WEEK OF APRIL 9-13, 2012 CODE ALERT BULLETIN

Brought to you by the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) and its 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 and implementation of building energy codes. This bulletin highlights immediate opportunities to influence state and local policy outcomes, indicates code status, and recommends contact for action. By promoting these opportunities among energy efficiency stakeholders, code supporters collectively increase their impact at legislative and regulatory proceedings at the state and local levels. Please forward this bulletin to others who support the advancement of building energy efficiency. If you are aware of activity that should be on this bulletin, or would like to provide feedback, please contact Paul Karrer at (202) 530-4347 or pkarrer@ase.org. For the latest energy code news and BCAP activity, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

* CODE RESOURCES *
New OCEAN URL www.energycodesocean.org IMT Reports New Publications on Building Energy Transparency and Job Creation

* EVENTS *
Webinar BCAP to Co-Host Webinar on Energy Code Collaboratives on April 17 Train-the-Trainer Seminar DOE, SWEEP to Co-Host Free 3-Day Event in Wyoming May 2-4 Nebraska Energy Code REScheck/COMcheck Training Workshops May 1-10 Great Plains Energy Codes Conference Call for Presentations Deadline April 27

* NEW STATE ALERTS *

Mississippi Commercial Code Adoption Bill Advances to Conference Committee Pennsylvania RAC to Hold April 19 Hearing On Code Update Cycle Report West Virginia Fire Marshal Proposes 2009 IECC Update; Comments Due May 2

* ONGOING STATE ALERTS *

South Carolina Governor Signs 2009 IECC Legislation into Law, Effective January 2013 Texas SECO Requests Public Comments on 2012 IECC, IRC by April 28

* CALENDAR * ***** NEW OCEAN URL WWW.ENERGYCODESOCEAN.ORG

Alert Status: BCAP is proud to announce the new URL for its website OCEAN is www.energycodesocean.org. At this time, all links and resources using the previous URL, www.bcap-ocean.org, will remain active and direct users to the same pages as before. However, please update your information and provide any feedback you may have as we continue our effort to improve OCEAN to meet the needs of all its users. Action: For more information or to provide feedback, please contact BCAP staff Eric Plunkett [eplunkett@ase.org] or Mark Lessans [mlessans@ase.org] Top

IMT NEW REPORTS ON BUILDING ENERGY TRANSPARENCY & JOB CREATION

Alert Status: The Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) has just released two reports on the job creation potential of building energy rating and disclosure policies. The first of the two, Energy Disclosure and the New Frontier for American Jobs, profiles business leaders who are rapidly adding jobs and expanding their client rosters, thanks to benchmarking laws such as New York City's Local Law 84. The second, Analysis of Job Creation and Energy Cost Savings From Building Energy Rating and Disclosure Policy, is an analysis by IMT and the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. The report predicts that a national building energy rating and disclosure policy would create more than 23,000 net new jobs in 2015 and more than 59,000 jobs in 2020 and would reduce energy costs for building owners, consumers, and businesses by more than $18 billion through 2020. More Information: BCAP News | IMT | Report PDFs Action: For more information, please contact Amanda Hurley at IMT [amanda@imt.org] Top

***** WEBINAR ENERGY CODE COLLABORATIVES

Alert Status: The Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP), the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), and K energy are hosting a webinar on Energy Codes Collaboratives (ECCs) and how they can help states achieve compliance with updated energy codes by 2017. ECCs use an inclusionary process to create consensus among diverse stakeholders for energy code adoption and compliance management. This webinar on engaging stakeholders in code compliance will be on April 17 from 2pm - 3pm ET. There will be a presentation on Idaho's eleven-year experience with their compliance collaborative approach, an overview of recent efforts launched in Delaware, and more information from BCAP on their plans to work with Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Please visit the webinar page to register. More Information: OCEAN Story Link | Webinar Registration Action: If you have any questions about this webinar, please contact Chris Wagner with NASEO [cwagner@naseo.org] Top

TRAIN THE TRAINER SEMINAR

Alert Status: The U.S. Department of Energy Building Energy Codes Program (BECP), the Southwest Energy Efficiency Partnership (SWEEP), and the Wyoming Business Council State Energy Office are hosting a free threeday seminar featuring train-the-trainer courses for building energy codes. The intent of this training is to teach attendees how to train others on the energy codes. Attendees should be familiar with the energy code and have the desire to advance their skills as a trainer.

