Kansas

Current Codes

Kansas Commercial Building Code

Code Type: Commercial

Based on: 2006 IECC Not Mandatory

Date Effective: Tuesday, April 10, 2007

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Additional Code Information

Code Adoption & Change Process

Code Change Process:

Adoption and changes to the statewide energy code proceed through the state legislature.

Code Change Cycle:

No set schedule. Most recent update: April 10, 2007

History:

In the 2003 Kansas Energy Plan, the State Energy Resources Coordination Council (SERCC) recommended Kansas' building energy codes be updated to current standards. In 2003, the Kansas Legislature amended Kansas KSA 66-1227 to reference the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) 2003 as the applicable state standard for new commercial and industrial construction. KSA 66-1228, the energy efficiency disclosure requirement for new residential structures, was also amended to reference the IECC 2003 and to provide a Home Energy Rating compliance option for residential construction. On July 1, 2003, the IECC 2003 became effective as the applicable state standard for commercial and industrial buildings for the State of Kansas; however, jurisdictions in the state are not required to adopt the code.

In 2007, the Kansas Energy Council recommended that KSA 66-1227 be amended to adopt the 2006 IECC as the applicable standard for new commercial and industrial structures in Kansas. In addition, the Council recommended that KSA 66-1228 be amended to require that realtors provide this disclosure on all new homes at the time of listing and to revise the disclosure form to present the information in a quantitative and comparative way and to reference the latest international and national codes and standards. The Legislature passed amendments to both statutes and Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed them into law in April 2007.

The Kansas Energy Office, a division of the Kansas Corporation Commission, works with local jurisdictions to encourage cities and counties to voluntarily adopt building energy codes for residential and commercial structures that are at least as stringent as the IECC 2009 standard. An advisory group, the Energy Efficiency Building Codes Working Group, was established to assist the State in meeting this goal: By 2017, 90% of all new and renovated residential and commercial structures meet the 2009 IECC standard. The Working Group endorsed the voluntary adoption approach and the development of effective equivalency options for builders and owners.

In the fall of 2010, the Kansas Energy Office surveyed cities and counties with the most building activity, including all Cities of the First Class, and findings are summarized in the Status of Residential and Commercial Building Codes in 55 Jurisdictions. This summary will be updated annually.

Basic Facts

Climate Zone:

Zones 4A and 5A (zones based on DOE's most recent zoning: zone numbers based on a spectrum, zone 1 represents very hot weather and zone 8 represents subarctic weather. Letters indicate climate type, A-Humid, B-Dry, C-Marine)

Population:

2,818,747 (2009, U.S. Census Bureau)

Construction Activity:

New Housing Units Authorized by Permit:
Total units: 8,188
Number of Housing Units by Structure Type:
1 unit: 5,425
2 units: 192
3 and 4 units: 119
5 or more units: 2,452
(2008, Real Estate Center)

Projected Construction Rate:

Single family dwelling: 5,437 (-33% less than previous year), and with an avarage value of $174,600 per unit
(2008, Real Estate Center)

CO2 Emissions:

78.46 MMT CO₂ (2007)

Energy Data

Primary Energy Source:

Petroleum: 37.4% (2007, EIA)

Energy Consumption:

Total Annual Consumption of 1,136.2 Trillion Btu (2007, EIA)

Energy Expenditures:

12,802.8 Million Nominal Dollars (2007, EIA)

Energy Snapshot:

72% of the state’s natural gas supply is used for heating the home.

Natural gas is the largest consumed source of energy for the state’s residential sector

Residential use of natural gas in Kansas costs up to $10.97/thousand cu ft.

Source: EIA

Climate Concerns

Regional Issues & State Action:

According to the United States Global Change Research Program, the Midwest has experienced rising average temperatures with the largest warming seen in the winter months. The growing season has been extended by one week because of earlier last spring frosts and precipitation has become more frequent including increased instances of heavy downpours. Since the 1980s, large heat waves have become more frequent than any time in the last century. These effects of climate change are predicted to continue, threatening the region’s economy, landscape, character, and quality of life.

The Kansas Energy and Environmental Policy Advisory Group (KEEP) was formed by an executive order given by Governor Sebelius on March 21, 2008 in order to respond to the challenges posed by climate change. The goals of KEEP include conducting an emission inventory, identifying goals and recommendations, and creating an action plan for Kansas. The Center for Climate Strategies as well as a number of other organizations is supporting the state’s current efforts. The action plan is to be completed in 2010. In addition, Kansas signed on to be a member of the Midwest Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord which was signed by nine governors and two Canadian premiers in 2007 in recognition of the impacts that the Midwest has on climate change.

