NC: Beware Of The Energy Conservation Code ‘Tsunami’

 

 I received an email of anguish from a friend of mine who is in business creating small and mid-size storage / warehouse type buildings. His business is local. His problem: A new edict from above on NC State building codes.

This building code was passed by the legislature in the State, but did not originate there. It was created by the Building Code Council and based on the International Code Council. Within this construct is something called the NCECC ( North Carolina Energy Conservation Code) that regulates energy conservation in new construction. This NCECC edict was funded by the Federal Department of Energy (DOE). The book on this 2012 Building Code can be bought here. The first line of the description states: “The 2012 North Carolina Building Code is based on the 2009 International Building Code.”

Can you tell where this is going? The mandates in this NC 2012 Building Code, according to my businessman friend, are draconian. One example he gave to me was the requirement for higher cost, higher temperature containment insulation for even the simplest buildings such as he creates for his customers. Why is that draconian? Because it causes costs of these buildings (using a pun) to go through the roof!! This prices out some of his customers. Either he eats the increase or the customer eats it. Both ways, this is bad for business viability. (stating the obvious) Could the marketplace decide this on its own? Yes. Could there be options? Yes. But no….the Code is a mandate. Building and Construction businesses will have no options. They are told what they must sell. Customers are told what they must buy.

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