States Adopting, Administering ICC 2009 IECC to Receive Energy Assistance Grants
February 12, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS
Under provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (HR 1), states must adopt and administer the International Code Council (ICC) 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) in order to qualify for a share of $3.4 billion in energy assistance grants.
The legislation, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, requires governors who want a share of state energy assistance grants to certify their state will adopt an energy code for one- and two-family homes, townhouses and low-rise, multiple-family buildings that meet or exceed provisions in the 2009 IECC for residential construction, and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)/Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) Standard 90.1-2007, as referenced in the 2009 IECC for commercial buildings.
According to this legislation, governors also must certify they will enact a plan to achieve compliance with their certified energy codes within eight years in at least 90% of new and renovated residential and commercial building space.
"This legislation is right in line with President Obama's push to make public buildings more efficient, reduce our dependency on foreign oil and bring down overall costs to consumers and building owners," ICC CEO Rick Weiland said.
"With buildings responsible for 40% of annual energy consumption and 25% of landfill deposits, energy efficiency is inseparable from environmental security and health safety," he said.
ICC incorporated ASHRAE 90.1 in the 2009 IECC. The ASHRAE 90.1 reference maintains language contained in the 2006 IECC currently enforced by state and local jurisdictions.
States adopting the 2009 IECC will also be in compliance with the federal Energy Policy Act. A recent U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) ruling regarding the ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1 standard paves the way for the 2009 IECC to act as a safe harbor equivalent, given that the IECC incorporates the 90.1 standard by reference.
The federal Energy Policy Act requires all states to certify that their commercial building energy code meets the requirements in Standard 90.1-2004 or in equivalent language such as the 2009 IECC.
"The council will continue to monitor the progress of the legislation as it moves to the Senate for further consideration," Weiland said. "We encourage our members to be ready to work with the Department of Energy [DOE] and state energy offices to implement this legislation."
Source: International Code Council (ICC).