Building Codes Assistance Project

Join over 700 of energy efficiency's most notable leaders, representing 40+ countries, at the Energy Efficiency Global Forum & Exposition (EE Global), being held May 10-12, 2010 at the Washington DC Convention Center. With over 80% of 2009 participants self-identifying as executives or managers, EE Global 2010 will provide access to decision makers and offer executive-level insight and dialogue. Focusing solely on energy efficiency from the perspective of all energy end-use sectors (buildings, industrial and transportation) and with coverage of all cross-cutting issues (finance, policy, technology, and market transformation), EE Global serves as an exchange of best practices and policies for global implementation of energy efficiency. Visit www.eeglobalforum.org for detailed information about this exciting event!

On February 17, a bill (HB 7) was introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives that would establish green building labeling and energy use standards for any building or structure constructed using any state capital budget money, including money from the education facilities trust fund.  These buildings would be required to:

The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) is hosting the 2009 Ohio Energy Expo on June 2 from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm in the West Plaza of the State Capitol in Columbus.  Energy Expos bring together energy services companies, utilities, manufacturers and retailers to highlight the economic development potential of energy efficiency policies. This collaborative event will bring together all of the stakeholders with policymakers to find common ground to support and advance energy efficiency policies and programs.

Effective January 1, 2009, the Ohio Board of Building Standards re-adopted the 2006 IECC and added an additional prescriptive option for demonstrating energy code compliance for one-, two-, and three-family dwellings. Compliance can be demonstrated by the requirements of the 2006 IECC, OR meeting the requirements of sections 1101-1103 of Chapter 11 of the Residential Code of Ohio, OR by meeting the state code's new Prescriptive Energy Requirements (section 1104).

After a review of the 2006 IECC by a specially appointed Ad-Hoc committee consisting of several home builders, staff from the Ohio Energy Office, an energy rater, and staff from the Board of Building Standards (BBS), the committee made a recommendation to propose re-adoption of the 2006 IECC with the addition of a unique Ohio prescriptive path that offers another method of compliance for one-, two-, and three-family dwellings.

On March 28, 2008, the Ohio Board of Building Standards (BBS) made a request to the Governor's Office for an executive order to authorize the filing of emergency rules. On March 31, 2008, the Governor signed Executive Order 2008-06S authorizing the BBS to file the emergency rules. BBS filed the emergency rules the same day and therefore, as of March 31, construction documents for all residential 1-, 2-, and 3-family dwelling projects shall meet or exceed the 2003 IECC and the 2005 NEC to comply with the RCO.

Ohio's rules adopting the 2006 IECC for one-, two-, and three-family dwellings have been amended to revert back to the 2003 IECC until further study of the 2006 IECC can be completed.

On March 31, 2008, Ohio's Governor signed an Executive Order authorizing the Ohio Board of Building Standards to file four Emergency Rules that essentially role back the reference to the 2003 IECC effective immediately. This change only applies to one-, two-, and three-family dwellings. All non-residential buildings will still be required to comply with either the 2006 IECC or the 2004 ASHRAE 90.1.