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Public Comments Are Due July 5 The Texas Legislature failed to update state energy codes for new commercial, industrial, and residential buildings. That doesn't mean Texas can't move forward. We can get the job done in other ways. There is a silver lining to this spring's legislative shortfall: proposed rulemaking at the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) to update the state minimum building codes from 2001 to 2009 may move faster than the proposed legislation would have required. SECO and the Energy Systems Lab (ESL) at Texas A & M are required to review proposed energy code updates to the International Residential Code (IRC) and International Energy Conservation Codes (IECC) and consider adopting those as minimum state standards. Because both the IECC and IRC recently adopted 2009 versions, SECO and ESL are currently considering comments from the public on both versions. Comment Period In April, SECO opened a 30-day comment period on updating the commercial and industrial codes based on the 2009 IECC. June 5, SECO opened a 30-day comment period on updating the residential energy codes based on the 2009 IRC Codes. SECO will be turning over all comments to the ESL, which will then make recommendations to SECO. If SECO determines the updated standards would reduce energy demand in Texas, then ESL must recommend these standards become state minimum standards. Comments are due to SECO before 5 pm on July 5. Click here to submit your comment. Updating Standards While the ESL did not recommend adoption of the 2006 IRC and IECC standards because certain aspects of those codes might result in less energy savings than under current standards, the 2009 codes are an improvement over current standards and will result in savings in energy costs and also reduce pollution as less power is needed. Texas lags behind many states on its Energy Codes (see map http://bcap-energy.org/files/residential_with-legend.jpg ). The nation is moving to update energy efficiency codes, with Congress considering a single national building code standard. Under the American Renewal and Recovery Act (the federal economic stimulus program enacted earlier), Texas has submitted a letter to the Department of Energy saying it has a process to update its standards, allowing SECO to accept certain grants for energy efficiency. Failure to update our standards quickly and effectively would be a step backwards and could potentially impact current or future funding from the federal government. Note also that ARRA funding is based on the state meeting or exceeding the 2009 IECC (not the IRC, which is a weaker energy efficiency standard). If the state cannot adopt the 2009 IECC for 1- and 2-family dwellings, the 2009 IRC could be implemented with strengthening amendments to make the code equivalent to the IECC. The 2009 IECC and IRC are expected to result in significant energy savings and related emissions reductions, estimated at 12 to 15% annual improvement for average homes built to the 2009 IECC, as compared to the 2006 IECC. We believe the efficiency savings would be even higher when compared with the 2000 IECC and 2001 Supplement, the standard currently in force. Adopting the 2009 IECC or IRC will lead to the following changes in residential construction:
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