The event will be held in the Little America Hotel in Cheyenne, Wyoming on May 2, 3, and 4. To attend the training and/or to be added to the email distribution list for this events announcements, please contact J.C. Martel with SWEEP at jmartel@swenergy.org. More Information: OCEAN Story Link | Event Flyer Action: If you have any questions about this event or to register, please contact J.C. Martel with SWEEP [jmartel@swenergy.org] Top

NEBRASKA RESCHECK/COMCHECK WORKSHOPS

Alert Status: The Nebraska Energy Office (NEO) has announced six no-cost training opportunities scheduled for May 2012. These workshops will focus on the use of the REScheck and COMcheck evaluation tools to demonstrate compliance with the Nebraska Energy Code which is the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. This opportunity is being made available as part of the Nebraska Energy Offices continuing effort to assist local code officials, builders, architects, engineers and others in the implementation of the Nebraska Energy Code, which has been based on the 2009 IECC since August 2011. NEO is also hosting the 2012 Great Plains Regional Energy Codes Conference October 16-18 in Omaha. More Information: OCEAN Story Link | Training Registration | 2012 Regional Conference | NEO Codes Home Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Lynn Chamberlin, 402-471-3358 or Danielle Jensen, 402471-3360 of the Nebraska Energy Office Top

GREAT PLAINS ENERGY CODES CONFERENCE

Alert Status: The Nebraska Energy Office (NEO) has issued a call for presentations for its 2012 Great Plains Regional Energy Codes Conference in Omaha for October 16-18. NEO challenges interested parties to submit new, interactive session ideas and content to educate stakeholders on the how-to of code adoption and enforcement as well as the importance of energy codes and how they impact communities, financially and structurally. These sessions will be geared towards code officials, builders, architects, engineers, HVAC professionals, government officials, policy makers, real estate agents, home inspectors and others. The submission deadline is April 27. More Information: OCEAN Story Link | Conference Flyer | Call for Presentations | NEO Codes Page Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Danielle Jensen of NEO [danielle.jensen@nebraska.gov] Top

***** MISSISSIPPI
Alert Status: On February 20, legislation (SB 2887) was introduced in the Mississippi Legislature amending Mississippi Code 57-39-21 that would task the Department of Economic and Community Development to develop commercial energy standards that meet or exceed the stringency of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007. Should it pass, it would be effective July 1, 2012. DECA would not be responsible for enforcement; local jurisdictions are tasked with adopting rules and regulations to administer and enforce the code and charge inspection fees. The state currently has no mandatory statewide energy code. UPDATE: The bill passed through the full Senate on March 8. The House approved an amended version on

April 10. The bill will now proceed to a conference committee, with votes for final passage expected in each house later this month.
More Information: OCEAN Story Link | SB 2887: Home Text (as passed) | MS Code 57-39-21 Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Jenah Zweig with SEEA [Jenah@seealliance.org] or Brian Sernulka with BCAP [bsernulka@ase.org] Top

PENNSYLVANIA
Alert Status: The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) Review and Advisory Council (RAC) will meet in Harrisburg on April 19 (see agenda) to discuss the Councils upcoming report to the Department of Labor and Industry on its January 18 decision to decline action reviewing the 2012 ICC Codes, including the 2012 IECC, for potential adoption. This report must be submitted to the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) by July 31, 2012.The RAC review timeline for the code update process was originally posted in summer 2011. The Council will also discuss matters pertaining to the extension of construction code update cycles. In April 2011, the state legislature passed legislation significantly altering the process to update the states construction codes (the 2009 I-Codes series, including the 2009 IECC, became effective December 31, 2009). More Information: OCEAN Story Link | April 19 Hearing | Process Timeline | RAC | UCC | HB 377 | PA Code News Archive Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Eric Plunkett with BCAP [eplunkett@ase.org] Top

WEST VIRGINIA
Alert Status: The West Virginia State Fire Marshal has proposed a regulatory rule amending Title 87 of the state administrative code to update the residential and commercial building energy codes to the 2009 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2007 unamended. Currently, the states code for private residential and commercial construction is based on the 2003 IECC. The proposed rule also includes an update to the 2012 IBC and the 2012 IRC for one and two family dwellings, with amendments removing Section 101.4.5 on fire prevention from the IBC and Section 404.12 underground piping burial depth from the IRC. If completed, the rule must pass through a regulatory rulemaking oversight committee of the state legislature to be officially adopted by the state. A 30-day comment period has been established which any interested party can send comments concerning the nd proposed rules by May 2 to Anthony Carrico. On April 2, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin signed a bill into law require that all state-funded construction (including public schools) begun after July 1, 2012 comply with ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 and the IECC adopted by the State Fire Commission. More Information: OCEAN Story Link | Proposed Rule Amending Title 87 | West Virginia State Fire Marshal Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact John Miller with BCAP [jmiller@ase.org] Top

