While February is the shortest month of the year, it brought a flurry of activity in the codes arena. The 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) process is well underway, and several states and local jurisdictions are considering updated energy codes. As always, the Codes for Climate team is here to support your efforts however we can. Please reach outto discuss how we can collaborate.
NBI’s Kim Cheslak was featured on Commercial Property Executive’s podcast, Sustainability Street, discussing the interaction between the electric grid and all-electric new construction codes.
The International Code Council (ICC) residential and commercial code development process for the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is underway. Committee and subcommittee meetings happen frequently and can be tracked by following the ICC Codes and Standards calendarand tracking the Residential Consensus Committee and Commercial Consensus Committee web pages.
The 2024 IECC subcommittees have begun meeting to evaluate code change proposals. Both the Residential and Commercial consensus committees have approved several NBI code proposals, including:
REPI-151 requiring right-sizing for equipment replacements was approved 30-7 by the Residential Consensus Committee.
REPI-152 requiring code-compliant controls for equipment replacement was approved by the Residential Consensus Committee.
CEPI-142 requiring grid integrated solar/energy storage inverters was approved by the Commercial Consensus Committee.
CEPI-215 passed the Commercial Consensus Committee. It expands commissioning requirements for buildings so that buildings greater than 10,000 square feet are commissioned, which aligns with the square footage requirements for many existing building policies currently in place.
The Codes for Climate team will continue sharing critical updates and opportunities for engagement. You can track the status of key NBI-submitted proposals here.
Codes and Standards Adoption Updates
The Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) is accepting comments on the potential adoption of the 2021 IECC until March 4, 2022.
Massachusetts released a straw proposalfor the statewide stretch code and specialized opt-in all-electric stretch code. The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) is accepting comments until March 9, 2022 (5 p.m. EST).
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) affirmed that Berkeley's new construction gas ban ordinance is not preempted by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA). According to DOE, “EPCA leaves states free to regulate the upstream activity of natural gas distribution or to adopt any other type of regulation that might have 'a secondary and incidental effect of improving the efficiency [or energy use] of a covered product.'”
In addition, a coalition of eight states, Washington D.C. and New York City filed an amicus brief supporting Berkeley's effort. This coalition was led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and included support from Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington.
