New Oregon commercial building code aims at efficiency

The Department of Consumer and Business Services Building Codes Division adopted a new energy code for commercial buildings this week designed to improve energy efficiency.

The 2010 Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code for commercial buildings, effective July 1, will achieve a 15 percent reduction in energy use in new commercial construction, according to the division.

The new code will improve energy efficiency in buildings by making changes in three main areas:

• • Requiring increased insulation and energy-efficient windows.
• • Adding automatic lighting controls.
• • Requiring more efficient mechanical systems such as more energy-efficient furnaces.

Some portions of the code have been proposed to become part of the model national building code that will be released in 2012.

The energy-efficiency improvements were driven by Senate Bill 79, proposed by the Gov. Ted Kulongoski and passed by the Legislature last year. In addition to increasing the energy efficiency in commercial construction, the bill directs the Building Codes Division to develop a set of optional construction standards that go beyond the mandatory requirements code. Work to develop this optional portion, called the “reach code,” is ongoing.

“Developing strong energy-efficiency standards for buildings is important because buildings consume about 40 percent of our energy supply,” said Gov. Kulongoski in press release.

The Building Codes Division is also working on statewide standards for electric vehicle charging stations, a soar installation code, and facilitating the installation of rainwater harvesting and gray water reuse systems.