With many areas slowly adopting the IECC 2015 and moving out of the older IECC 2009 and IECC 2012 models it has many builders, architects, engineers, home owners and building inspectors asking what is next. After all, it is already 2016 so in theory the 2015 code is already dated. Through our travels and industry insight we wanted to provide you an in depth look at what the next code is.
The next set of IECC codes is undoubtedly the IECC 2018. It can be seen taking shape on the horizon. This new code will be voted on by building, energy, and DOE officials. Most recently we traveled to Louisville, KY for committee hearings on the 2018 code and what we heard was interesting. Here are a few of the key points.
- May reinstall equipment tradeoffs
- Could allow use of renewable energy (solar panels) to compensate for less efficient structures
- Might be less efficient code than IECC 2015 once completed (but doubtful)
- Online voting May 11th through June 24th
- Public hearings on the IECC 2018 in Kansas City, October 16th-25th.
Our plan to be ready for the IECC 2018 is a multifaceted. We used the same plan to prepare for New Jersey, Michigan, and Summit County, Colorado recent adoptions of the 2015 IECC. It involves training, updating our in house software and apps, and doing as many Reschecks in the new code that we can get our hands on.
I always find it interesting how jurisdictions can still operate on a 2009 IECC code in 2016. The flipside of the coin is that many areas have no energy code at all. The IECC 2012 code has been estimated to have saved homeowners over 5 billion dollars. This by just allowing them to be aware of how an efficient home should be built. Then having the confidence and ability to question insulation values with a numbers based model and report.
Overall, Rescheck reporting is just now preparing up for the implementation of the IECC 2015 code in more and more areas. So any impact from the upcoming IECC 2018 will probably not be seen until at least 2019. Even then you would only expect the most progressive areas to be first adopters. Either way, Rescheck.info will follow the entire process, in person, and keep you up to date with the details as it progresses.