Building Energy Code (Texas)

Last modified on February 12, 2015.

Rules Regulations Policies Program

Place	Texas
Name	Building Energy Code
Incentive Type	Building Energy Code
Applicable Sector	Commercial, Residential
Eligible Technologies	Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building
Active Incentive	Yes
Implementing Sector	State/Territory
Energy Category	Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs
Code Change Cycle	No set schedule. Texas State Energy Conservation Office must issue a notification in the Texas Register of its intent to adopt an updated energy code.
Commercial Code	Energy performance standards based on 2009 IECC: mandatory for commercial, industrial, and multi-family residential building.
Residential Code	2009 International Residential Code (Chapter 11) for all residential construction, one- and two-family residences of three stories or less above grade
Website	http://bcap-ocean.org/state-country/texas
Date added to DSIRE	2006-07-31
Last DSIRE Review	2012-11-27
Last Substantive Modification to Summary by DSIRE	2012-01-02
References	DSIRE

Summary

Much of the information presented in this summary is drawn from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program and the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP). For more detailed information about building energy codes, visit the DOE and BCAP websites.

The Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) is authorized by HB 3693 of 2007 to adopt the new editions of the International Residential Code (IRC) and IECC if they will result in improved energy efficiency and air quality, based on the analysis and recommendations of the Energy Systems Lab at Texas A&M University. In June 2010, SECO officially adopted updates to both the commercial and residential codes. The new code for one- and two-family homes, which is based on 2009 IRC, took effect January 1, 2012. The new code for other residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, which is based on 2009 IECC, took effect April 1, 2011.

For buildings other than state-owned buildings, energy codes must be adopted by local code jurisdictions to be enforceable. Such adoption is normally achieved through a vote of the city council or the local government adoption process. Depending on the form of government, the mayor may be required to sign the law. Most local jurisdictions adopt either the Standard or Uniform Building Codes as their building code, but a few adopt the National Building Codes (NBC). The energy codes or standards are usually adopted by reference in the applicable building code (e.g., the MEC is adopted by reference in the NBC and in an Appendix of the SBC and UBC). For state-owned or -funded buildings, the provisions are adopted through the state's administrative process of publication, public comment, and hearings.

Incentive Contact

Contact Name	Eddy Trevino
Department	State Energy Conservation Office (CPA/SECO)
Address	111 E. 17th Street
Address 2	LBJ State Office Building, Room #1114
Place	Austin, Texas
Zip/Postal Code	78774
Phone	(512) 463-1876
Phone 2	(512) 463-1931
Email	eddy.trevino@cpa.state.tx.us
Website	http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us

Authorities (Please contact the if there are any file problems.)

Authority 1:	HB 3693 (2007)
Date Effective	2007-09-01
Date Enacted	2007-06-15

• Incentive and policy data are reviewed and approved by the N.C. Solar Center's DSIRE project staff.