Oregon’s energy code will be 15% more efficient than the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code in April 2008 if approved as expected. The changes to the energy code were approved by the Residential Structures Board in December and include new requirements for incremental improvements to the building shell, such as slightly more insulation in ceilings and floors, window upgrades and high efficiency lighting. While the energy code was approved individually it cannot become official until the entire building code – which includes mechanical, plumbing, and other sections – is approved. That is expected to happen in January. 

“The new residential code will mean a decrease in the amount of energy the state’s utilities will need to produce,” said David Cohan, NEEA project manager. “It will also help limit the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced in the state.”

The new code as approved in December by the state’s residential structures board will take effect following more than a year of development. Participants in designing the code included representatives from the Energy Trust of Oregon, ENERGY STAR®, homebuilder associations, the Oregon Department of Energy and NEEA.

“We have a good relationship with homebuilders because of the acceptance of new programs and technologies. Awareness of energy efficiency has made builders more open to change,” said Betty Merrill, manager of the building technology section with the Oregon Department of Energy, Salem.

She said the new code promotes advances in construction methods, materials and emerging technologies as a result of various incentives and market transformation work.

“We [in Oregon] incent measures and technologies and then move them to code,” she said. “Various entities such as utilities, the Energy Trust, NEEA and the state provide incentives to first build the infrastructure. When we have enough successes, we’re able to move it into code,” she said.

The changes include new requirements for incremental improvements to the building shell, such as slightly more insulation in ceilings and floors, window upgrades and high efficiency lighting.

“This is the first time in the state that lighting has been covered under the residential energy code. Fifty percent of the fixtures must be high efficiency, such as compact fluorescents or LEDs,” Cohan said.

Merrill said the code provides flexibility by allowing builders to choose from a list of additional measures, such as installing a high efficiency heating system or installing standard efficiency heating equipment but adding other measures such as duct sealing, a high efficiency building envelope or a solar photovoltaic package.

“This gives builders options for their particular building style and location, regardless of the proximity of fuel sources,” she said.

An economic analysis shows the incremental costs of the requirements will range from $450 to $1,600, depending upon which pathway the builder chooses. Merrill said the energy savings to the homeowner, however, will run $20 per month at current energy costs for the life of the home. Obviously savings will increase if energy costs rise.

A cost/benefit analysis done by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and its Regional Technical Forum found the new energy efficiency requirements in the code will “significantly” lower the total cost to new homeowners for any type of heating system.

Because the code doesn’t take effect until next spring, the ENERGY STAR Homes Northwest and Oregon’s residential tax credit will continue through 2008. Merrill said that the programs may require measures above the new code, but they still will provide financial incentives and hands-on training for those building above code.

“Next steps include heavy duty outreach for training beginning in January,” Merrill said. “We want to make sure we get everyone trained because changing the code doesn’t provide assurance of compliance. Our mission is to have homes be comfortable, safe, energy efficient and have good indoor air quality.”