec. 8 Hearing Announcement | Public Act 09-192 | Meeting Dates Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Paul Karrer with BCAP [pkarrer@ase.org] Top

Florida
Alert Status: As part of the 2010 Florida Building Code update, the Florida Building Commission has moved to completely revise the Florida Energy Efficiency Conservation Code using the 2009 IECC as the foundation code. The proposed Florida-adjusted 2009 IECC is available here. The Energy Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) met on August 25 and took actions on 107 proposed code modifications. Comments were accepted through October 18. The full Commission considered the recommendations at a Rule Adoption Hearing on December 7-8, and a final rule adopting the 2010 FBC will be filed by February 1. The anticipated effective date is December 31, 2011. More Information: BCAP Florida Code News | TAC Meeting Documents | 2010 Florida Energy Code Draft | 2010 FBC Code Adoption Schedule Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Eric Lacey with RECA [eric@recacodes.com] or Brian Sernulka with BCAP [bsernulka@ase.org] Top

Nebraska
Alert Status: An Urban Affairs Committee held an interim hearing November 19 on LR 468 to review the findings of studies on the potential financial impacts and energy savings of the potential adoption of the 2009 IECC (the states current standards are based on the 2003 IECC). A sponsor will file legislation to amend the current energy code statute when the next session begins in January. The state received a grant from DOE in 2008 to adopt the 2009 IECC. More Information: BCAP Nebraska Code News | Urban Affairs Hearing Schedule | LR 468: Home & Text | Nebraska Energy Office Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Paul Karrer with BCAP [pkarrer@ase.org]

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North Carolina
Alert Status: On December 14, North Carolina Building Code Council (NCBCC) will meet to act on a potential compromise to update the states energy code (currently based on the 2006 IECC) as part of the 2012 North Carolina State Building Codes. This compromise would roll out in two stages:

Residential buildings: Effective January 1, 2012, a code achieving energy savings 10-15% beyond the 2006 IECC (roughly equal to the savings achieved by the 2009 IECC). The originally proposed code that would achieve energy savings 30% beyond the 2006 IECC (roughly equal to the savings achieved by the 2012 IECC) will be available in the appendix as a voluntary stretch code.

Commercial buildings: Effective July 1, 2014, the originally proposed code that would achieve energy savings 30% beyond the 2006 IECC. Builders could still use the current commercial code through January 1, 2015. The product of a $500,000 competitive grant awarded by DOE in 2008, the original 30% code proposal based on the 2009 IECC with North Carolina amendments was initially approved for recommendation on March 9. Amendments to Chapter 11 of the 2009 IRC would have also avoided compliance paths that contradict the IECC. On September 14, the NCBCC voted 8-6 to defer any action on the adoption of the states proposed new energy code until the next code update cycle, potentially until 2015. The Council voted on October 5 to reconsider its motion at a meeting scheduled for December 14 pending further information and cost data. Two joint meeting of the Councils ad hoc committees on the residential and energy codes were held in November to develop possible compromises prior to the full Council meeting.

More Information: BCAP North Carolina Code News | 2012 North Carolina State
Building Codes | NCBCC Home Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Chris Mathis with Mathis Consulting [chris@mathisconsulting.com] or Eric Lacey with RECA [eric@recacodes.com] Top

South Carolina
Alert Status: At its November 18 meeting, the South Carolina Building Codes Council moved to form an International Green Construction Code (IGCC) study committee, which will consist of volunteers to meet and discuss the merits of adopting of the IGCC as a permissive code. The committee will present its findings to the full Council. Any person wishing to volunteer for this committee should notify Gary Wiggins (wigginsg@scdllr.com). More Information: BCAP South Carolina Code News | South Carolina Building Codes Council Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Brian Sernulka with BCAP [bsernulka@ase.org] Top

Locality Update

Boston City Becomes 59th Jurisdiction to Adopt Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code

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FREE Model Codes Download
Alert Status: Via funding through a federal grant, the U.S. Department of Energy has partnered with ASHRAE and the International Code Council (ICC) to provide FREE electronic copies of the national model energy codes. To download a free electronic version of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 (I-P Edition), you will have to fill out a form in order to receive the link and serial number to unlock and read the protected PDF. To download a free electronic version of the 2009 IECC, you will have to fill out a form in order to receive the link and serial number to unlock and read the protected PDF. More Information: BCAP Code News 90.1-2007 & 2009 IECC | 90.1-2007 Download Page | 2009 IECC Download Page | ASHRAE Home | ICC Home Page | EnergyCodes.gov Top

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Events, Hearings, and Comment Deadlines
Tues, Dec 28: New York 2010 ECCCNYS effective Sat, Jan 1: California 2010 California Green Building Standards (CALgreen) effective statewide Sat, Jan 1: Georgia 2009 GA State Minimum Energy Code (2009 IECC), 2008 NGBS effective statewide Sat, Jan 1: Idaho 2009 Idaho Building Code (2009 IECC) effective Sat, Jan 1: New Mexico 2009 New Mexico Energy Conservation Code (exceeds 2009 IECC) effective Sat, Jan 1: Washington 2009 Washington State Energy Code (exceeds 2009 IECC) effective Wed-Fri, Jan 26-28: Green and Blue Conference 2011 in Auburn, AL Tues, Mar 1: Virginia Uniform State Building Code (2009 IECC) effective with one year phase-in period Wed, Mar 9: Michigan 2009 Michigan Uniform Energy Code (2009 IECC) effective Fri, Apr 1: Texas 2011 Texas BEPS (2009 IECC) for non-residential buildings effective Top

BCAP Events Calendar

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