H.B. No. 3215
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to energy efficiency building standards.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 388.003(i), (j), and (k), Health and
  Safety Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (i)  A building certified by a national, state, or local
  accredited energy efficiency program and determined by the
  laboratory to be in compliance with the energy efficiency
  requirements of this section may, at the option of the
  municipality, be considered in compliance.  The United States
  Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Program
  certification of energy code equivalency shall be considered in
  compliance.  A home energy rating system index utilizing Standard
  301 of the American National Standard for the Calculation and
  Labeling of the Energy Performance of Dwelling and Sleeping Units
  using an Energy Rating Index, commonly cited as ANSI/RESNET/ICC
  301, as it existed on January 1, 2021, [The Energy Rating Index
  Compliance Alternative or subsequent alternative compliance path]
  as described by Subsection (j) shall be considered in compliance
  provided that:
               (1)  the building meets the mandatory requirements of
  Section R406.2 of the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code;
  and
               (2)  the building thermal envelope is equal to or
  greater than the levels of efficiency and solar heat gain
  coefficient in Table R402.1.2 or Table R402.1.4 of the 2018
  International Energy Conservation Code.
         (j)  For the purposes of this chapter, Standard 301 of the
  American National Standard for the Calculation and Labeling of the
  Energy Performance of Dwelling and Sleeping Units using an Energy
  Rating Index, commonly cited as ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301, as it existed
  on January 1, 2021, [the Energy Rating Index Compliance Alternative
  or subsequent alternative compliance path] used to measure
  compliance for single-family residential construction [in an
  optional compliance path of the energy efficiency chapter of the
  International Residential Code] that uses an energy rating index is
  as follows:
               (1)  for climate zone 2, an energy rating index of:
                     (A)  [65 or lower from September 1, 2016, to
  August 31, 2019;
                     [(B)]  63 or lower from September 1, 2019, to
  August 31, 2022; [and]
                     (B) [(C)]  59 or lower on or after September 1,
  2022;
                     (C)  57 or lower on or after September 1, 2025; and
                     (D)  55 or lower on or after September 1, 2028;
               (2)  for climate zone 3, an energy rating index of:
                     (A)  [65 or lower from September 1, 2016, to
  August 31, 2019;
                     [(B)]  63 or lower from September 1, 2019, to
  August 31, 2022; [and]
                     (B) [(C)]  59 or lower on or after September 1,
  2022; [and]
                     (C)  57 or lower on or after September 1, 2025; and
                     (D)  55 or lower on or after September 1, 2028; and
               (3)  for climate zone 4, an energy rating index of:
                     (A)  [69 or lower from September 1, 2016, to
  August 31, 2019;
                     [(B)]  67 or lower from September 1, 2019, to
  August 31, 2022; [and]
                     (B) [(C)]  63 or lower on or after September 1,
  2022;
                     (C)  61 or lower on or after September 1, 2025; and
                     (D)  59 or lower on or after September 1, 2028.
         (k)  This subsection and Subsection (j) expire September 1,
  2031 [2025].
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3215 was passed by the House on May 5,
  2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 1, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3215 was passed by the Senate on May
  26, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor