Improve energy efficiency standards

When businesses, consumers and energy conservation groups come together on an issue, as they have on state energy efficiency standards, people should take notice.

The stars have aligned here in Utah in an effort to update the state's residential building codes to meet national energy efficiency standards. The measure represents a win for businesses, residents buying new homes and the environment.

Energy codes establish minimum design and construction requirements for buildings. The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is the nation's primary energy code and is revised by building experts every 3 years. The most current 2009 IECC took effect for Utah's commercial buildings in July 2010; however, the weaker and less energy efficient 2006 version of the energy code is still in effect for Utah homes.

There are a number of reasons the Legislature should move to adopt the 2009 version for Utah residents:

Consumers will save money and have an easier time keeping their homes affordable. With most Utah homes below minimum standards for energy efficiency, homeowners spend far more on energy because so much is wasted. With the new code in place, Utah families will save an estimated $175 to $242 each year — even after any increases in mortgage or construction costs.

What's more, families are expected to see a positive return on investment within the first year.

Building homes to the updated code will create good local jobs for contractors and home efficiency professionals and help the economy recover.

Utah is running out of power. Updated energy codes help keep Utah's energy rates low by lessening the need to build new, expensive power plants. Rocky Mountain Power projects an electricity shortfall of over 1,500 megawatts in 2018 — equivalent to the output of two large coal-fired power plants.

With 75 percent of Utah-produced electricity consumed by homes and commercial buildings, it makes sense to do what we can to boost energy efficiency.

The new codes do not apply to existing homes or homeowners — only new ones. It makes more sense to address energy efficiency right from the start. According to Utah's Weatherization Assistance Program, the average cost of repairing home energy problems is $4,800, while it only costs $983 more to build homes to the updated codes.

Homeowners in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and 20 other states are recouping the benefits of long-term energy efficiency savings. Our Legislature should move quickly next session to update our state's residential energy efficiency code so that Utah consumers can reap the benefits of energy efficiency and the emerging green economy.

Clarence Tolbert is Vice President of NCFI Polyurethanes. NCFI has a manufacturing plant in Clearfield.