Without fanfare or articles in the mainstream media, the Energy Efficient Building Act became effective in Illinois on January 29, 2010 for most new residential construction in Illinois. As mentioned in an earlier blog, Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn signed the new statewide residential energy code into law on August 28th 2009. The delay between signing the law and its effective date has been the necessity to write the administrative rules.
The Energy Efficient Building Act adopts the requirements of the latest edition of the International Energy Code, currently the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The requirements are statewide, with the exemption of a few communities such as the City of Chicago and approximately 30 other municipalities that had adopted the 2006 IECC prior to May 15th, 2009. Apart from the exempted communities, no local municipality has the authority to mandate energy requirements less than or greater than the requirements of the 2009 IECC.
It’s likely that many architects, builders and code officials are not yet aware of the new residential energy code requirements. Although SWA Architects has already been providing upgraded insulation packages for many of the homes we design, the new code will affect some of our details and specifications. (more…)
