COLORADO GREEN BUILDING GUILD

Residential Green Building Codes

IMPORTANT NOTICE! CODE AMENDMENTS PROCESSING SCHEDULE, Boulder County Building Code Amendments Update Hearing/Meeting Information

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Energy codes in Colorado are not enforced at the state level. Local enforcement agencies in jurisdictions that have adopted building codes are required to enforce the provisions of the residential energy code at the local level, but may adopt their own requirements without state approval.

City of Boulder

Green Building and Green Points Program  The Green Building and Green Points Program is supported by the Community Planning & Sustainability Department including:

The Local Environmental Action Division (LEAD), facilitating the outreach and eduction of the city's Green Building and Green Points Program that encourages the use of cost-effective and sustainable remodeling and building methods and technologies that conserve energy, water and other natural resources, which reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Planning and Development Services, administering the Green Building and Green Points Program as part of the commercial and residential building permit process.

City of Boulder Codes

Land Use Regulations

Boulder County

BuildSmart In early 2008 Boulder County adopted BuildSmart, a green building program for new residential construction. The BuildSmart Program sets mandatory requirements and optional recommendations to improve energy efficiency, conserve water and resources and reduce waste generated by new construction and additions. Program elements have been incorporated into the Boulder County Building Code, with the first elements starting in May 2008. The program was updated in April 2010. Revised Boulder County BuildSmart Regulations (Chapter 11: Energy Efficiency) Effective April 1, 2010

SmartRegs At a third reading on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010, SmartRegs was unanimously approved after more than a year of collaboration with various community and technically-based subcommittees, city advisory boards and residents.  The adopted ordinances will go into effect on Jan. 3, 2011.

Other Boulder County Codes

Longmont: With the adoption of the 2009 International Codes, the City of Longmont also adopted the 2008 National Green Building Standard (NGBS). The NGBS is a new green building code that calculates compliance for all new residential dwelling units, including single family, multi-family or mixed use buildings, residential additions over 800 square feet in size and residential renovations (including basement finish projects) over 1800 square feet in size. The required number of points is explained in the NGBS Green Points Ordinance link below. Click here for the link to the NGBS Home Page to help you calculate the required number of points for your project.

For those additions less than 800 square feet in size or renovations (including basement finish projects) less than 1800 square feet in size you will need to use the Longmont Green Points program to determine the necessary points for your project. A link to the Longmont Green Points Application and the Green Points Guide to help you determine how your project will comply with this ordinance, are listed below. For questions about green codes or other code questions please contact the City of Longmont Building Inspection Division at 303-651-8332. Longmont Green Points Ordinance

State of Colorado

Colorado received $50,222,000 in State Energy Program funding from the Recovery Act to adopt the 2009 IECC. In addition, it received $40,348,766 in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funding to assist local governments in implementing energy efficiency programs. Download 2009 IECC here  The presentation for the 2009 IECC code: http://www.colorado.gov/energy/images/uploads/pdfs/2009_IECC_Fundamentals.pdf

Colorado Building and Energy Codes Compiled by E-Star Colorado

National

US DOE: Building Energy Codes Program: Information resource on national model energy codes.

Other

Public Utilities Commission – Where to find information about regulations for utilities.