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Builders
utlook
2013 issue 7
NAHB: Code Amendments Can Save Home Buyers, Builders Big Bucks When a state moves to update or modify its energy code, the decision can have major cost repercussions for home builders and home buyers. NAHB's successful effort to amend or prevent adoption of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) in several states was a victory for sensible, flexible, cost-effective regulation. According to the Home Innovation Research Labs' (formerly known as the NAHB Research Center) 2012 IECC Cost Effectiveness Analysis, it costs $7,034 more to build a home to the 2012 IECC than to the 2006 IECC. Bringing the code up the 2012 version would be tremendously difficult and expensive in states that have not updated their codes in recent years. While states often amend codes to fit their specific needs, the 2012 version adds considerably to cost, is less flexible, favors certain products and oftentimes saves little energy. For states that may be contemplating a switch to the 2012 IECC, NAHB has proposed several amendments the states should consider implementing to make the code more cost effective rather than adopting the energy code as published: • Eliminate requirements for insulating hot water pipes in a home. The estimated cost of this provision varies from $500 to $1,000 for an average size house. The energy cost savings would be $5 to $9 per year, meaning it could take as long as 200 years to recoup the additional expense. • Reinstate energy-neutral equipment trade-offs. This would provide builders the flexibility to decide the most cost-effective way to comply with the 2012 IECC. For example, a builder could potentially choose to install a high-efficiency furnace rather than put in additional wall or attic insulation as prescribed by the code. This could reduce the overall cost to both the builder and the consumer.
2012 Energy Code training August 14 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Location: El Paso Assciation of Builders 6046 Surety El Paso, Texas Reservations: 778-5387 Training provided by: "Energy Systems Lab" from Texas A&M Sponsored by: • The City of El Paso • The Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club • The El Paso Association of Builders
• Provide the flexibility to ease the air tightness rating requirement for all homes. The 2012 IECC is the only version to mandate this type of testing for all residential buildings. The rating standard varies depending on the climate zone (1 through 8) where a house is located. Fewer than 10% of existing homes nationwide meet the requirements for Climate Zones 3-8 (3 air changes – the number of times air is replaced in a home — per hour when tested at 50 pascals of pressure). Today's new homes are already far more energy-efficient than the existing housing stock. Placing even more stringent requirements on new home construction would be prohibitively costly while only marginally improving energy savings.
• Ease wall insulation requirements in Climate Zone 3. The 2012 IECC increased the wall insulation requirements in Climate Zone 3 (Southeast and South Central U.S.) from R-13 to R-20. Based on NAHB calculations, this will add $1,199 to the cost of a new home. This mandate would provide an energy savings of only about $50 per year, and it would take 24 years to recoup the initial cost. • Reduce wall insulation requirements in Climate Zone 6. The 2012 IECC increased the wall insulation requirements in Climate Zone 6 (northern New England and upper Midwest) from an R-20 cavity insulation to R-20 cavity insulation plus R5 continuous insulation. This is the first time the energy code has included a prescriptive requirement for
continuous insulation. Based on NAHB calculations, this will increase the cost of construction by $1,819 for an average house. With an estimated annual energy savings of $33, it would be 55 years before a home owner would save money on this insulation cost. • Lower basement insulation requirements in Climate Zone 5. The 2012 IECC increased the basement wall requirements from R-10 to R-15 in Climate Zone 5 (a swath of states stretching from coast-to-coast across the central part of the nation). This increase in insulation is expected to cost an average of $590 per house with an associated payback of just $7 per year. That means it would be 84 years before a home owner would net any savings.