HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 EHB 2061

                       As Passed House

                       March 12, 1991

Title:  An act relating to the state energy code for nonresidential buildings.

Brief Description:  Regulating amendments to the Washington state energy code.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Grant, Cooper and H. Myers.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Energy & Utilities, March 5, 1991, DPA;

Passed House, March 12, 1991, 71-27.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

ENERGY & UTILITIES

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.  Signed by 7 members:  Representatives Grant, Chair; H. Myers, Vice Chair; Bray; Cooper; R. Fisher; Jacobsen; and Rayburn.

Minority Report: Do not pass.  Signed by 4 members:  Representatives May, Ranking Minority Member; Hochstatter, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Casada; and Miller.

Staff:  Fred Adair (786-7113).

Background:  Energy efficiency investment is acknowledged to be the most economical means for acquiring additional electric energy.  Non-residential buildings are a large potential energy efficiency electric energy resource.

New buildings represent a lost opportunity for efficient energy use if they are built to less than optimum levels of energy efficiency.  It is much more expensive, if indeed practicable, to retrofit buildings to these levels of energy efficiency.

The State Building Code Council is well suited administratively and technically to evaluate and effect any changes to the state non-residential building energy code.

Summary of Bill:  The Washington State Energy Code, 1986 edition, is the minimum state energy code for non-residential buildings.

The State Building Code Council may, by rule, amend the energy code for non-residential buildings if the amendments increase the energy efficiency of typical newly-constructed buildings and adopted measures, standards, or requirements are technically feasible, commercially available, and are cost-effective for building owners and tenants.

In amendments described above, the Council shall establish and consult with a technical advisory committee of specified membership.

Non-residential building energy code changes shall be made prior to December 31, of a year and shall not take effect before the end of the subsequent regular legislative session.  Substantial code amendments shall be adopted no more often than every three years.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The current non-residential building energy codes are technically six years old but really 11 years old.  There have been tremendous technical advances since then, especially in building lighting and energy management controls.  The energy situation is such that energy efficient buildings should be built.  This bill will bring construction requirements up to what is now good energy-efficient construction practice.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Marc Sullivan, Chairman, State Building Code Council; Tony Usibelli, State Energy Office; Ron Newbry, Pacific Power and Light Company; Blair Patrick, Washington Association of Building Officials; and Ted Bottiger, Member, Northwest Power Planning Council.