For Immediate Release U.S. Conference of Mayors encourages eligible code officials to support broad-based group’s proposed historic boost in nation’s model residential energy code. WASHINGTON, DC, June 23, 2008 – If mayors get their way, municipal building code officials will vote to substantially boost energy efficiency in the 2009 version of America’s model energy code, the International Energy Conservation Code, or IECC. The IECC is amended every three years and is the model energy code recognized by federal law. The U.S. Conference of Mayors today unanimously adopted a resolution in support of “The 30% Solution,” a comprehensive package of achievable and affordable energy-efficiency proposals from the broad-based Energy Efficient Codes Coalition (EECC) that use proven, readily available, “state-of-the-shelf” technologies. “Because homes use 20 percent of our nation’s energy and account for roughly one-fifth of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, this obscure September vote at the International Code Council’s annual meeting in Minneapolis may be America’s MOST significant energy, environmental, and climate policy vote of 2008,” said William Fay, coordinator of the broad-based EECC. “We commend mayors for recognizing that because our homes play such a large role in energy consumption and are one of the last frontiers of wasted energy, they must also be a significant part of any viable national solution to our current energy crisis,” Fay continued. “Homeowners expect and deserve new homes that are reasonably energy efficient, since they are expected to last for generations.” The resolution also encourages mayors to send their maximum allowable ICC delegation to Minneapolis to vote for “The 30% Solution.” “The ICC’s triennial process to revise the IECC is a lot like the Iowa Caucus,” Fay added. “The success or failure of this important initiative depends on the eligible voters who are actually present in the room when the vote takes place . . . sometime between September 17 and 23. Depending on the population they represent, each city, state, county, or other governmental member of the ICC can send four, eight, or 12 voting delegates.” Calls for a stronger energy code – on the order of 30 percent or beyond – have come from a growing number of highly respected governmental and other bodies, including members of Congress and the EPA/DOE National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, ASHRAE, Western Governors’ Association, U.S. Department of Energy, Architecture 2030, National Petroleum Council, American Institute of Architects, and Mayors for Climate Protection. The following mayors sponsored the resolution:
About EECC The Energy Efficient Codes Coalition is a unique, broad-based alliance of longstanding energy efficiency advocates – from government, national energy efficiency groups, all five regional energy alliances, academia/think tanks, affordable housing advocates, architects, environmental groups, energy efficient home construction advocates, utilities, energy consumers and businesses – who support an ambitious leap forward in energy efficiency. Media Contact: William Fay 202-530-2214 ### |
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