The bill requires the Colorado energy office (office) to identify for adoption 3 sets of model code language:
- Model electric and solar ready code language;
- Model low energy and carbon code language; and
- Model green code language.
The bill also requires the director of the office to appoint an energy code advisory board that will identify for adoption 2 sets of model code language:
- Model electric and solar ready code language; and
- Model low energy and carbon code language.
On or before January 1, 2025, municipalities, counties, the office of the state architect, the division of housing, and the division of fire prevention and control shall adopt and enforce an energy code that achieves equivalent or better energy performance than the 2021 international energy conservation code and the model electric and solar ready code language identified for adoption by the office energy code advisory board .On or after July 1, 2023, and before July 1, 2026, municipalities and counties that update a building code shall adopt and enforce an energy code that achieves equivalent or better energy performance than the 2021 international energy conservation code and the model electric and solar ready code language identified for adoption by the energy code advisory board.
On or before January 1, 2030, municipalities, counties, the office of the state architect, the division of housing, and the division of fire prevention and control shall adopt and enforce an energy code that achieves equivalent or better energy and carbon emissions performance than the model low energy and carbon code language identified for adoption by the office energy code advisory board .
On or after July 1, 2026, municipalities and counties that update a building code shall adopt and enforce an energy code that achieves equivalent or better energy performance than the model low energy and carbon code language identified for adoption by the energy code advisory board.
In the event of a conflict between the 2021 international energy conservation code, the 2024 international energy conservation code, or any of these 3 sets of model code language and either the Colorado plumbing code or the national electric code, the Colorado plumbing code or the national electric code prevails.
The bill creates 2 primary grant programs:
- The building electrification for public buildings grant program to provide grants to local governments, school districts, state agencies, and special districts for the installation of high-efficiency electric heating equipment; and
- The high-efficiency electric heating and appliances grant program to provide grants to local governments, utilities, nonprofit organizations, and housing developers for the installation of high-efficiency electric heating equipment in multiple structures within a neighborhood.
The bill establishes the clean air building investments fund, a continuously appropriated cash fund, to fund the creation, implementation, and administration of both of these grant programs.
The bill also requires the following transfers from the general fund:
- $3 million to the energy fund created for the Colorado energy office to issue grants and provide training related to the 2021 international energy conservation code, electric and solar ready codes, and low energy and carbon codes;
- $10 million to the clean air building investments fund for the creation, implementation, and administration of the building electrification for public buildings grant program; and
- $12 $11 million to the clean air building investments fund for the creation, implementation, and administration of the high-efficiency electric heating and appliances grant program.
(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
