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Code Status: Utah

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

Current State Codes

  • Residential Code: 2006 IECC mandatory statewide; can use REScheck or Home Energy Rating System (HERS) to show compliance.
  • Commercial Code: 2006 IECC mandatory statewide including ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1- 2004; can use COMcheck to show compliance.
  • Code Change Cycle: Code changes are ongoing with new editions of codes adopted when they become available. Most recent update: January 1, 2007.
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Code Adoption & Change Process

Process Type: Regulatory

Code Change Process: The Utah Building Code Commission is charged with forming advisory committees and recommending code adoptions and amendments to the Director of the Building Codes Division. The Director is responsible for receiving and approving these recommendations, as well as code adoptions. Public hearings are scheduled as part of the rulemaking process. The Building Code Commission and Utah Energy Office work closely with the Utah Energy Conservation Coalition on the development of appropriate energy codes for the state.

State Code History: A Utah Uniform Building Standards Act was passed in 1953. In January 1976 a bill was passed that provided for the adoption of an energy conservation code for state buildings, suggested voluntary compliance by the state's political subdivisions, and recommended voluntary compliance by the state's building industry. In March 1977 legislation was passed requiring the Building Board to promulgate an energy conservation code and providing political subdivisions and the State Board of Education authority to adopt their own code or a modified version of the state code. Effective January 1978, a code based on the Model Code for Energy Conservation (MCEC) went into effect.

On January 1, 2007, Utah adopted the 2006 IECC for residential and commercial buildings.

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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: 149.7 Trillion BTU
  • Commercial Sector: 143.4 Trillion BTU
  • Total Energy Consumption: 293.1 Trillion BTU
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Construction Activity

Residential:

  • Population (2000 US Census)1: 2,233,169
  • Total Housing Units2: 808,593
  • 2004 New Housing Units Authorized by Permit (Privately Owned)3:
    • total units: 24,891
    • 1 unit: 20,915
    • 2 units: 430
    • 3 and 4 units: 901
    • 5+ units: 2,645
    • structures of 5+ units: 210

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

David Wilson
Utah Energy Conservation Coalition, Inc.
313 N State, #A
Orem, UT 84057

Tel: (801) 765-0034
Fax: (801) 765-1976
dwilson13@qwest.net

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