Energy

STATE TO CARRY OUT NEW COMMERCIAL BUILDING ENERGY CODE

Governor M. J. "Mike" Foster Jr. and state and federal officials gathered Tuesday for a ceremonial signing of Louisiana's new commercial building energy conservation code. A blue- ribbon panel of citizens and public officials that helped develop the energy code legislation also participated in the event. The state Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Energy section assisted in drafting the new law which was passed in this recent legislative session.

Governor Foster said that the new energy code will be good for the environment and the economy. Within ten years, indicators show that these new conservation efforts are expected to save Louisiana building owners over $4 million annually in energy costs; will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 113 millions pounds annually, the equivalent of emissions from 54,249 cars; and should save 323 billion Btu of energy annually, the equivalent of 2.5 million gallons of gasoline.

Governor Foster had special praise for the consensus-building process by which the energy code was developed with the work of members of the Commercial Building Energy Code Advisory Committee. The committee representatives were selected to serve by DNR Secretary Jack Caldwell.

The National Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires that states incorporate energy efficiency standards into their building codes for commercial buildings. Louisiana's energy code will apply to all new commercial buildings constructed in the state. This includes everything except one-and two-family residential dwellings. It will take effect on January 1, 1999.

Many buildings are exempt from the code, including buildings of less than 100 square feet of gross floor area; buildings with a low energy use, such as warehouses; and buildings intended primarily for manufacturing or commercial or industrial processing. In addition, special allowances are made for historic buildings.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) official Mark Ginsberg announced at the ceremony DOE's approval of a grant to the state of $160,000 to fund two years of extensive training and technical assistance in support of the new energy code. "We consider ourselves a partner, not only in the passage of the energy code, but also in its successful implementation," he said. Caldwell announced the establishment of a toll-free number for questions and technical assistance concerning the new energy code. The number is 1-800-836-9589 and is toll-free from anywhere within Louisiana. Caldwell noted that with DOE grant assistance the department would be able to provide energy code training, code materials, computer software and technical assistance to Louisiana builders, architects, engineers and interested citizens."

Enforcement of Louisiana's commercial building energy code will fall under the State Fire Marshal's office and will be incorporated into their existing commercial building plan review process. It will be funded by a $20 fee on commercial building plan submissions.

This enforcement method relieves individual building code permit authorities from any additional responsibility and provides some measure of assurance to the building design community that someone has reviewed their plans and finds them in apparent compliance with the energy code.

Under the plan, the state fire marshal will review all commercial building plans for compliance with the energy code. After review of the plans, the state fire marshal will provide the permittee with a letter of apparent compliance or a letter of apparent non-compliance. The legislation mandates that the energy code review process shall not delay the normal state fire marshal review process.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U. S. DOE Mark Ginsberg, DNR Secretary Jack Caldwell, State Fire Marshal Vincent J. Bella, and State Representatives N. J. Damico and Kip Holden joined Governor Foster at the signing ceremony along with members of the advisory committee.

Editors: For more information, contact DNR's Energy section, Project Manager Wade Byrd at (504) 342-3476.