Wisconsin

Current Codes

Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, COMM 22 (Energy Conservation)

Code Type: Residential

Based on: 2006 IECC Mandatory

Date Effective: Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Date Passed: Saturday, March 1, 2008

2008 Wisconsin Commercial Building Code, COMM 63 (Energy Conservation)

Code Type: Commercial

Based on: 2006 IECC Mandatory

Date Effective: Saturday, March 1, 2008

Date Passed: Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Notes & Exceptions:

This code will no longer be effective after September 1, 2011.

2011 Wisconsin Commercial Building Code, COMM 63 (Energy Conservation)

Code Type: Commercial

Based on: 2009 IECC Mandatory

Date Effective: Thursday, September 1, 2011

Date Passed: Friday, July 1, 2011

Notes & Exceptions:

This code is not effective until September 1, 2011.

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Additional Code Information

Code Adoption & Change Process

Code Change Process:

Regulatory and Legislative: The code is adopted by the Department of Commerce after a code development and public hearing process. The state code provisions are first developed within the Department of Commerce’s Office of Codes and Applications, which is part of the Safety and Buildings Division. Modifications to the code are developed in accordance with Chapter 227 of the Wisconsin Statutes.

In June 2011, Gov. Scott Walker signed into law the state’s fiscal budget which included an amendment revising the update process for the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC), including Comm 22 – Energy Conservation (currently based on the 2006 IECC). The amendment requires all UDC update proposals that add more than $1,000 in additional building costs to go through the full legislative process. Previously, all updates went through a regulatory process culminated by an administrative rule review conducted by a legislative committee.

NOTE: As of July 1, 2011, the Safety and Buildings Division of the Department of Commerce will begin the process of moving to the newly created Department of Safety and Professional Services.

Code Change Cycle:

Codes are updated on an ongoing basis through various citizen advisory project committees and the Wisconsin Building Code Advisory Review Board.

Next Code Update:

The latest update to the state's commercial energy code (Comm 63) will be effective September 1, 2011. The most recent update to the state's residential energy code (Comm 22) became effective April 1, 2009.

History

Department of Commerce (COMM) Chapter 63, which regulates energy conservation in multi-family residential (other than one- and two-family dwellings) and other commercial buildings, was created in May 1978 and became effective July 1, 1978. COMM Chapter 22, which regulates energy conservation measures in one- and two-family dwellings, was created in May 1978 and became effective December 1, 1978.

The 2000 IECC with Wisconsin amendments was implemented on July 1, 2002, as part of COMM 63 requirements. COMM 22 meets or exceeds 95 MEC requirements.

The State of Wisconsin officially adopted the 2006 International Codes for commerical buildings. The codes, with WI amendments, were implemented on March 1, 2008. Code changes are posted on the WI Department of Commerce website.

Prior to April 1, 2009, COMM 22 of the state-developed Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) was applicable to 1 & 2 family dwellings, exceeding 1995 MEC requirements. (REScheck could be used when the code assignment is indicated to be "Wisconsin" in REScheck). Multi-family dwellings had to comply with the 2000 IECC (REScheck may be used when the 2000 IECC code assignment is indicated).

The state of Wisconsin implemented many changes to its Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) for 1&2-family dwellings. Among them, changes were made to COMM 22 (beginning on page 66/102) of the UDC to incorporate the 2006 IECC with Wisconsin amendments. The changes became effective April 1, 2009.

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Code change proposals from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce to update the Wisconsin Commercial Building Code (Comm 61-66) to reference several 2009 I-Codes were automatically adopted on July 1, 2011. These include updating Comm 63 – Energy Conservation to incorporate the 2009 IECC with Wisconsin amendments (including an additional air barrier requirement similar to that of the 2012 IECC). The changes will become effective September 1, 2011.

In June 2011, Gov. Scott Walker signed into law the state’s fiscal budget which included an amendment revising the update process for the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC), including Comm 22 – Energy Conservation (currently based on the 2006 IECC). The amendment requires all UDC update proposals that add more than $1,000 in additional building costs to go through the full legislative process. Previously, all updates went through a regulatory process culminated by an administrative rule review conducted by a legislative committee.

Basic Facts

Climate Zone:

6A, 7A (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:

5,654,774 (2009, U.S. Census Bureau)

Construction Activity:

New Housing Units Authorized by Permit:
Total units: 15,509
Number of Housing Units by Structure Type:
1 unit: 10,124
2 units: 552
3 and 4 units: 291
5 or more units: 4,542
(2008, Real Estate Center)

Projected Construction Rate:

Single Family Dwelling: 10,205 units (38% less than the previous year), and with an average value of $205,400 per unit (2008, Real Estate Center)

CO2 Emissions:

104.38 MMT CO₂ (2007)

Energy Data

Primary Energy Source:

Petroluem: 35.9% (2007, EIA)

Energy Consumption:

Total Annual Energy Consumption of 1846.3 Trillion Btu (2007, EIA)

Energy Expenditures:

22,454.5 Million Nominal Dollars (2007, EIA)

Energy Snapshot:

66% of Wisconsin’s natural gas supply is consumed for heating the home.

