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Code Status: Georgia

This page contains information about current energy codes in the state of Georgia. Information for all 50 States is also available. Georgia Code News.

Current State Codes

  • Residential Code: 2006 IECC with state amendments, mandatory statewide; can use REScheck to show compliance.
  • Commercial Code: ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2004, mandatory statewide; can use COMcheck to show compliance.
  • Code Change Cycle: New editions of codes are reviewed as soon as practicable after publication. Supplements and amendments are updated annually.
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Code Adoption & Change Process

Process Type: Regulatory

Code Change Process: New editions of codes are reviewed as soon as practicable after publication. Supplements and amendments are updated annually.

A rulemaking process is used to adopt new codes and to change existing codes. When a proposed code change is forwarded to the Department of Community Affairs, it is first reviewed by a task force consisting of engineers, architects, builders, and contractors. The task force evaluates the proposal and forwards it to the State Codes Advisory Committee if deemed appropriate. The Advisory Committee also evaluates the proposal and submits it for public hearing. If approved, the proposal is adopted by the Board of Community Affairs for inclusion into the next edition of the code. The Department of Community Affairs is responsible for final rulemaking.

State Code History: The initial edition of the Georgia Energy Code was promulgated by the State Building Administration Board as authorized by Ga. L., 1978, p. 2212, which went into effect on July 16, 1978. The code was based on both the Model Code for Energy Conservation and ASHRAE Standard 90-1975.

The 2000 IECC with state amendments went into effect on January 1, 2003, and SHGC 0.40 requirements which went into effect on January 1, 2004. ASHRAE 90.1-2001 became effective January 1, 2003, although Chapter 8 of the 2000 IECC could be used as an alternative.

The 2006 IECC went into effect January 1, 2008.

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Energy Consumption Estimates

The consumption estimates below are derived from the total end use of residential and commercial energy consumption in the United States in 2005, and are not limited to energy consumption based on building code-related factors. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.

  • Residential Sector: 727.0 Trillion BTU
  • Commercial Sector: 551.7 Trillion BTU
  • Total Energy Consumption: 1,278.7 Trillion BTU
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Construction Activity

Residential:

  • Population (2000 US Census)1: 8,186,453
  • Total Housing Units2: 3,487,088
  • 2004 New Housing Units Authorized by Permit (Privately Owned)3:
    • total units: 105,554
    • 1 unit: 85,691
    • 2 units: 696
    • 3 and 4 units: 526
    • 5+ units: 18,641
    • structures of 5+ units: 644

References:

  1. http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t2/tab01.xls
  2. http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/housing/sthuhh1.txt
  3. http://www.census.gov/const/C40/Table2/20k_t2yu200412.txt
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Web Links

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State Energy Code Contacts

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