BILL REQ. #:  H-0300.1 

Read first time 01/14/09.   Referred to Committee on Local Government & Housing.

     AN ACT Relating to solar water heater systems; and adding new sections to chapter 19.27 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) On or after January 1, 2012, a building permit may not be issued for a single-family dwelling that does not include a solar water heater system that meets the standards established under section 2 of this act unless a city or county building code enforcement authority approves a variance. A variance may only be approved if a city or county building code officer attests that:
     (a) Installation is impracticable due to poor solar resource;
     (b) Installation is cost-prohibitive based upon a life-cycle cost-benefit analysis that incorporates the average residential utility bill and the cost of the new solar water heater system with a life cycle that does not exceed fifteen years;
     (c) A substitute renewable energy system is used as the primary energy source for heating water. For the purposes of this section, a renewable energy system means a new system that captures and converts a renewable source of energy, such as wind, heat, or light from the sun into: (i) A usable source of thermal or mechanical energy; (ii) electricity; or (iii) fuel; or
     (d) A demand water heater device is installed and at least one other gas appliance is installed in the dwelling. For the purposes of this section, demand water heater means a gas-tankless instantaneous water heater that provides hot water only as it is needed.
     (2) A request for a variance must be submitted to the city or county building code enforcement authority on an application prescribed by the state building code council and must include, but not be limited to, a description of the location of the property and justification for the approval of a variance using the criteria established by the state building code council under section 2 of this act. A variance is deemed approved if not denied within thirty working days after receipt of the variance application.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   By December 1, 2009, the state building code council, in consultation with the energy policy division of the department of community, trade, and economic development, shall:
     (1) Adopt standards for solar water heater systems to include, but not be limited to, specifications for the performance, materials, components, durability, longevity, proper sizing, installation, and quality; and
     (2) Establish an application for a variance and the criteria for which a variance is permitted by a city or county building code enforcement authority.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) Beginning January 15, 2013, city and county building code enforcement authorities shall report to the state building code council for the previous calendar year regarding:
     (a) The number of solar water heater systems installed;
     (b) The number of variances issued; and
     (c) A description of why the variances were issued.
     (2) Beginning January 31, 2013, the state building code council shall report annually to the energy policy division of the department of community, trade, and economic development and the legislature regarding:
     (a) The number of solar water heater systems installed statewide and by city and county building code enforcement jurisdictions for the previous calendar year;
     (b) The number of variances issued statewide and by city and county building code enforcement jurisdictions for the previous calendar year; and
     (c) An analysis of the reasons variances were approved by city and county building code enforcement authorities.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   Sections 1 through 3 of this act are each added to chapter 19.27 RCW.