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SALT LAKE CITY -- As hundreds of federal energy regulators, building-code industry experts and energy-efficiency company representatives kick off the National Conference on Energy Codes, local energy-efficiency advocates are spotlighting Utah's own outdated building codes.
The question on the table is whether the law should require all new homes to be built to a tougher standard for energy efficiency.
"There's definitely an irony there that Salt Lake City was chosen to be the location and here we are debating whether or not to adopt energy codes that are two years old," Kevin Emerson, a policy analyst for Utah Clean Energy, said while attending the three-day conference at the Marriott City Center hotel.
I have a little bit of a difficult time requiring people to buy something.
–Rep. Mike Morley, R-Spanish Fork
Emerson said many of Utah families could benefit from higher homebuilding code standards, which would require Utah home builders to use the latest in energy-efficient materials.
"The homeowner will have more money in their pocket to spend on things that are important to them," he said.
The Utah Legislature passed on updating Utah's home-energy codes last session, due in part by concerns from some Utah homebuilders, who said it would add to the cost of new homes.
"(Homeowners) felt that it would be expensive and that the return on investment would be quite small," said Rep. Mike Morley, R-Spanish Fork.
Emerson said Utah's top homebuilding companies build to a standard above the state's current codes, but that only accounts for about 30 to 40 percent of homes built in Utah. Smaller home companies are using outdated technologies and materials that could cost some Utah families hundreds of dollars in higher energy bills.
"I have a little bit of a difficult time requiring people to buy something," said Rep. Mike Morley, R-Spanish Fork.
The new codes set tougher rules on leaks in heating and air conditioning ducts, and they'd have to be leak-tested by an independent party. Exterior walls would need better insulation. Lighting would be with high-efficiency bulbs. Clean-energy advocates say the extra cost in a mortgage would be outweighed by lower energy bills.
"The savings would be greater than the costs by about $10 to $15, maybe even $20 per month," Emerson said.
The homeowner will have more money in their pocket to spend on things that are important to them.
–Kevin Emerson
An analysis by the Utah Uniform Building Codes Commission shows that an average Utah home built to the more recent 2009 International Energy Conservation Code standard would save 10 to 17 percent on energy bills; or about $175 a year.
Brent Ursenbach, a building-code official and energy-code expert for Salt Lake County, said there needs to be more education for consumers and builders about the benefits of updating energy codes. He said each three-year code update usually leads to a 15 percent increase in utility bill savings.
"People really don't understand why their utility bills are so high. Everybody needs to become a little bit more educated on the value of more energy-efficient building codes," Ursenbach said.
Emerson said applying the updated building standards would cost just under $1,000 to a house's construction price, although Utah homebuilders have told law makers that cost is up around $8,000.
"The Homebuilders Association estimated those costs to be somewhere between $2,500 and $3,000," said Morley.
Emerson called that estimate overly inflated.
"Especially in a time of increasing utility rates, it's beneficial to give most families access to the latest and greatest technology to lower utility bills," Emerson said. Rocky Mountain Power has requested a rate increase that could cost the average Utah homeowner an extra $8.50 a month. That rate increase, if approved by the state, would take effect next January.
A bill proposing to update Utah's building codes was tabled during the last legislative session for further discussion during the Legislature's interim session. It is expected the bill will be revisited in committee this fall.
Story written by Geoffrey Fattah with contributions from John Hollenhorst
