Week of September 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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* Newest Alerts *
Georgia Public Hearing on 2009 IECC and Residential Green Code Sept. 22 Florida Comments on Energy TAC Recommendations Due Oct. 14 New York Residential Builder Energy Code Training Statewide Sept. 1 Nov. 17 North Carolina 2012 NC Building Codes Final Adopting Hearing Sept. 14 Oklahoma Code Commission Public Hearing Sept. 14; Regular Meeting Oct. 6 Utah Legislative Hearing on 2009 IECC Residential Recommendation Sept. 15 DOE Preliminary Determination Affirms Residential Energy Savings of 2009 IECC

 DOE RFP Released for State Energy Code Funding Opportunity; Proposals Due Sept. 30 ICC 2012 IECC and IRC Final Action Hearings Oct. 27-31 in Charlotte

* Calendar *

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Georgia
Alert Status: The State Codes Advisory Committee (SCAC) met on July 29, where it voted to recommend that the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Board adopt the 2009 IECC with Georgia Amendments and the 2008 National Green Building Standard (NGBS) with Georgia Amendments. A public hearing to accept comments will be held September 22 in Atlanta. Written comments were accepted through September 3.The DCA Board will meet November 3 in Atlanta to give final approval to both codes, which will take effect on January 1, 2011. More Information: BCAP Georgia Code News | SCAC Homepage | SCAC Memorandum Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Brian Sernulka with BCAP [bsernulka@ase.org] or Eric Lacey with RECA [eric@reca-codes.com] 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 on the TAC recommendations are due October 18. The full Commission will consider the recommendations at a Rule Adoption Hearing December 7-8, and a final rule adopting the 2010 FBC will be filed by February 1. 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

New York
Alert Status: The New York State Builders Association (NYSBA), in partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), will be hosting a series of 14 regional training sessions throughout the state between September 1 and November 17 on the residential provisions of the upcoming 2010 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State (ECCCNYS). The four-hour training sessions are highly recommended for builders, developers, trade contractors, remodelers, design professionals, suppliers, and code officials involved in the construction of residential one and two family homes or townhouses.

Pre-registration is required. Consult the NYSBA information flyer for more details. More Information: BCAP Events Calendar | Training Information Flyer Action: For more information or to register, please contact Juli Turner of NYSBA [jturner@nysba.com] Top

North Carolina
Alert Status: After voting on March 9 to adopt recommendations to adopt the 2009 ICodes, including the 2009 IECC with NC amendments as the 2012 North Carolina State Building Codes, the North Carolina Building Code Council (NCBCC) held a public hearing on the codes on June 15. Written public comments were accepted in July. The amendment packages are available online. A final adoption hearing is scheduled for September 14 in Raleigh. The product of a $500,000 competitive grant awarded by DOE in 2008, the NC amendments to the 2009 IECC are intended to achieve 30% energy savings beyond the 2006 IECC. Amendments to Chapter 11 of the 2009 IRC will also avoid compliance paths that contradict the IECC. The target effective date for the 2012 NC Building Codes is September 1, 2011 with a transition period until January 1, 2012 during which builders may still use the previous edition of the codes. The NC Energy Division is in the process of preparing RFPs for code official training. The NCBCC is also creating an Ad Hoc Committee to develop a green building code. Staff will use the Public Version of the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) as the base code.

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

Oklahoma
Alert Status: In May 2009 the legislature created the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission (OUBCC) to develop statewide minimum construction standards. The OUBCC will consider the recommendations of multiple Technical Review Committees and adopt a residential code which will apply to the entire state of Oklahoma. The OUBCC will accept public testimony on this process at a hearing on September 14 in Oklahoma City. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the OUBCC will be on October 6. More Information: BCAP Oklahoma Code News | OUBCC Homepage | Sept. 14 Public Hearing Notice | SB 1182 Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Brian Sernulka with BCAP [bsernulka@ase.org] or Paul Karrer with BCAP [pkarrer@ase.org] Top

Utah
Alert Status: On August 11, the Utah Uniform Building Code Commission voted 5-2 to adopt the 2009 IECC for new homes and major residential renovations. The vote also included an amendment that will allow homes using the performance path to show compliance by demonstrating 12% energy savings beyond the 2006 IECC.

