Back in 2007, Austin City Council gave Austin Energy a goal: by 2015, adopt codes so that all new homes are net zero-energy capable. In other words, make all new homes capable of producing as much energy as they consume by adding an onsite energy system. While this aggressive goal was not met last year, Austin Energy, which oversees development of the energy code that guides new construction, is still working to make it a reality.
Last week, the city took a big step in that direction by considering a provision that would make all new buildings in Austin “solar-ready.” Each new building would have roof space reserved for solar panels and an additional space for a separate electric box for solar panels.
Resource Management Commission Takes Action
On March 22, the Resource Management Commission (RMC), a citizen advisory board appointed by Austin City Council, approved a resolution endorsing new building energy codes that closely follow the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) with amendments related to more aggressive energy efficiency.
The 2015 IECC is a nationally-developed energy code that became Texas’s minimum code when the State Energy Conservation Code approved new rules in January. Independent analysis has shown that a home built to the 2015 IECC standard will save roughly 8 to 20 percent in energy use compared to a home built to the previous minimum standard.
Along with the update to the base energy code, the RMC also considered and preliminarily adopted a “solar-ready zone” amendment that stipulates all new homes, multi-family apartments, and commercial buildings will be required to designate a “solar-ready” space on their roof, and design their electric system so that it would be easy to add a solar electric box in the future. The provisions do not actually require any hardware -- wires, panels, or inverters -- but do require home and building developers to properly design their buildings for future solar capability. Exceptions are allowed for smaller homes and buildings, as well as those with just too much shade to have solar make sense.
While final action by the RMC on the solar-ready provision is expected in April, a draft of the proposal was tentatively approved.
Final Approval in May
Both the RMC and the Electric Utility Commission will take up the issue in April, and the proposed codes along with the solar-ready provisions are expected to go to the City Council in May for final approval.
The Sierra Club hopes to work with local volunteers throughout Texas to make sure other major cities adopt the 2015 IECC, and also consider solar-ready provisions, especially for new homes.
[Note: Cyrus Reed is a member of the Resource Management Commission that voted for the new codes and provisions.]