SierraScape April - August 2017
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by Michael Berg
Grassroots Organizer, Sierra Club, Missouri Chapter

Recently St. Louisans came out in mass to support energy efficiency. Their voice was ignored - but the fight continues.

Energy efficient building codes save us money and energy. They make our homes safer and our air cleaner. However, since Missouri does not have a statewide building code, it is up to cities and counties to adopt and update their residential and commercial codes. Currently, St. Louis County is considering the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), but special interest groups have lobbied for the removal of important energy-saving portions of the code, such as mandatory blower door tests. In fact, despite rapid technological innovation, the present proposal weakens the already weakened 2009 IECC standards presently in place in St. Louis County.

That is why on February 8 nearly seventy Sierra Club members and supporters appeared before the St. Louis County Building Commission to testify in support of modern energy efficiency building codes. Building scientists, home energy auditors, architects, homeowners and renters all came in to support of modern codes – the same ones used in Columbia and the entire state of Illinois.

After hearing overwhelming opposition to their proposal, the Building Commission immediately approved the weakened proposal anyway. Then they quickly left the room.

The good news is that the battle in not over. The final code must be approved by the elected County Council. If you live in St. Louis County, call your County Council member and let him or her know that you want approval of the unamended 2015 IECC, not the watered down proposal before the Council. You can find the contact information at this link: www.stlouisco.com/YourGovernment/CountyCouncil - including a link to the council district map on the right side.