Home

Code Status: Indiana

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

Current State Codes

  • Residential Code: State-developed code (1992 MEC with Indiana amendments).
  • Commercial Code: State-developed code that does not meet ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-1989; mandatory statewide.
  • Code Change Cycle: State codes are revised as necessary. Most recent update adopted: May 21, 2003
  • Jurisdictions:
top

Code Adoption & Change Process

Process Type: Regulatory

Code Change Process: Changes to the energy codes in Indiana are through a regulatory process, and revisions are carried out as is deemed necessary.

Proposed changes initially proceed through code committee meetings, and it approved, notice of intent is published in the Indiana Register. Proposed rules are published 60 days after notice, and two public hearings are held. The first is held 75 days after publication of the rules, and the second hearing is held 45 days after the first hearing. The Attorney General then has 45 days to review the rules before they proceed to the Governor. If the Governor signs off on the rules, they are effective not less than 30 days after being filed with the Secretary of State.

State Code History: The first statewide energy code was adopted December 1, 1979. The code was based on the 1977 "Model Code for Energy Conservation in New Building Construction." It applied to both residential and commercial structures. Modifications to this code dealt with non technical administrative issues. On October 1, 1984, a revised code, the IECC (1984 edition), became effective statewide. This code was based on the 1983 MEC with state amendments and applied to all residential and commercial construction. On December 31, 1992, a new code based on the 1992 MEC with state amendments became effective. Although the HVAC requirements were updated to comply with the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act, the electrical power and lighting requirements of the 1979 code were retained.

During its September 6, 2006 meeting, the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission decided not to pursue the adoption of the IECC as a commercial code for Indiana. It will continue to enforce the Indiana Energy Code of 1992.

In February 2009, legislators in the House of Representatives of the Indiana General Assembly introduced bills that would have required the state to adopt the latest edition of either the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or ASHRAE Standard 90.1 by July 1, 2010, and any subsequent editions within two years of their publication. A companion Senate bill was also introduced, though it only called for adoption of the latest IECC by July 1, 2010, and adoption of subsequent editions 18 months after their publication. 

Governor Mitch Daniels vetoed HB 1348 that would have adopted the 2009 IECC or ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 for commercial buildings. The governor's veto message called the bill "good policy," but also "superfluous." He cited a need to prevent redundant "clutter" within Indiana law given his direction to the state Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission to begin the process to update the state's energy codes months beforehand.  

Though the bill passed both chambers of the legislature by near-unanimous majorities (47-2 in the Senate, 96-0 in the House), the prospects for a legislative override of the veto are uncertain as of mid-June 2009. The regular legislative session ended in late April, but a special session regarding the state budget will begin in on or around June 15. Given the primary fiscal focus of this session, it will be left to the leadership of both chambers whether potential overrides of non-budgetary vetoes will be addressed. If not, the Legislature will not likely return to this issue before November 2009.  

top

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: 504.5 Trillion BTU
  • Commercial Sector: 347.1 Trillion BTU
  • Total Energy Consumption: 851.6 Trillion BTU
top

Construction Activity

Residential:

  • Population (2000 US Census)1: 6,080,485
  • Total Housing Units2: 2,615,750
  • 2004 New Housing Units Authorized by Permit (Privately Owned)3:
    • total units: 38,825
    • 1 unit: 31,775
    • 2 units: 1,208
    • 3 and 4 units: 753
    • 5+ units: 5,089
    • structures of 5+ units: 431

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 Buildings Initiative

top

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 Indiana's allocated amount and updated information. 

 

Web Links

top

State Energy Code Contacts

top