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SAWHORSE
City considers gradually establishing energy efficiency codes
By TIM HORAN Salina Journal
alina officials will gradually work energy efficiency into Salina’s building code as a result of a Monday Salina City Commission study session.
Jim Brown, city building official, said that although there are a couple of Salina subdivisions that have energy efficiency codes, there currently are no energy efficiency codes for residential or commercial buildings in the city as a whole.
“Residential and commercial buildings use about 40 percent of the energy in the United States, making them significant contributors to the energy problem,” Brown said. “Building energy codes set minimum efficiency standards for newly constructed and renovated buildings, providing energy savings and emissions reductions over the life of a building.”
He said 44 states and territories have adopted a version of the International Energy Conservation Code.
Brown said there are energy cost savings if a building is constructed using the 2012 international code as opposed to the less stringent 2006 code.
The U.S. Department of Energy has indicated that building a 2,400-square-foot home in Saline County would cost $2,664 more to build following the 2012 code instead of the 2006 code. The total energy cost savings would be $494 a year.
Homes can be tested
Brown said Building Performance Co., Gypsum, performs energy audits and rates area homes.
Commissioner Kaye Crawford was concerned that energy efficiency codes could impede development. She would like to see the energy codes implemented in steps.
Gary Hobbie, the city’s director of community and development, said a concern for builders was meeting the costly standards to insulate unfinished basements.
Practices being followed
Commissioner Jon Blanchard said that at some point the city would have to adopt codes even though he felt the energy efficiently practices were being followed by builders.
“The contractors want to provide the best possible product,” he said.
Commissioners instructed city staff to work with the Building Advisory Board to gradually add energy efficiency into the Salina building code.
Householter said he thought commercial builders were using established energy efficiency codes, so there was no need for commercial building energy efficiency codes.
By TIM HORAN Salina Journal
alina officials will gradually work energy efficiency into Salina’s building code as a result of a Monday Salina City Commission study session.
Jim Brown, city building official, said that although there are a couple of Salina subdivisions that have energy efficiency codes, there currently are no energy efficiency codes for residential or commercial buildings in the city as a whole.
“Residential and commercial buildings use about 40 percent of the energy in the United States, making them significant contributors to the energy problem,” Brown said. “Building energy codes set minimum efficiency standards for newly constructed and renovated buildings, providing energy savings and emissions reductions over the life of a building.”
He said 44 states and territories have adopted a version of the International Energy Conservation Code.
Brown said there are energy cost savings if a building is constructed using the 2012 international code as opposed to the less stringent 2006 code.
The U.S. Department of Energy has indicated that building a 2,400-square-foot home in Saline County would cost $2,664 more to build following the 2012 code instead of the 2006 code. The total energy cost savings would be $494 a year.
Homes can be tested
Brown said Building Performance Co., Gypsum, performs energy audits and rates area homes.
Commissioner Kaye Crawford was concerned that energy efficiency codes could impede development. She would like to see the energy codes implemented in steps.
Gary Hobbie, the city’s director of community and development, said a concern for builders was meeting the costly standards to insulate unfinished basements.
Practices being followed
Commissioner Jon Blanchard said that at some point the city would have to adopt codes even though he felt the energy efficiently practices were being followed by builders.
“The contractors want to provide the best possible product,” he said.
Commissioners instructed city staff to work with the Building Advisory Board to gradually add energy efficiency into the Salina building code.
Householter said he thought commercial builders were using established energy efficiency codes, so there was no need for commercial building energy efficiency codes.
