cpa best practices

7/31/2019 CPA Best Practices

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Energy Code Best Practices

1. Adoptiona. Assessing Current Policy

a. State has adopted and enforces residential and commercial building energycodes of equivalent or greater stringency than the national model codes:the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (2009 IECC) and

ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007

1. State officials seek out and work with stakeholders that can assistin pursuing legislation for the adoption of updating of an energy

code.

2. State officials understand current legislations that may be limitingthe effectiveness of the energy code.

3. The adoption and/or update of the energy code is accomplishedthrough a regulatory process.

b. Creating a Task forcea. The state has created a Task Force or equivalent group assigned to

adopting and/or updating the energy code.

1. The interests of all affected groups are represented by the TaskForce.

2. There is a balance of interests for builders, designers, industry andenvironmental groups on the Task Force.

3. There is more than one public comment period. All comments arecarefully considered.

4. The Task Force adheres to a regular schedule and assures regularupdates to the state code.c. Assigning Roles and Responsibilities

a. The state has an agency responsible for overseeing enforcement of theenergy code in jurisdictions that do not have sufficient infrastructure.

1. The state has assessed current infrastructure to determine need forstate assistance.

2. There is a state agency with the capacity to perform plan reviewand inspection.

3. There is a mechanism to hire 3rd party inspectors to perform planreview and inspection.

d. Review Model Legislationa. The state gathers and assesses views and interests of the building

community as well as assigns roles to stakeholders in the compliance

infrastructure. In addition the state reviews and considers model

legislative or regulatory rulemaking language and adapts that as needed

(e.g. statute citations, authorized state agencies, etc.).


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1. Legislation or rulemaking allows for a regular review and updatecycle.

2. Adoption and revision of building energy codes corresponds withthe publication of a new edition of a national energy standard or

model energy code.

Promote Programs to Lead the Market Forward on Energy Efficiency and High PerformanceBuildings

b. Your state promotes beyond code/advanced code programs.1. Your state has advanced building programs, like Energy Star or

others promoting advanced construction techniques.

2. State programs promote the use of AEDGs or other advancebuilding standards or guidelines.

3. There is an active LEED or other advanced green buildingprogram, and it is being actively promoted as policy.

2. Implementation Best PracticesBuild Professional Capacity of Design Professionals and Building Trades

a. Licensing and Certificationa. The state works with design professionals and builders to improve their

familiarity with energy codes and to ensure that new residential and

commercial buildings are built to the highest standard of quality and

energy efficiency.

1. The state has a certification board or equivalent that oversees thecredentialing and continuing education credits of architects,

engineers and trades such as HVAC, Plumbing and Electric

2. Other professional organizations in the state require credentialingof their membership.

3. Other professional organizations in the state that requirecredentialing of their members include energy efficiency as a

required subject area.

4.

The state requires energy code training that is specific to eachprofessional trade.

5. The state provides training opportunities for professional trades toobtain and maintain credentials.

b. Community Colleges and Technical Schools


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a. The state utilizes community colleges and technical schools to effectivelyproviding job training, professional development, continuing education,

and retraining programs to workers.

1. The state partners with community and technical colleges topromote energy efficiency training related to energy code

compliance.

2. The state subsidizes tuition for energy efficiency training related toenergy code compliance.

Enforcement and Infrastructure Best Practices

c. State Level Enforcementa. The state has an enforcement strategy guided by the agency or agencies

that administer the development and adoption of the codes, and that

oversees enforcement of the energy code in jurisdictions that do not have

sufficient infrastructure.

1. Enforcement standards and criteria are set at the State level.2. State laws governing local enforcement allow jurisdictions to

charge fees to cover the costs of enforcement and set the individual

enforcement rules at that level.

3. The state has assessed current infrastructure to determine need forstate assistance.

4. The state is fully covered by state or local-level energy codeenforcement.

5.

There is a state agency with the capacity to perform plan reviewand inspection.