Coal supplies two thirds of Wisconsin’s electricity generation.

Residential use of natural gas costs $9.46 per thousand cubic 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. In addition, there has been a decrease in lake ice, including on the Great Lakes. These effects of climate change are predicted to continue, threatening the region’s economy, landscape, character, and quality of life.

In April 2007 the Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming was formed by an executive order signed by Governor Doyle. The Task Force created a report that included recommendations to mitigate the effects of climate change and was approved in July 2008. The report addresses buildings through recommendations to achieve net zero buildings, energy efficiency retrofits, updated energy codes, and voluntary green building codes. In addition, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin began implementing the 2009 IECC and Standard 90.1-2007 statewide in 2011, businesses and homeowners would save an estimated $60 million annually by 2020 and $119 million annually by 2030 in energy costs (assuming 2006 prices).

Additionally, implementing the latest model codes would help avoid about 14.9 trillion Btu of primary annual energy use by 2030 and annual emissions of more than 991 thousand 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 Wisconsin would be $556.18 per home. On average, the annual energy savings per home would be $220.00, meaning the simple payback for homeowners would occur, on average, in 2.53 years. These estimates are conservative and represent the upper bound on incremental cost.

Resources

Commissioning for Optimal Savings from Daylight Control

posted by Seul Rhee
Incremental Cost Payback: Wisconsin

posted by Mark Lessans
2010 Midwest Energy Codes Needs Analysis Report

posted by Eric Plunkett
Wisconsin Fact Sheet

posted by Paul Karrer
Residential Energy Code Evaluations: Review and Future Directions

posted by Kelly Guhanick

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Advocacy Opportunities	Status	Explanations
Adopt Mandatory Codes		Residential: Wisconsin has a mandatory statewide residential code called COMM 22 , which meets or exceeds 2006 IECC for 1-2 family dwellings. Commercial: Wisconsin’s mandatory commercial code is the 2006 IECC with amendments.
Adopt an Automatic Review & Update Process		Wisconsin does not have a formal schedule for energy code review. However, codes are updated on an ongoing basis through various citizen advisory project committees and the Wisconsin Building Code Advisory Review Board. The state’s most recent update was effective April 1, 2009.
Create a Regulatory Process		The Wisconsin state energy codes are reviewed for updating every 3-5 years. The code is adopted by the Department of Commerce after a code development and public hearing process. The state code provisions are first developed within the Department of Commerce’s Office of Codes and Applications, which is part of the Safety and Buildings Division. Modifications to the code (which are often suggested by builders, property owners, material suppliers, architects, engineers, staff, or other state agencies, or required by legislative mandate) are developed in accordance with Chapter 227 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
Improve Compliance		Residential: Compliance is determined through plan review and inspection by local or state building officials for COMM Chapters 22 and 63 requirements. The Department of Commerce’s Office of Codes and Applications licenses 750 private individuals, who conduct energy audits when residential rental properties are sold to ensure compliance with COMM Chapter 67 requirements The energy audits for compliance are commissioned by the owner of the property within one year of transfer. The owner and the Department are given a copy of the compliance certificate. REScheck may be used to demonstrate compliance. Commercial: COMcheck can be used to demonstrate compliance.
Eliminate Weakening Amendments
Add Strengthening Amendments		Code changes (from the 2006 IECC) were for simplification, strengthening, or both. Specific changes can be found on the Wisconsin Department of Commerce website.
Allow Innovation at the Local Level
Set Milestones
Adopt Green Codes		City Wide Program: Madison, Wisconsin. Green Building Certification for new City buildings, 2008 Program Description: New municipal buildings or major renovations 5,000 ft2 or larger must be certified LEED Silver. 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.

August 2009

Resources:

ICLEI - international association of local governments and their associations
www.iclei.org
Wisconsin has six local government members:
Ashland, Fitchburg, Madison, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, and Racine.

Mayors Climate Protection Center
www.usmayors.org
Seventeen Wisconsin Mayors have signed The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement:
(City)
Ashland, Bayfield, Greenfield, Kenosha, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, New Berlin, Oshkosh, Racine, River Falls, Stevens Point, Superior, Washburn, Waukesha, Wauwatosa, and West Allis.

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. Bob Neale
Regional Manager, State & Local Government Relations
4051 W. Flossmoor Road
Country Club Hills, IL 60478
Phone: 1-888-422-7233, Ext. 4264
BNeale@iccsafe.org

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