The Uniform Building Code Commission held a public hearing on September 8 to take written comments and public testimony, after which a recommendation will be made to the Utah Senate Business and Labor Interim Committee on September 15. Another legislative hearing will likely be held in October or November. The intended effective date would be January 1, 2012. The state had previously updated its commercial code to the 2009 IECC after the passage of the State Construction Code Adoption Act, effective July 1, 2010. Ken Baker of K Energy will be offering a series of residential, commercial, and plan review training sessions throughout the state from August 17 to October 6. More Information: BCAP Utah Code News | September 8 Hearing Notice | State Construction Code Adoption Act | Utah Uniform Building Code Commission | Code Training Information | Building Codes and Contractors Training Calendar Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Kevin Emerson with Utah Clean Energy [Kevin@utahcleanenergy.org] or Jim Meyers with SWEEP [jmeyers@swenergy.org] Top

DOE 2009 IECC Residential Determination

Alert Status: The Department of Energy has preliminarily determined that the 2009 IECC would achieve greater energy efficiency in low-rise residential buildings than the 2006 IECC. Also, DOE has preliminarily determined that the 2006 IECC would achieve greater energy efficiency than the 2003 IECC. Finally, although DOE has preliminarily determined that the 2003 IECC would not achieve substantially greater energy efficiency than the 2000 IECC, DOE found that the 2003 IECC is no less energy efficient than the 2000 edition. If these determinations are finalized, states would be required to file certification statements to DOE that they have reviewed the provisions of their residential building code regarding energy efficiency and made a determination as to whether to update their code to meet or exceed the most recent code with an affirmative determination (the 2009 IECC). Visit OCEAN to see states progress on complying with this requirement for the most recent commercial and residential determinations previously published by DOE. Comments on the preliminary determinations are due October 4 (see the ADDRESSES portion of the Federal Register notice). More Information: BCAP Federal Code News | Federal Register Notice | Determinations: Commercial & Residential | All About Determinations Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Eric Lacey with RECA [eric@recacodes.com] Top

DOE State Code Funding Opportunity

Alert Status: The Department of Energy's Building Energy Codes project (BEC) is announcing an opportunity for states and territories to submit proposals for funding to support activities related to the adoption and implementation of the most current building energy codes. Funding will be provided through a contract rather than a grant. The primary purpose is to advance state building energy codes that lag behind the efficiency levels required by today's model codes. A total of $7 million is available to be awarded, and up to 20 awards are anticipated. Only one proposal (maximum of $350,000) from each state will be accepted.

The full RFP was released August 30. Proposals are due September 30. Click here for more information and the proposal timeline. Please contact Mike DeWein with BCAP [mdewein@ase.org] if your state would like assistance in scoping a proposal. More Information: Full Energy Code Funding RFP | Notice of Upcoming Funding Opportunity | EnergyCodes.gov Action: If your state would like assistance in scoping a proposal, please contact Mike DeWein with BCAP [mdewein@ase.org] Top

ICC Final Action Hearings

Alert Status: Join the International Code Council for its 2010 Annual Conference and Group B Final Action Hearings, October 24 through October 31, at the Charlotte Convention Center. The hearings on the 2012 IECC and 2012 IRC energy chapter (Chapter 11) will be held October 27-31. Click here for registration information. More Information: ICC Charlotte Hearings | Registration | Hearing Schedule | 30% Solution 2012 Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Bill Fay with EECC [bfay@ase.org] Top

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Events, Hearings, and Comment Deadlines

Sept 1 Nov 17: New York Residential builder energy code training throughout the state Fri, Sept 10: Washington SBCC public hearing on 2009 WSEC implementation date in Spokane Tues, Sept 14: North Carolina NCBCC hearing on final approval of 2012 NC State Building Code Wed, Sept 15: Utah Senate Business and Labor Interim Committee hearing on residential recommendations Wed, Sept 22: Georgia DCA Public Hearing on IECC/NGBS adoption in Atlanta, GA Fri, Sept 24: Washington SBCC public hearing on 2009 WSEC implementation date in Olympia Thur, Sept 30: DOE State energy code funding proposals due to PNNL Mon, Oct 4: DOE Comments due on preliminary determinations of 2009 IECC residential energy savings Tue-Thur, Oct 12-14: EEBA Excellence in Building Conference & EXPO: October 12-14 in Portland, Oregon Mon, Oct 18: Florida Comments due on FBC Energy TAC recommendations for 2010 FBC amendments Sun, Oct 24 Sun, Oct 31: ICC 2012 IECC and IRC Final Action Hearings in Charlotte, NC Wed, Nov 3: Georgia DCA Board meeting on IECC/NGBS final adoption approval in Atlanta, GA Wed-Fri, Jan 26-28: Green and Blue Conference 2011 in Auburn, AL

BCAP Events Calendar

*And for the latest energy code news and BCAP activity,*
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