***** SOUTH CAROLINA

Alert Status: The state of South Carolina has taken a major step forward on building energy efficiency by adopting a significant update to the states building energy code. In late 2011, the proposed update won approval by the state Energy Advisory Council (EAC) of the Public Utility Review Committee of the South Carolina Legislature. In January, the South Carolina Legislature introduced legislation to update the South Carolina Energy Standard to reference the 2009 IECC (it currently references the 2006 IECC). The South Carolina Home Builders Association spoke in favor of the bill during the committee process. UPDATE: On February 23, the House approved H. 4639, and the Senate concurred on March 21. Gov. Nikki Haley signed the bill into law on April 2. The effective date will be January 1, 2013. The South Carolina Building Code Council has also begun to review of the 2012 family of I-codes. Recent investigation and analysis by Mathis Consulting Company for the 2012 IECC for South Carolina showed cost effective and significant energy and peak power benefits to the state. BCAP also recently completed its South Carolina Strategic Compliance Plan as part of its Compliance Planning Assistance (CPA) Program. More Information: OCEAN Story Link | H. 4639 | PURC | SC Compliance Plan | Mathis 2012 IECC Cost Study

Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Brian Sernulka with BCAP [bsernulka@ase.org] or Jenah Zweig with SEEA [Jenah@seealliance.org] Top

TEXAS
Alert Status: On March 30, the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) published a notice in the Texas Register (see pages 2246-47) requesting comment from interested parties on the 2012 IECC and Chapter 11 of the 2012 IRC by April 28. Written comments may be submitted in person at the SECO operator, electronically through the SECO's electronic mail address specified on SECO's web site http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/ or through mailing address: State Energy Conservation Office, Comptroller of Public Accounts, P.O. Box 13528, Austin, Texas 787113528. In December, the Texas Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) sent an official letter analyzing the 2012 IECC and the 2012 IRC Chapter 11. The ESL found that the 2012 IECC codes were significantly more efficient than the 2009 IECC and IRC Chapter 11 adopted by the State of Texas for both residential and commercial buildings. With this letter, SECO will begin a rulemaking process in 2012 to consider adopting the 2012 IECC. The letter is posted on the Texas Building Energy Code section of the SECO website. More Information: OCEAN Story Link | March 30 Texas Register (pages 2246-47) | SECO Building Energy Code Home | ESL Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Mike DeWein with BCAP [mdewein@ase.org] or Eric Lacey with RECA [eric@reca-codes.com] Top

***** EVENTS, HEARINGS, AND COMMENT DEADLINES

Tues, Apr 17: Webinar Energy Code Collaboratives Presentation by BCAP/NEEA/NASEO/K energy Thu, Apr 19: Pennsylvania RAC hearing on 2012 code update cycle report in Harrisburg, PA Fri, Apr 27: Nebraska Deadline for presentation proposals, Great Plains Regional Energy Codes Conference Sat, Apr 28: Texas SECO deadline for public comments on 2012 IECC and IRC Tue-Thu, May 1-10: Nebraska Energy Code REScheck/COMcheck Training Workshops Wed, May 2: West Virginia Fire Marshal office deadline for public comments on 2009 IECC/90.12007 proposal Wed-Fri, May 2-4: Seminar Train-the-Trainer Courses by DOE/SWEEP in Cheyenne, WY Sun, Jul 1: Nevada Effective date of updated Nevada Energy Code (2009 IECC) Sun, Jul 1: West Virginia Effective date of Green Buildings Act for state-owned construction (90.12007) Mon, Oct 1: Alabama Tentative effective date of Alabama Energy and Residential Code (2009 IECC & IRC) Tues-Thur, Oct 16-18: Nebraska 2012 Regional Energy Codes Conference in Omaha Tues, Jan 1, 2013: Arkansas Effective date for commercial update of Arkansas Energy Code (90.12007) Tues, Jan 1, 2013: South Carolina Effective date updated South Carolina Energy Standard (2009 IECC)
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BCAP EVENTS CALENDAR

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