Posting Language
Title
Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance repealing and replacing Article 12 (Energy Code) of City Code Chapter 25-12 (Technical Codes) to adopt the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code and local amendments, including provisions allowing for readiness for electric vehicles, electric appliances, and energy storage systems; and creating offenses. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.
De
Lead Department
Development Services Department.
Fiscal Note
This item has no fiscal impact.
Prior Council Action:
June 3, 2021 - Council approved Ordinance No. 20210603-055 adopting the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code and local amendments on Council Member Pool's motion, Council Member Tovo's second on a 10-0 vote. Council Member Kelly was absent.
February 27, 2025 - Council set the public hearing for March 27 on Council Member Velasquez’s motion, Mayor Pro Tem Fuentes’ second on an 11-0 vote.
March 27, 2025 - Council conducted a public hearing but took no action.
For More Information:
Todd Wilcox, Building Official, Todd.Wilcox@austintexas.gov <mailto:Todd.Wilcox@austintexas.gov>, (512) 974-1681; Heidi Kasper, Director, Austin Energy Green Building, Heidi.Kasper@austinenergy.com <mailto:Heidi.Kasper@austinenergy.com>, (512) 482-5407.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
September 9, 2024 - Electric Utility Commission approved a recommendation to adopt the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code and local amendments and create offenses on Commissioner Reed’s motion, Vice Chair White’s second on a 7-0 vote with Commissioners Akande, Chapman, and Kirksey absent and one vacancy.
September 17, 2024 - Resource Management Commission approved a recommendation to adopt the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code and local amendments and create offenses on Commissioner Silverstein’s motion, Vice Chair Robbins’ second on an 8-0 vote, with Commissioners Gary and Sasaridis absent, and one vacancy.
September 25, 2024 - Joint Sustainability Committee approved a recommendation to adopt the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, including the Electric Readiness and EV Readiness appendixes recommended by staff on Member Scott’s motion, Member Qureshi’s second on an 11-0 vote with Suarez off dais.
Additional Backup Information:
The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) provides for reduced energy use in both residential and commercial buildings. The 2024 IECC represents a significant change in energy efficiency from the 2021 version. The proposed ordinance reduces local amendments, provides more flexibility to the design community, and aligns with existing City climate goals. The Development Services Department, in collaboration with Austin Energy Green Building, conducted stakeholder engagement, including through the Speak Up Austin platform and in-person presentations. While the final Law Department version was not available during the public engagement process, legal edits did not change substantive requirements and stakeholders were able to see all requirements and local amendments.
For the 2024 IECC, energy efficiency increases in the commercial sector are modeled at 13% as a weighted average across all building types over existing code. For residential construction, savings of 6% are anticipated across all building types. Specific changes to the current code include:
• Requires new commercial energy code buildings over 10,000 square feet to provide renewable energy systems of 0.5 W/ft2 based on the combined gross conditioned floor area of the three largest floors. This also impacts multifamily buildings 5 stories or greater in height.
• Inclusion of Electrical Energy Storage System Readiness Appendix for all new commercial buildings
• Inclusion of Electric Ready Appendixes for all new buildings
• Inclusion of Electric Vehicle Readiness Appendixes for all new buildings
• Provides a great number of choices for designers to choose from to meet additional energy efficiency requirements in sections C406 and R408.
• Requires tighter building envelopes for new buildings.
• Requires residential bathrooms with intermittent exhaust fans to include controls to help remove excess moisture.
• Reduces prescriptive requirement of attic insulation in residential buildings from R49 to R38 to allow more cost-effective approaches to achieve energy efficiency.
Local amendments to the international model code are aimed at providing more flexibility and adequately balance affordability and sustainability.