A municipality or county may establish procedures to adopt local amendments to the IECC and the energy efficiency chapter of the IRC; however, these amendments may not result in less stringent energy efficiency requirements in nonattainment and affected counties (including Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, and Wilson) than the energy efficiency chapter of the IRC or IECC. Texas A&M Energy Systems Laboratory must review local amendments to the building codes for compliance as required by SB5.
 

The Requirements
Why do we need standards?
What does this mean to:

Sources of Information and Assistance

The Requirements

Senate Bill 5 (SB 5) created the state's first building codes. SB 5 adopted the energy efficiency chapter of the International Residential Code (IRC), as it exsisted on May 1, 2001, for single-family residential construction and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), as it existed on May 1, 2001, for all other residential, commercial, and industrial construction.

Why do we need standards?

There are more than 76 million residential and nearly 5 million commercial buildings in the U.S. today, and they use one-third of all the energy consumed in the U.S.¹ "A standard wood-framed home consumes over one acre of forest and the waste created during construction averages from three to seven tons," according to Laurence Doxsey, former City of Austin Green Builder Program Coordinator.²

The need for greater energy efficiency affects everyone:

	Cost Savings - energy bills;
	Retrofits often pay for themselves in a relatively short time; and
	Environmental benefits.

What does this mean to building inspectors and municipalities?

Municipalities throughout Texas must establish procedures for administration and enforcement of the codes; and

Municipalities must ensure that code-certified inspectors perform inspections and enforce the code in the inspectors' jurisdictions.

A municipality or county may establish procedures to adopt local amendments to the IECC and the energy efficiency chapter of the IRC; however, these amendments may not result in less stringent energy efficiency requirements in nonattainment and affected counties (Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, and Wilson) than the energy efficiency chapter of the IRC or IECC. Texas A&M Energy Systems Laboratory must review local amendments to the building codes for compliances as required by SB5.

For construction outside of municipal boundaries, a building will be considered in compliance if:

	A building certified through an energy efficiency (above-code) program is considered in compliance;
	A building inspected by a code-certified inspector (warranty inspection) is considered in complaince; otherwise,
	A builder may self-certify a building with a form to be provided by Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) of the Texas A&M University system. To view the form, click here.

As a source of help, the Texas Energy Partnership⁴ combines the expertise of:

	The State Energy Conservation Office (SECO)
	Department of Energy's (DOE) Building America program
	Energy Star
	Government Agencies

This partnership is designed to assist municipalities and other affected entities by suggesting appropriate steps to effectively and efficiently comply with SB 5 and providing access to the technical resources, assistance and the expertise of DOE and EPA.

The Texas Energy Partnership strives to help government agencies:

	Reduce energy costs in buildings;
	Build energy efficiency into new buildings;
	Utilize renewable energy technologies;
	Develop institutional practices and policies to encourage long-term, energy-efficiency applications; and
	Develop and implement an action plan to achieve energy-efficiency goals.

What does this mean to architects and builders?

SB5 adopts the IRC and IECC for the entire State of Texas. The requirements must be applied to construction whether located inside or outside municipal boundaries.

Energy Code requirements apply to new construction (as of September 9, 2001) as well as newly conditioned space, new construction in existing buildings, alterations to existing spaces additions, mixed-use buildings, and changes in building occupancy.

Architects and builders must also be knowledgeable of the different climate zones in Texas and the regulations each zone carries.

Buildings are a major source of pollution and are a contributing factor in urban air quality problems and climate change. Buildings account for 49% of sulfur dioxide emissions, 25% of nitrous oxide emissions, and 10% of particulate emissions, which all contribute to poor air quality. Furthermore, buildings produce 35% of carbon dioxide emissions, which is the chief pollutant causing climate change.³

Since weather varies widely within the state, energy needs vary as well. Texas has been divided into eight climate zones based on the number of heating degree days (HDD) in each of the regions. Each zone corresponds to an appropriate building envelope category of the IECC and IRC.

The eight climate zones and associated glazing insulation, and foundation requirements are listed in the Texas Residential Building Guide to Energy Code Compliance.

The 12 counties of the AACOG region fall into three climate zones:

	Zone 3 (2,000-2,499 HDD): Atascosa, Frio, and Karnes
	Zone 4 (1,500-1,999 HDD): Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Medina, and Wilson
	Zone 5 (1,000-1,499 HDD): Bandera, Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr

The Architectual Record has added a "Green Architect" feature section to their website: http://archrecord.construction.com/features/green/. This section includes stories related to sustainable architecture, and acts as a guide to "green" building products.

What does this mean to homeowners?

Any house constructed after August 31, 2001 should meet the IRC. However, these energy code requirements not only apply to new construction but to buildings that existed before September 1, 2001, when the following types of modifications are made:

	Newly conditioned space;
	New construction in existing buildings;
	Alterations to existing spaces; and
	Building additions.

For example:
A homeowner replacing double-paned windows should ensure the replacements are as energy-efficient or better as the original windows.  Double-paned windows should not be replaced with less efficient single-paned windows.

Sources of Information and Assistance

REFERENCES

1.	"Green Buildings Introduction," Smart Communities Network. http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/buildings/gbintro.shtml
2.	"Green Buildings Introduction," Smart Communities Network. http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/buildings/gbintro.shtml
3.	Ibid
4.	"How to comply with Texas Senate Bill 5," State Energy Conservation Office. (Brochure)