Energy Efficient Building Code Gains Support, But Need Improvements

(August 2009)  On June 25th, the Montana Building Code Council voted to recommend the adoption of new and stronger State energy building standards, at the urging of MEIC and many other energy conservation supporters (see list below). The recommendations now become the basis for formal rule making this fall by the State Department of Labor and Industry. A final decision on the new code will be made by State Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly later this year or early next year.

The new code is based on the Model 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which encourages energy conservation through efficiency in building “envelope” design, mechanical systems, lighting systems, and the use of improved materials and techniques.

The coalition of energy conservation partners urged several improvements to the IECC based on an analysis conducted by Livingston architect Jim Baerg.

Baerg’s study showed that adjustments to the 2009 IECC were needed in order for the code to better reflect Montana’s climate and maximize energy savings and economic benefit for the state over the long term. It identified those provisions in the IECC that were weakest and then proposed alternative standards that are relatively inexpensive, require modest changes at the construction site, and offer significant pay backs.

Each recommendation was screened for its ease of implementation during construction, construction “opportunity costs,” the need for indoor air quality, and the prevention of moisture retention and mold growth. Opportunity costs, in this case, mean measures that are inexpensive to implement during construction and expensive to retrofit afterward.

The recommendations that were adopted by the Council are:

• Increased basement wall insulation;
• Increased crawlspace wall insulation;
• Significant improvements in air leakage control construction practices; and
• Reduction in the area of “cathedral” ceilings that can be insulated to a lower level than attics.

The Council rejected some important recommendations that MEIC will urge be adopted during the rule-making phase. They are:

• Improved windows standards;
• A higher standard for exterior walls; and
• Requiring that each house be tested before occupancy with a “blower door” to make sure the leakage standards are met.

In addition to MEIC, the members of the coalition are: The Policy Institute,  Alternative Energy Resources Organization, National Center for Appropriate Technology, Citizens for Clean Energy,  Northwest Energy Coalition, Lincoln Electric Co-operative,  Ravalli Electric Co-operative, Montana Electric Generation  & Transmission Co-operative, Missoula Carpenters Local Union 28,  Missoula Area Central Labor Council–AFL-CIO, Energetechs,  Kinkeye Limited Farm Corp.,  Liquid Solar Systems,  Littlefoot Building,  Sage Mountain Center,  Sustainable Building Systems,  Sustainable Obtainable Solutions, and Yes–Solar Solutions of Yellowstone.