Energy efficiency won a big victory this month. ELPC's two-year public advocacy campaign for an energy efficiency building code in Illinois has succeeded. On May 20th, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Illinois Energy Efficient Commercial Building Act, HB 4099, which now goes to Governor Blagojevich for signature. HB 4099 covers all commercial, industrial and multi-unit residential buildings, but not single-family homes. It requires all new construction or substantial rehab of such existing buildings to meet the International Energy Conservation Code standards.
Doing energy efficiency "right" at the new construction and major rehab stage is by far the most cost-effective time to make these pro-environmental and energy cost reduction investments. This is the single most important policy step that a state can take to increase energy efficiency in buildings and reduce pollution through avoided electric power and natural gas use. An energy efficiency building code is a key carbon-reduction strategy in ELPC's Repowering the Midwest "low-CO2 blueprint" for the region.
Illinois is the largest energy-consuming state in the nation without a statewide energy efficient building code, and one of only twelve states with no energy code for commercial construction. Our coalition engaged over 40 members, including Illinois businesses, environmental groups, consumer groups, health advocacy organizations and business associations. Key coalition members who invested staff time included BCAP, the American Institute of Architects, North American Insulation Manufacturers' Association, the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois, and Citizens Action. The strong grassroots campaign generated faxes, emails, letters and phone calls from individual and business members of our coalition.
Following Governor Blagojevich's hoped-for bill signing, ELPC plans to be involved in implementing this new law to make sure that the Code is applied and that it works. This is good news for all of us interested in moving energy efficiency forward.
Loading...