81R7794 PAM-D
By: Farrar H.B. No. 2778
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the revision of building energy efficiency performance
standards.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 388, Health and Safety Code, is amended
by adding Section 388.0035 to read as follows:
Sec. 388.0035. REVISION OF STANDARDS. (a) At least once
every five years, the State Energy Conservation Office shall
review:
(1) revisions made by the International Code Council
to the International Energy Conservation Code and the energy
efficiency chapter of the International Residential Code after May
1, 2001; and
(2) local amendments made to the codes or energy
efficiency programs that have strengthened energy efficiency
requirements.
(b) The review must be conducted in consultation with the
laboratory and an advisory committee established by the State
Energy Conservation Office.
(c) The State Energy Conservation Office by rule shall
establish a procedure for persons who have an interest in the
adoption of standards for energy efficiency under Sections
388.003(a) and (b) to have an opportunity to comment on the
standards under consideration. The office shall consider persons
who have an interest in adoption of standards to include:
(1) commercial and residential builders, architects,
and engineers;
(2) municipal, county, and other local governmental
authorities; and
(3) environmental groups.
(d) Following the completion of the review, the State Energy
Conservation Office by rule shall adopt revised standards for
energy efficiency to replace the standards under Sections
388.003(a) and (b).
(e) The revised standards must result in reducing either
projected annual or ozone season energy consumption in new
buildings by a minimum of 15 percent compared to the standards being
used at the time of the review.
(f) To achieve the goal of adopting standards by January 1,
2030, that will result in residential construction designed to
consume no more energy on a net annual basis than can be produced
on-site from renewable energy sources, the State Energy
Conservation Office and the advisory committee shall, not later
than January 1, 2011:
(1) conduct a study on the feasibility of reaching
that goal; and
(2) make recommendations to the legislature on a
schedule for adopting progressive standards to reach that goal.
SECTION 2. The following sections are repealed:
(1) Sections 388.003(b-1) and (b-2), Health and Safety
Code, as added by Section 3.01, Chapter 262 (S.B. 12), and Section
11, Chapter 939 (H.B. 3693), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2007; and
(2) Section 388.003(b-3), Health and Safety Code.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.