BCAP Estimated Energy Savings

If Kansas began implementing the 2009 IECC and Standard 90.1-2007 statewide in 2011, businesses and homeowners would save an estimated $72 million annually by 2020 and $145 million annually by 2030 in energy costs (assuming 2006 prices and no further energy code updates).

Additionally, implementing the latest model codes would help avoid about 20 trillion Btu of primary annual energy use by 2030 and annual emissions of more than 1.33 million metric tons of CO2 by 2030.

A 2010 BCAP analysis indicates that the weighted average incremental construction cost of upgrading to the 2009 IECC in Kansas would be $797.27 per home. On average, the annual energy savings per home would be $468.50, meaning the simple payback for homeowners would occur, on average, in 1.71 years. These estimates are conservative and represent the upper bound on incremental cost.

Resources

Kansas City 2012 IECC Incremental Cost Memo

posted by Mark Lessans
Incremental Cost Payback: Kansas

posted by Mark Lessans
2010 Midwest Energy Codes Needs Analysis Report

posted by Eric Plunkett
Home Energy Efficiency Efforts in Kansas

posted by Anonymous
Example Performance Targets and Efficiency Packages: Greensburg, Kansas

posted by Ebony Payne

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Advocacy Opportunities	Status	Explanations
Adopt Mandatory Codes	(Commercial Only)	Residential: Kansas has no mandatory statewide standards or codes for residential structures. Realtors and homebuilders are required to fill out an energy efficiency disclosure form and provide it to potential buyers (see KSA 66-1228). As a home rule state, Kansas allows local jurisdictions to enact local regulations where a statewide standard does not exist. Commercial: Kansas has adopted the 2006 IECC as the applicable standard for new commercial and industrial structures (see KSA 66-1227), although there is no provision for enforcement by the Kansas Corporation Commission nor clarification of whether the statewide standard would supersede locally adopted standards.
Adopt an Automatic Review & Update Process		Kansas does not have a set schedule for code review.
Create a Regulatory Process		There is no regulatory process for building energy codes. Adoption and changes to the statewide energy code proceed through the state legislature.
Improve Compliance		Residential: Kansas law requires that a person building or selling a previously unoccupied new residential structure -- either single family or multifamily unit of four units or less -- shall disclose to the buyer upon request or prior to signing a purchasing contract information regarding the energy efficiency of the structure. For new residential structures that are completed and suitable for occupancy, but unsold, the completed disclosure form shall be made available to the buyer by the builder or seller when the residence is shown and at any other time upon request. The state conducts enforcement activities for state-owned buildings. Commercial: An enforcement mechanism was not provided in the statute that mandated the 2006 IECC within Kansas (see KSA 66-1227). The state conducts enforcement activities for state-owned buildings.
Eliminate Weakening Amendments
Add Strengthening Amendments
Allow Innovation at the Local Level		The Kansas Energy Plan for 2008 includes recommendations to encourage local units of government to adopt minimum energy efficiency standards for new construction. In particular, the recommendations refer to the 2006 IECC.
Set Milestones
Adopt Green Codes

August 2009

Resources:

ICLEI - international association of local governments and their associations
www.iclei.org
Kansas has four local government members:
Lawrence, Mission, Overland Park, and Prairie Village.

Mayors Climate Protection Center
www.usmayors.org
Ten Kansas Mayors have signed The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement:
(City)
Lansing, Lawrence, Merriam, Mission, Prairie Village, Roeland Park, Shawnee, Topeka,
Westwood, and Westwood Hills.

Western Governor's Association
www.westgov.org
Governor Kathleen Sebelius is an active participant.

International Codes Council (ICC) Regional Support and State Offices:
Ms. Kathy Slawinski
ICC Chicago District Office
4051 West Flossmoor Road
Country Club Hills, IL 60478
Phone: 1-888-422-7233, Ext. 4319
KSlawinski@iccsafe.org

Mr. Patrick Coughlin
Regional Manager
4719 Black Swan Drive
Shawnee Mission, KS 66216-1234
Phone: 1-888-422-7233, Ext. 6273
PCoughlin@iccsafe.org

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