North Carolina Compromise Energy Code Approved, Challenge Likely

On December 14, the North Carolina Building Code Council (NCBCC) agreed to adopt a compromise to update the state’s energy code (currently based on the 2006 IECC) as part of the 2012 North Carolina State Building Codes. Among the provisions:

• Residential buildings: A new code achieving slight efficiency improvements over the 2009 North Carolina Energy Conservation Code (NCECC), the 2009 IECC and the 2009 IRC (a roughly 7% to 14% improvement – depending on climate zone).
• Commercial buildings: The originally proposed commercial code that would achieve energy savings 30% beyond the 2006 IECC.         Voluntary appendix: The originally proposed residential code that would achieve energy savings 30% beyond the 2006 IECC (roughly equal to the savings achieved by the 2012 IECC) will be available in the appendix as a voluntary stretch code to help advance energy code training over the next few years.
• Effective date: The 2012 NCECC will become effective at the same time as the rest of the 2012 State Building Codes: September 1, 2011 with a six-month transition period through March 1, 2012.
• Above code benefits: Builders that choose to build to the voluntary appendix could receive some recognition or benefits to assist with helping to move the residential building marketplace to higher levels of efficiency. These benefits would be determined by the governor’s office or a state agency as directed.  

The North Carolina Home Builders Association is likely to file a challenge with the state legislature, so no actions should be considered final.

Visit OCEAN to view previous North Carolina Code News updates on this story.

More Information: 2012 North Carolina State Building Codes | NCBCC Home

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