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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the revision of building energy efficiency performance |
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standards. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 388, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 388.0035 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 388.0035. REVISION OF STANDARDS. (a) At least once |
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every five years, the State Energy Conservation Office shall |
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review: |
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(1) revisions made by the International Code Council |
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to the International Energy Conservation Code and the energy |
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efficiency chapter of the International Residential Code after May |
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1, 2001; and |
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(2) local amendments made to the codes or energy |
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efficiency programs that have strengthened energy efficiency |
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requirements. |
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(b) The review must be conducted in consultation with the |
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laboratory and an advisory committee established by the State |
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Energy Conservation Office. |
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(c) Following the completion of the review, the State Energy |
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Conservation Office by rule shall adopt revised standards for |
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energy efficiency to replace the standards under Sections |
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388.003(a) and (b). |
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(d) The revised standards must result in reducing either |
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projected annual or ozone season energy consumption in new |
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buildings by a minimum of 15 percent compared to the standards being |
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used at the time of the review. |
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(e) To achieve the goal of adopting standards by January 1, |
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2030, that will result in residential construction designed to |
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consume no more energy on a net annual basis than can be produced |
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on-site from renewable energy sources, the State Energy |
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Conservation Office and the advisory committee shall, not later |
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than January 1, 2011: |
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(1) conduct a study on the feasibility of reaching |
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that goal; and |
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(2) make recommendations to the legislature on a |
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schedule for adopting progressive standards to reach that goal. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |