Portland's stricter energy code for builders will go into effect on July 1
A new building code that will affect both residential and commercial construction will go into effect July 1 in Portland.
The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) will go into effect in Portland on July 1. This will affect new residential and commercial construction, as well as many expansions and renovations of existing structures.
Portland will be the first municipality in Maine and among the first in the nation to adopt this code.
Proponents say the new standards will greatly improve energy efficiency, while critics of the international code have said they worry cities will lose local control of the building process.
The state Legislature passed a law last year requiring the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code Board (MUBEC) to adopt the IECC 2015 as the energy code for the state. Portland took it a step further and “joined with clean energy advocates to successfully advocate for the inclusion of a stricter, ‘stretch’ energy code that municipalities could voluntarily adopt” — adopting the 2021 IECC code, the city said in a press release this week.
Portland officially adopted it with the passage of the Green New Deal (Referendum Question C), which was approved by city voters in November.
The U.S. Department of Energy has determined that the 2015 IECC is 20% to 25% more efficient than the 2009 (current) code, and the 2021 IECC is 10% to 15% more efficient than the 2015 Code.
Adoption of this code puts Portland on a path to achieve its goal that all new construction should be net zero by 2030, the city said.
Some of the things included in the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code include:
- Residential fuel burning systems will be required to be at least 95% energy efficient.
- Residential wall insulation increased to R-30 or 20+5c or 13+10c or 0+20c/U-0.045.
- Residential ceiling/Roof insulation increased to R-60.
- Fenestration (window) requirements are changing from U-factor of 0.35 to a factor of 0.30.
- Blower door tests have become a requirement in some construction and occupancy types, regardless of which compliance option you choose to use to meet code compliance.
- Changes to existing buildings are now regulated under their own chapters in the Residential and Commercial Energy Codes.
The 2021 Code will apply for any new projects submitted on or after July 1. Projects that are currently under review before July 1 will be subject to the previous code requirements.
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