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Code Status: Illinois

This page contains information about current energy codes in the state of Illinois. Information for all 50 States is also available. Illinois Code News.

Current State Codes

  • Residential Code: The Illinois Energy Conservation Code incorporates the 2009 IECC for all residential buildings 3 or fewer stories in height (4 or less if in Chicago). This code is mandatory statewide.
  • Commercial Code: The Illinois Energy Conservation Code incorporates the 2009 IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 (by reference) for all privately-funded commercial buildings. Standard 90.1-2007 is also required for all publicly-funded commercial buildings. This code is mandatory statewide.
  • Code Change Cycle: An automatic update provision directs the Capital Development Board to adopt each new version of the IECC within nine months of its publication, with an effective date three months afterwards. The latest code change became effective January 29, 2010.
  • Jurisdictions: Local home rule jurisdiction over residential energy standards has been stricken. Local governments are allowed to adopt more stringent energy codes for commercial buildings (but not less stringent). These jurisdictions also may not adopt residential codes more or less stringent than the state code (however, exemptions to go above the state residential code are made for municipalities that adopted at least the 2006 IECC before May 2009 or have more than 1,000,000 residents).
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Code Adoption & Change Process

Process Type: Regulatory

Code Change Process: Previously, the promulgation of a statewide residential energy code, and changes to the commercial energy code proceed through the state legislature. After the passage of the Energy Efficient Building Act in 2009, the Illinois Capital Development Board must now adopt each new version of the IECC within nine months of its publication, with an effective date three months afterwards.

State Code History: In August 2004, House Bill 4099, the Energy Efficient Commercial Building Act created a mandatory statewide energy code for commercial buildings, based on the 2001 IECC and its reference to ASHRAE 90.1-1999. The energy code will be effective pending a regulatory review process created by the act.

The State legislature has issued a law that all jurisdictions with a building code are required to use the most current IECC edition (the 2006 IECC) for commercial buildings. The code adoptions are expected to become effective in April or May 2007. The Department of Commerce and Community Affairs will be scheduling workshops on the IECC in the coming months.

The Energy Conservation Code for state projects was approved by legislators in 2003 and the administrative rules for the law were developed by CDB and approved by the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules in 2004 and updated recently to include the 2004 edition of the ASHRAE 90.1 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standard.

The Energy Conservation Code for commercial buildings was approved by legislators in 2004. The administrative rules moving the energy code to the 2006 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code were adopted by CDB and the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) and became effective October 9, 2007.

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On May 31, 2009, the Illinois General Assembly approved the Energy Efficient Building Act (HB 3987), which was signed by Gov. Pat Quinn on August 28, 2009. The legislation directed the Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) to  adopt the Illinois Energy Conservation Code, which became effective January 29, 2010. The new statewide code (71 IAC 600) incorporates the 2009 IECC for residential buildings and privately funded commercial buildings and ASHRAE 90.1-2007 for publicly funded commercial buildings (previously, there was not a mandatory residential statewide energy code based on the IECC). An automatic update provision directs the CDB to adopt each subsequent version of the IECC within nine months of its publication, with an effective date three months afterwards.

The legislation also removed local home rule jurisdiction over residential energy standards. Local governments are allowed to adopt more stringent energy codes for commercial buildings (but not less stringent). These jurisdictions also may not adopt residential codes more or less stringent than the state code (however, exemptions to go above the state residential code are made for municipalities that adopted at least the 2006 IECC before May 2009 or have more than 1,000,000 residents).

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Energy Consumption Estimates

The consumption estimates below are derived from the total end use of residential and commercial energy consumption in the United States in 2006, and are not limited to energy consumption based on building code-related factors. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.

  • Residential Sector: 937.0 Trillion BTU
  • Commercial Sector: 758.8 Trillion BTU
  • Total Energy Consumption: 1,696.1 Trillion BTU
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Construction Activity

Residential:

  • Population (2000 US Census)1: 12,419,293
  • Total Housing Units2: 4,981,258
  • 2004 New Housing Units Authorized by Permit (Privately Owned)3:
    • total units: 62,576
    • 1 unit: 48,898
    • 2 units: 1,628
    • 3 and 4 units: 2,550
    • 5+ units: 9,500
    • structures of 5+ units: 581

References:

  1. http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t2/tab01.xls
  2. http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/housing/sthuhh1.txt
  3. http://www.census.gov/const/C40/Table2/20k_t2yu200412.txt
Green Building Initiatives
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Code Funding Opportunities

There are two funding opportunities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA): Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants and State Energy Program. Please reference the U.S. Department of Energy for Illinois's allocated amount and updated information. 

Web Links

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State Energy Code Contacts

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