The Governor’s request energy efficiency bill, HB 1257, sponsored by Rep. Beth Doglio (D–Olympia), makes a number of significant changes. For cities in particular, below are the highlights of changes to the building codes.

Residential energy code changes

The bill authorizes a city, town, or county to adopt additional residential energy code requirements as developed by the State Building Code Council (SBCC). By December 1, 2019, the SBCC must adopt the following optional efficiency appendices and include them in the code for residential buildings:

• An optional appendix providing energy code provisions that will reduce energy use by an additional 8 to 10 percent compared to the minimum code; and
• An optional appendix providing energy code provisions that will reduce energy use by an additional 16 to 20 percent compared to the minimum code.

The SBCC must amend the two optional appendices whenever it amends the minimum code requirements in order to achieve the incremental savings required by 2031.

Commercial energy code changes

By July 1, 2020, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) must establish by rule a State Energy Performance Standard (Standard) for covered commercial buildings.

• "Covered commercial building" means a building where the sum of nonresidential, hotel, motel, and dormitory floor areas exceeds 50,000 gross square feet, excluding the parking garage area.
• Owners of covered buildings must receive notification of compliance requirements no later than July 1, 2021.
• In developing the Standard, Commerce must seek to maximize reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the building sector. The Standard must include energy use intensity targets by building type and methods of conditional compliance that include an energy management plan, operations and maintenance program, energy efficiency audits, and investments in energy efficiency measures designed to meet the targets.
• Commerce must update the Standard by July 1, 2029, and every five years thereafter.
• Commerce may impose an administrative penalty upon a building owner for failing to submit documentation demonstrating compliance with the requirements of the Standard.

A building owner of a covered commercial building must meet the following compliance schedule:

• June 1, 2026, for a building with more than 220,000 gross square feet;
• June 1, 2027, for a building with more than 90,000 gross square feet but less than 220,001 gross square feet; and
• June 1, 2028, for a building with more than 50,000 gross square feet but less than 90,001 gross square feet.

A covered commercial building is exempt from the Standard if it meets at least one of several listed criteria, including:

• The building did not have a certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate of occupancy for all 12 months of the calendar year prior to the building owner compliance schedule;
• The building is an agricultural structure; or
• The primary use of the building is manufacturing or other industrial purposes.

Building requirements for electric vehicle infrastructure

The SBCC must develop rules for electric vehicle infrastructure that require electric vehicle charging capability at all new buildings.

Please let us know if you have any feedback.

Dates to remember

HB 1257 will be heard Tuesday, January 29 at 3:30 am in the House Environment & Energy Committee.