Vermont State Snapshot

VERMONT CURRENT CODE

Residential: Vermont Residential Building Energy Standard, based on 2000 IECC Commercial: 2005 Vermont Guidelines for Energy Efficient Commercial Construction, based on IECC 2004. DEMOGRAPHICS

Vermont will receive $21.9 Million from the federal government if the state adopts the latest energy codes:  IECC 2009 (International Energy Conservation Code)  ASHRAE 90.1 2007 (American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) Accumulated residential sector savings, 2009 to 2020, would be:  5 billion Btu of energy  35 thousand metric tons of CO2 (Equivalent to annual greenhouse gases for 6,410 passenger vehicles)

Population: 621,270 Total Housing Units: 299,570 ENERGY CONSUMPTION Residential Sector: 47.7 Trillion BTU Commercial Sector: 31.2 Trillion BTU 59% of the state’s fuel oil supply is used for heating residential homes. Nuclear power accounts for three fourths of electricity generated in Vermont. Total energy consumption is the lowest of any state in the nation. CODE CHANGE CYCLE Updated every three years

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$6 million 

$6 million would pay more than the full undergraduate tuition of current students at private universities in Vermont.

FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES: In February 2009 the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allocated $3.1 billion for U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program (SEP) to assist states with building energy efficiency efforts. As one of the requirements to receive SEP grants, state governors must certify to DOE that their state will implement energy codes of equal or greater stringency than the latest national model codes (currently IECC 2009 and Standard 90.1-2007). Thus, it is in the state’s best economic interests to adopt these standards statewide and begin enjoying the benefits of an efficient building sector. CODE ADOPTION AND CHANGE PROCESS: Regulatory process: RBES Revisions go through a process specified in the State Administrative Procedures Act (3 V.S.A. Chapter 25), including public notification, public hearing, testimony, and comments. The Vermont Department of Public Service must provide technical assistance and expert advice to the Commissioner of Labor and Industry on the interpretation of the RBES and in formulating specific revisions to the RBES. At least one year prior to adopting required revisions to the RBES, the Department of Public Service must convene an advisory committee to provide recommendations to the commissioner. For more information please consult the Building Codes Assistance Project (www.bcap-energy.org) or Nick Zigelbaum ([email protected])

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