A Comparison of Building Energy Code Stringency: 2009 IECC Versus 2012 IECC for Commercial Construction in Texas

Abstract

In 2007, the 80th legislature mandated the Energy Systems Laboratory (Laboratory) to take part in Texas rule-making process. As detailed in the Health and Safety Code, Chapter 388, Texas Building Energy Performance Standards, Sec. 388.003 (b-1), the Laboratory is required to submit written recommendations to the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) on whether the energy efficiency provisions of the latest published editions of the International Residential Code (IRC) or the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for residential or commercial energy efficiency and air quality are equivalent to or more stringent than the provisions of editions previously adopted as the Texas Building Energy Performance Standards (TBEPS). This report, focusing on Commercial Construction provisions, is in support of the letter of recommendation sent to the State Energy Conservation office on December 8, 2011. The report provides a detailed technical analysis comparing the stringency of the Texas Building Energy Performance Standards (TBEPS), based on the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (2009 IECC), Chapter 5, to the recently published 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (2012 IECC), Chapter 4 (CE).