Southwest Energy Efficiency Project

Colorado

Building Energy Codes

As a home rule state, mandatory building energy codes are adopted and enforced on a local level. As of June 2007, 67 communities in Colorado have adopted some form of the International Energy Conservation Code; visit the website of the International Code Council at www.iccsafe.org for up-to-date jurisdictional adoption information.

The Colorado Governor’s Energy Office has developed voluntary energy guidelines for new commercial buildings based on the 2003 IECC/ASHRAE 90.1-2001. For new residential construction, the state mandates the use of the 1993 Model Energy Code for hotels, motels, and multi-family dwellings in any area that does not adopt or enforce a local energy code.

In 2007, the Colorado General Assembly adopted two bills, both signed into law by Governor Bill Ritter, that impact the built environment in Colorado. House Bill 07-1146 requires all cities and counties with building codes to adopt and enforce a relatively up-to-date building energy code, referencing specifically the 2003 IECC. House Bill 07-1146 also authorizes to the Department of Local Affairs to provide grants to cities, counties, and non-profit organizations for training and technical assistance related to building energy codes and new construction that exceeds minimum energy code requirements.

Senate Bill 07-051 requires state agencies or departments embarking upon a substantial renovation, design, or construction of a state-assisted facility of more than 5,000 square feet to pursue U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold certification, as long as construction costs can be recouped from decreased operational costs within 15 years.

The cities of Aspen and Boulder, and the counties of Eagle and Pitkin have adopted residential green building programs that require new homes to obtain points for energy efficiency and other measures, to ensure energy performance improvements above those obtained through compliance with the IECC.

Additional Information

© 2002-2008 Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
2260 Baseline Rd. Suite 212, Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 447-0078 fax: (303) 786-8054 info@swenergy.org

Last Updated: 01/28/2008