Oregon

Advocacy Opportunities

Status

Explanations

Adopt Mandatory Codes

Residential:

The 2008 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) for 1-2 family residential dwellings is mandatory statewide.  The ORSC is based on the 2006 International Residential Code (IRC Chapter 11) for energy efficiency and is as stringent as the 2006 IECC and 15% more efficient than the 2005 ORSC.

Commercial:

Oregon’s mandatory commercial code is the 2007 Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC) which is modeled after the 2006 International Building Code (IBC). Chapter 13 for energy efficiency is certified by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and is 1-2% more stringent than ASHRAE 90.1-2004.

Adopt an Automatic Review & Update Process

Oregon adheres to a triennial review process, concurrent with new editions of or supplements to the International Code Council model codes.

Create a Regulatory Process

Changes to the energy conservation requirements are submitted on code change forms to the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD). The Residential Structures Board reviews proposed changes that are applicable to residential code. The Building Codes Structures Board reviews changes that are applicable to the structures code. The BCD Administrator, under delegated authority from the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, makes a final determination about acceptance of the proposal. Once the administrator accepts a proposal, rulemaking begins.

Improve Compliance

Residential:

Compliance can be demonstrated for residential construction either by using the prescriptive path or by completing a residential thermal performance calculation form for trade-offs of the exterior envelope requirements. Plans and specifications showing all pertinent data in sufficient detail, including U- and R-values of materials, equipment sizes, and controls must be submitted to the enforcement agency (local or state).

State-developed CodeComp software may be used to demonstrate compliance.

Commercial:

Documentation for commercial buildings must be submitted on standardized forms available from the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) or the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD).

State-developed CodeComp software may be used to demonstrate compliance.

Eliminate Weakening Amendments

Add Strengthening Amendments

In 2006, Gov. Ted Kulongoski mandated that the state of Oregon improve energy performance in new residential construction by 15 percent by the year 2015. In July 2008, the 2008 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC), became effective.  The energy requirements in Chapter 11 reduce energy consumption in new homes by 15 percent compared to the previous 2005 ORSC edition.  According to the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), many, but not all, of the measures of the 2008 ORSC were drawn from the 2004 Northwest ENERGY STAR specifications.

Allow Innovation at the Local Level

The statewide energy conservation requirements provide a mandatory minimum that cannot be modified by local government without state approval. The code does allow an amendment process for jurisdictions that can demonstrate that their

unique circumstances require a change to the code.

On June 22, 2009, Oregon Governor Kulongoski signed legislation (SB 79) that improves building energy efficiency in both residential and commercial sectors by January 2012. The bill also included the development of a "reach code"; a voluntary set of construction standards -separate from the state building code- to achieve higher levels of energy efficiency than under the mandatory code.

Set Milestones

In July 2009, Gov. Kulongoski signed SB 79 into law, directing the Department of Consumer and Business Services to adopt amendments to the state building code that are estimated to achieve:
An increase in energy efficiency of nonresidential buildings of between 15 and 25 percent (compared to nonresidential building energy efficiency under the current code) by January 1, 2012.  This is to be based on ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007.
An increase in energy efficiency of residential buildings of between 10 and 15 percent (compared to residential building energy efficiency under the current code) by January 1, 2012. The code amendments are to achieve the energy efficiency increase through residential construction that uses a greater number of the energy efficiency techniques described in the Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code than the number of techniques required under the code currently.
SB 79 also directs the state to develop and administer a "reach code", a voluntary set of construction standards separate from the state building code to achieve higher levels of energy efficiency than under the mandatory code (revisions to which shall include consideration of the target standards described in the 2030 Challenge published by Architecture 2030.

Adopt Green Codes

State Wide Program:
Oregon.
State   Energy Efficiency Design Program, 2001, 2007

Program Description:
New state construction must exceed the energy conservation provisions of the Oregon State building code by 20% or more.  In addition, the 2007 Oregon Legislature passed HB2620, which requires that public entities spend 1.5% of the total contract price of a public improvement contract for new construction or major renovation of a public building on solar energy technology.

Energy Standard:
New state construction must exceed the Oregon State Energy Code by at least 20%.

City Wide Program:
Eugene, Oregon.
Municipal Building Standards, 2006

Program Description:
All new construction and additions encompassing 10,000 gross ft2 or more of building area should achieve a LEED for New Construction Silver certification. A higher equivalent rating (Gold or Platinum) should be sought where practicable as funding is available.
New construction encompassing less than 10,000 gross ft2 of building area should achieve the equivalent of at least a LEED Silver certification level where technically feasible. Projects of any size for which certification is not feasible due to technical reasons should use LEED for New Construction as a guide to incorporate as many sustainable features as economically feasible.
Building renovation projects should use LEED for New Construction as a guide and will be evaluated for certifica­tion on a case-by-case basis, as the feasibility of incorporating sustainable features within the context of the existing building will vary widely from project to project.

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:
Multnomah, Oregon.
LEED Gold and High Performance Green Building Policy, 2008

Program Description:
All new construction of County-owned buildings must achieve LEED for New Construction Gold certification with a minimum of seven points earned in EAc1 (Optimized Energy Performance). The resolution also requires all major renovation projects of County-owned buildings to earn LEED for Commercial Interiors Gold certification. LEED Gold is also required for major renovations of County-leased space of 10,000 sq ft or greater. The resolution also states that all existing county-owned facilities will be operated and maintained following minimum guidelines for LEED Silver of LEED for Existing Buildings.

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:
Portland, Oregon.
City of Portland Green Building Policy, 200

Program Description:
The 2009 update of the city's policy reflects an increased stringency from the original LEED Gold requirement for all city-owned projects.  The new construction and major remodels of city-owned facilities must register with USGBC and certify at the Gold level, in addition to specific criteria for recycling, water conservation, energy conservation and onsite generation, commissioning, and cool roofs.  Tenant Improvements and Leased Spaces must register and certify at LEED CI Silver, or use the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability's Green Tenant Improvement Guide.  Existing Buildings must pursue LEED EB Silver, with specific criteria for roof replacements. Additional standards are in place for historic buildings and operations and maintenance.

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:
Portland, Oregon.
Regulatory Improvement Code Amendment Package (RICAP) 5
“Green Bundle” – Summary of Proposals, May 22, 2009.

Program Description:
This bundle of amendments addresses removing barriers and new standards to support the following:  Remove barriers for solar panels, small urban wind energy systems, and Eco-Roofs; clarify language to allow neighborhood scale renewable energy production; removing barriers to water cisterns, required bike parking in multi-family complexes, and removing barriers to larger eaves, with regards to setbacks.   This document is a work in progress. A formal “Discussion Draft” of proposed Zoning Code amendments will be published in early June, with a Planning Commission hearing scheduled on August 25th, 2009.

Energy Standard:
Removing barriers for on-site and small-scale renewable energy projects.