6. There is a mechanism at the state level to hire 3rd party inspectorsto perform plan review and inspection?

b. The state assists local jurisdictions with enforcement of the energy code.1. There are mechanisms at the local level to hire 3rd party inspectors

to perform plan review and inspection?

2. The state has requirements governing 3rd party energy codeinspectors and plan reviewers.

3. Local jurisdictions issue a stop order after an inspection and orplan review reveals an energy code violation.

4. Local jurisdictions require a change order and re-review of energycode violations.

c. The state assists local code officials with resources.1. The state requires certified training in energy code plan review and

inspection for all code officials in charge with energy inspections.


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2. The state requires code officials to pass the ICC Energy Inspectorcertification test.

3. The state requires code officials obtain ongoing Energy Codeeducation (CEUs).

Technical Support and Resources Best Practices

d. Traininga. The state provides both code officials and building professionals adequate

training, especially when standards change.

1. The state provides incentives for training to promote participation(especially important given the busy schedules of contractors).

2. Code officials and contractors are required to be recertified everyfew years or after energy codes are altered.

3. The state provides a calendar of events and markets this to affectedparties.

e. Code Enforcementa. The state provides both code officials and buildingprofessionals adequate

training, especially when standards change.

1. The state provides assistance for plan review in complex buildingsor other specific building types.

2. The state has a certifier program.3. The state provides compliance materials for use at the building

department level.

4.

Opportunities for sharing regional resources have beeninvestigated and if exist, utilized

3. Materials, Equipment, Servicesa. Compliance Incentives/Penalties

a. Your state provides materials, resources and services to support energycode compliance.

1. Your state provides incentives for contractors that do well, such asexpedited permitting or reduced fees.

2. Your state has penalties for re-inspection and repeated reviews.3. Your state seeks partnerships with manufacturers and big box

retailers to promote energy efficient products and services.4. Your state helps to subsidize the use of handheld electronics to

facilitate building inspection.

5. Your state helps to subsidize duct blaster equipment andequipment training.

6. Your state helps to subsidize blower door equipment andequipment training.


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7. Your state has created a certified provider list for builders and codeofficials.

8. Your state provides a program for design assistance.4. Compliance Measurement and Verification Best Practices

a. The state has a process in place to measure and evaluate compliance.1. The state has reviewed DOEs guidance on measuring energy code

compliance.

2. The state has its own evaluation methodology in place or inprogress.

3. Compliance studies have been performed in the recent past or areany currently being planned or executed.

5. Stakeholders Best Practicesa. Distribution and Regional Coordination

a.

You state seeks out and participates in regional involvement, enforcementand access to information on energy codes.

1. Your state has identified regional organizations and keystakeholders to assist in resource distribution and code awareness.

2. Your state has a central location where stakeholders can go forinformation on energy code information.

3. Your state provides a copy of the code, code commentary, andother guides to the code enforcement community.

Participate at a National Level

b. ICC and ASHRAE Participationa. Your state engages in the development of the national model codes and

standards and leverages the shared expertise and resources available in

national code forums.

1. Your state participates in IECC/IRC/IBC code development, sharesknowledge and experiences through ICC online forums.

2. Your state participates in ASHRAE Standard 90.1 development,shares knowledge and experiences through the ASHRAE

membership.

3. Your state annually sends at least one representative to the DOEcodes conference.

4. The state utilizes OCEAN resources.5. The state participates in OCEAN communities.

New Partnerships for Energy Code Compliance

c. New Partnerships for Energy Code Compliance


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a. Your state has initiatives, such as climate change, air quality, watersavings, or renewable energy objectives, at the state, local or utility level.

1. The state leverages savings through energy codes to addressproblems or goals regarding emissions.

2. The state has climate initiatives that can help to forge partnershipsfor energy code adoption or compliance.

3. The state has goals for the use of renewable energy.4. There is a statewide HERS Provider, and the state promoting the

health of the HERS infrastructure.

5. There is a state-supported 3rd-party agent certificationinfrastructure.

6. The state is actively developing partnerships to promote advancedprograms officially through incentives and resources as well as

informally by providing partnership opportunities.

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