SierraScape September 2013 - February 2014
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by John Hickey
Chapter Director
Missouri Sierra Club

On July 8th, the Creve Coeur City Council voted to adopt the 2009 residential International Energy Conservation Code. The City had been using the 2003 code, so this represents a huge increase in energy efficiency for any new residences built in Creve Coeur – in fact, about a 35% increase in efficiency.

Sierra Club members Fran Cantor, Dick Kutta, and John May all had a hand in this victory. Fran serves as co-chair of the municipal Climate Action Task Force, and was a key advocate for this change. Dick Kutta used his experience as a builder to confirm that this newer code was practical, and John May was responsible for launching the climate task force in Creve Coeur.

Improved residential energy efficiency makes a huge difference in energy use in our state. That in turn means that utilities will burn less coal to create electricity, and we therefore have cleaner air. Lower energy use also means lower utility bills for ratepayers – another good thing!

Please contact the Sierra Club office if you would like to organize your neighbors to upgrade the energy codes in your city and county! The phone is 314-664-1011. My email is john.hickey@sierraclub.org.