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INTRODUCTION

Oregon is proud of its legacy of early development and adoption of leading energy codes. Oregon's progressive building code system began in 1973 with the creation of the Building Codes Division. The Division was authorized to develop a statewide mandatory minimum building code, requiring the code to be enforced in every jurisdiction. No jurisdiction could modify/reduce the effectiveness of the state code. Starting on July 1, 1974, Oregon's first statewide building code became mandatory for all new building permits. Chapter 53 of the 1974 building code included the nation's first mandatory statewide energy code requirements.

For over 40 years, Oregon's system has delivered consistent code compliance, providing a greater return on its energy code. The Division, through its boards, has balanced the code for all Oregonians across dense urban areas and in rural locales. For example, Harney County has a population just under 8,000 spread across 10,000 square miles (25,900 km2). Over time, model energy codes have caught up with Oregon, thanks in part to Oregonians' participation in the national code process.

Moving forward, Oregon has set targets for reducing energy use in buildings with a vision of a net-zero goal. In 2009 Oregon's legislature passed Senate Bill 79¹, tying future energy code development to the 2030 Challenge from Architecture 2030².

In late 2017, Executive Order 17-20 directed the Division to focus on exceeding the national energy codes by 2023. This included a mandate that new structures be solar-ready³. To meet this order, the Division re-examined its energy code adoption process. The process had become time consuming and costly. In early 2018, when Architecture 2030 released their ZERO Code, the ZERO Code offered a new outlook: early adoption of the latest version of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 (the Standard). The ZERO Code framework could raise awareness of how renewable energy sources impact the "path to zero" for new construction.

Architecture 2030 recognizes that efficiency programs focused on reducing the energy use of existing construction cannot succeed if new construction adds back energy use. The ZERO Code is intended to "zero" the impact of new construction. The statutory authority of the building code is limited to new construction and alterations when a permit is required and is the focus of the Division's work. Advances continue in the areas of appliance standards and plug loads, energy reporting, and building energy limits (New York City and Washington State), but are outside building code authority and the scope of this work.

Division staff studied the impacts of using the Standard in relation to the state's goals. A review of whether Oregon can get to zero on Architecture 2030 timeline from the building energy code standpoint was conducted. The interaction of the building code and renewable energy was analyzed.

Early adoption of the most current edition of Standard 90.1 would reap many benefits. But issues relating to renewable energy could slow meeting the State's zero goals. Zero requires not only addressing renewable energy, but maintaining flexibility to address the rapidly evolving areas of energy storage, demand-side management, community/micro-grids, and carbon policy. Because some work may require legislation, forward thinking is needed to plan for Oregon's 2-year legislative schedule.