Arkansas's Proposed Rule Adopting the 2009 IECC: Last Call for Written Comments

Arkansas has adopted the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), effective January 1, 2014. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission Energy Office is soliciting public comment on the Rule that will formally update the residential energy standard in Arkansas from IECC 2003 to IECC 2009. The deadline to submit written comments to the AEDC is close of business tomorrow, October 4, 2013.

Written comments should be addressed to J.D. Lowery, Deputy Director of the Arkansas Energy Office and submitted in any one of three ways: 

• POSTAL MAIL: Arkansas Economic Development Commission
  Attention: J.D. Lowery
  900 West Capitol, Suite 400
  Little Rock, Arkansas  72201 
• FAX: (501) 682-7499
• EMAIL:jlowery@ArkansasEDC.com  

 

The 2009 IECC residential energy standards would require that all new homes constructed in the State of Arkansas receive a HERS rating (including blower door and duct testing) and provide a home energy disclosure label for consumers in a manner similar to mpg ratings for vehicles or Energy Star ratings for appliances. Adoption of the rule is a necessary step toward listing Arkansas among the 40 other states that have previously upgraded their energy building codes to at least the 2009 standard.

The 2009 IECC is substantially different from the 2003 IECC, and these differences are specifically intended to improve energy efficiency. According to a 2009 study by the U.S. Department of Energy, “Impacts of the 2009 IECC for Residential Buildings at State Level,” “important new requirements” in the 2009 IECC include:

· A requirement that duct systems be tested and sealed, and air leakage minimized;

· Half of the lighting “lamps” in a building must be energy efficient;

· “Trade-off credits” are no longer available for high efficiency HVAC equipment. For example, under the 2006 IECC, use of a high efficiency furnace could be traded for a reduction in wall insulation. Such trade-offs are eliminated under the 2009 IECC;

· Vertical fenestration U-factor requirements and maximum allowable solar heat gain coefficients are reduced;

· Insulation requirements are improved and increased;

· Better air-sealing language;

· Controls for driveway/sidewalk snow melting systems; and,

· Pool covers are required for heated pools.

Obviously, more efficient sidewalk snow melting systems, basement insulation, and heated pools are not going to drive improved residential energy efficiency in Arkansas. The improvements in duct and HVAC efficiency, building envelope tightness and air sealing, and window and insulation requirements are the meat of the coconut for those in the Arkansas sustainasphere.

In 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy analyzed the impact of the 2009 IECC in Arkansas. The DOE study found an average savings of $242.00 per house, per year for homes meeting the requirements of the 2009 IECC.

Annual savings of $242.00 might not, at first blush, blow your skirt up. But consider: if the average life of a home is 30 years, not adopting the 2009 IECC will result in homeowners paying an additional $7,260.00 in energy costs over the life of the home.

 

The adoption of the 2009 IECC should also stimulate job creation and growth. The new requirements for air duct testing and sealing, and for general building envelope tightness will translate directly into a need for quality third-party testing, inspection, and compliance professionals. In simple terms, this means more home energy raters, auditors, inspectors, specialists, and consultants. These are skilled positions. Once created, they should become permanent parts of the sustainable economy.

More than pure economics, adopting the 2009 IECC is an integral step on the path to sustainability. Green building technology is rapidly evolving, and the only surefire way to ensure that Arkansans are provided with affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy is to adopt and enforce updated building standards based on current technology.

Here is a link to the AEDC’s proposed Rule adopting the 2009 IECC.

Arkansas Announces the Compressed Natural Gas Conversion Rebate Program

One result of the increasing prevalence of natural gas “fracking” in Arkansas is increased debate about the environmental consequences of the practice, including whether natural gas should really be considered a “renewable” (and sustainable) fuel resource. This is an important debate, but it should not obscure the fact that natural gas is a part of the clean energy economy and appropriately considered part of a diverse energy portfolio.

This is the premise of the Compressed Natural Gas Conversion Rebate Program, announced today by Governor Beebe. According to a press release on the Program from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission Energy Office,

The CNG Conversion Rebate Program will decrease our dependence on foreign oil and decrease our greenhouse gas emissions by providing an incentive rebate program to accelerate the use of alternative transportation fuel for government vehicles, fleet vehicles, taxis and mass transit.

When he announced the Program, Governor Beebe was singing from the same hymn book, commenting, “One of the hurdles to increasing the use of alternative fuels is building or converting infrastructure to make these fuels economically feasible. This program will encourage the use of less-expensive American fuel and that helps Arkansas’s economy.”

The Program will be administered by the Arkansas Energy Office, which is a division of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, and will make use of $2.2 million in stimulus funds. Here are the nuts and bolts of the Program:

• Eligible applicants are Arkansas state government agencies, institutions of higher education, cities, counties, school districts, and private fleets. A fleet is 10 or more vehicles.
• Eligible fleets must convert or purchase at least four vehicles.
• Program rebates will be 50% of the conversion cost or the incremental cost of purchasing new compressed natural gas vehicles. The rebates cannot exceed $25,000 per vehicle and will be paid directly to the fleet operators following the purchases or conversions.
• Conversion kits must be installed according to National Fire Protection Association standards and must be EPA certified.

The rebates are available on a first-come, first serve basis until December 31, 2011, or until the funds are depleted. This is a tight deadline, and those interested in a rebate should not sit on their hands.

The process is also a bit unusual. As opposed to simply applying for a rebate, interested parties must first submit a “reservation request form” to the Arkansas Energy Office. Once the form is received, and assuming it is in order, the Energy Office will reserve the requested funds for 45 days. The interested party must complete the conversion work or the purchase in that 45 day timeframe and then submit an application for the rebate. Funds will be reallocated if no application is received during the 45 day grace period.

In addition to the Compressed Natural Gas Conversion Rebate Program, the Arkansas Energy Office is dedicating $470,000 toward the development of at least two compressed natural gas refueling stations.

This is a step forward for the clean energy economy of Arkansas. The Rebate Program, particularly in tandem with the funds dedicated to the development of natural gas refueling stations, will contribute both to the emerging clean energy culture in Arkansas and to the development of long-needed clean energy infrastructure. The Program should also spur some job growth, even if temporary, since someone is going to need to actually do the conversions and build the refueling stations.

The Arkansas Energy Office will begin accepting Reservation Requests on August 19, 2011.

 

(Department of Deciphering Pictures: It's a natural gas molecule.)