North Carolina

Advocacy Opportunities

Status

Explanations

Adopt Mandatory Codes

Residential

The 2006 IECC is the basis for the state-developed 2009 North Carolina Energy Conservation Code which is mandatory statewide. 

Commercial

The 2006 IECC is the basis for the state-developed code which references ASHRAE 90.1-2004. 

Adopt an Automatic Review &a Update Process

North Carolina adheres to a triennial review cycle. The next update is scheduled to occur in 2012.

Create a Regulatory Process

The North Carolina State Building Code Council (SBCC) is responsible for developing all state codes. By statute, the Commissioner of Insurance has general supervision over the administration and enforcement of the North Carolina state building code. Engineering Division staff assists the SBCC. Rule proposals are considered quarterly and anyone may propose a rule change. Final authority to adopt criteria rests with the state legislature. Public hearings are conducted quarterly to consider proposals and must proceed through the rule making process.

On April 9, 2009 a bill was introduced in the North Carolina House of Representatives that would direct the state Building Code Council to adopt the latest published version of the IECC by January 1, 2010.

The 2009 IECC would be the minimum standard for new commercial construction as well as the minimum and maximum standard for new residential buildings.

As of May 26, HB 1443 has been assigned to the House Committee on Energy and Energy Efficiency (April 13). A hearing has yet to be scheduled.

Improve Compliancebr />

Residential

Compliance is determined through plan review and inspections as part of the standard building permit process. Compliance forms are included in the energy provisions for residential buildings. REScheck may be used to demonstrate compliance.

It was announced on June 30, 2008 by Governor Mike Easley that North Carolina has won a grant from the National Governors Association (NGA) to develop an innovative program to increase energy building code inspections that could yield utility cost savings of up to $15 million a year. North Carolina is one of only twelve states to receive the grants from the association's Center for Best Practices, under the "Securing a Clean Energy Future" initiative. 

Commercial

Compliance is determined through plan review and inspections as part of the standard building permit process. Compliance forms are included in the energy provisions for commercial buildings. COMcheck may be used to demonstrate compliance.

Eliminate Weakening Amendments

Add Strengthening Amendments

SHGC of 0.4 is required for all zones and envelope requirements may not be traded off against the use of high efficiency heating and cooling equipment, other amendments: 

http://bcap-energy.org/files/2009_NCEnergyConservationCode_amendments.PDF

Allow Innovation at the Local Level
 

North Carolina has a restrictive state building code that discourages local jurisdictions from adopting more or less stringent codes. The law states that jurisdictions must demonstrate to the North Carolina State Building Code Council that a local code amendment is necessary due to special circumstances within the jurisdiction. This does not apply to municipal buildings. Council policy is to only approve local amendments that are absolutely necessary. The end result is that local code amendments are technically possible, but unlikely in practice. 

Set Milestones

Adopt Green Codes

City Wide Program:
Ashville, North Carolina
Municipal Building Ordinance

Program Description:
Asheville City Council passed Resolution 07-91 that requires all new, occupied, city-owned buildings greater than or equal to 5,000 square feet will be designed, contracted and built to achieve LEED Gold, and to strive for LEED Platinum whenever project resources and conditions permit. The policy also requires an energy savings payback on the incremental cost of no greater than ten years. If the payback period for recovering incremental construction cost is greater than ten years, city staff shall design, contract, and build such a facility to be certified as LEED Silver.

In addition, all new, occupied city-owned buildings which are less than 5,000 square feet will be designed, contracted, and built to incorporate measures that would allow them to be certified at a minimum of LEED Silver certification.

Energy Standard:
Commercial LEED certification:  below is summarized from LEED NC, details vary according to certification program. Mandatory: minimum 10% compliance beyond ASHRAE 90.1-2007, or use of NBI's Core Performance or one of ASHRAE's Advanced Energy Design Guidelines. LEED options include: optimize energy performance, on-site renewable energy, enhanced commissioning, enhanced refrigerant management, measurement & verification, and green power. 

City Wide Program:
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
LEED Standard for Town Buildings, 2005

Program Description:
Chapel Hill City Council adopted Ordinance O-3, requiring that all new construction of municipal buildings over 5,000 sq ft earn LEED Silver certification. The Council may also decide that municipal buildings smaller than 5,000 sq ft must earn LEED Silver certification. The Ordinance also requires that the design and project management teams for these buildings include a LEED AP. The City further encourages retrofits and renovations of existing municipal buildings and new public housing to follow LEED guidelines.

Energy Standard:
Commercial LEED Certification:  below is summarized from LEED NC, details vary according to certification program. Mandatory: minimum 10% compliance beyond ASHRAE 90.1-2007, or use of NBI's Core Performance or one of ASHRAE's Advanced Energy Design Guidelines. LEED options include: optimize energy performance, on-site renewable energy, enhanced commissioning, enhanced refrigerant management, measurement & verification, and green power.