Posting Language
Title
Set a public hearing to 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. (Suggested date: March 27, 2025, at 301 W. 2nd St., Austin, Texas). Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.
De
Lead Department
Development Services (DSD).
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.
For More Information:
Todd Wilcox, Chief Building Official (DSD), Todd.Wilcox@austintexas.gov, (512) 974-1681; Heidi Kasper, Director, Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB), Heidi.Kasper@austinenergy.com, 512-482-5407.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
September 9, 2024 - Electric Utility Commission recommended repealing and replacing Article 12 of the City Code Chapter 25-12 (Technical Codes) to adopt the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code and local amendments and creating 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 recommended repealing and replacing Article 12 of the City Code Chapter 25-12 (Technical Codes) to adopt the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code and local amendments and creating 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 recommended adoption of the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, including the Electric Readiness and EV Readiness appendices as recommended by staff on Member Scott’s motion, Member Qureshi’s second on an 11-0 vote with Member Suarez off the 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. DSD, in collaboration with AEGB, conducted stakeholder engagement through the Speak Up Austin platform.
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.
• Includes Electrical Energy Storage System Readiness Appendix for all new commercial buildings
• Includes Electric Ready Appendices for all new buildings
• Includes Electric Vehicle Readiness Appendices for all new buildings
• Provides a greater 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.