HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-03-09-minutes-cds-study-sessionKITTITAS COUNTY
CDS STUDY SESSION MINUTES
COMMISSIONERS' AUDITORIUM, 205 WEST 5TH ROOM 109 - ELLENSBURG
Regular Meeting
MONDAY 1:30 PM March 9, 2020
Board members present: Chairman Brett Wachsmith, Vice -Chairman
Cory Wright, and Laura Osiadacz
Others: Mark Cook (PW), Mike Flory (CDS) Candie Leader (PW), and
Dan Carlson (PW)
Meeting was called to order at 1:30 pm
2018 Washington State Residential Energy Code
Building Official Mike Flory briefed the Board of County
Commissioners with the scheduled adoption of the 2018 Washington
State Energy Code. This adoption would significantly change the
requirements of the Energy Code requirements. As of right, a
1,500 square foot to 5,000 square foot single family residence
is required to have 3.5 credits. These credits can be obtained
with energy efficient appliances and construction methods. With
the new code requirements, a 1,500 square foot to 5,000 square
foot single family residence would be required to have 6.0
credits. Also, if the customer chooses electric heat, it would
automatically put them in -1.0 credits and would then require
7.0 credits. The building department has invited the Washington
State Energy Code Specialists to come to the Kittitas Valley
Armony May 11, 2020 to put on a seminar for the building
community to answer questions and teach how to achieve these new
requirements.
The meeting was adjourned 1:40 p.m.
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2020-3-9 MINUTES 1
KITTITAS COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Brett Wachsmith, Chairman
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CDS Study Session
Regular Meeting
Monday March 9, 2020 -1:30 PM
BOCC Conference Room
205 West 5th Room 108 - Ellensburg
1. Call to Order
2. 2018 Washington State Residential Energy Code
3. Other business
4. Adjourn
Created on 3/6/2020 11:48:38 AM
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
411 N. Ruby St., Suite 2, Ellensburg, WA 98926
CDS@CO.KrrrrrAs.wA.us
Office (509) 962-7506
"Building Partnerships — Building Communities" Fax (509) 962-7682
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Memorandum
March 9, 2020
To: Board of County Commissioners
From: Mike Flory, Building Official
Dan Carlson, AICP, Community Development Services Director
RE: 2018 Washington State Residential Energy Code
On July 1, 2020, the 2018 International Building Codes with Washington State amendments go into
effect throughout the State, including Kittitas County. One set of codes that affect builders and
homeowners alike is the Washington State Residential Energy Code.
Folks involved in the residential building industry are familiar with the required energy credits that must
be provided for every new structure. Energy credits are a points system assigned by the State to high
efficiency furnaces, water heaters, windows, air leakage reduction and renewable energy products such
as solar panels. A point or portion of a point is assigned to different high efficiency products. Every
residential structure must have a minimum of energy credit points based on the size of the structure.
Applicants must choose from a list of options created by the State to obtain these credits.
Previous code editions have left the energy credit requirements unchanged. Per the current
Washington State Residential Energy Code, a dwelling unit between 1,500 square feet and 5,000
square feet requires 3.5 credits. For example, this could be achieved by a combination of energy
efficiency options such as an on -demand gas high efficiency water heater (1.5 credits), low flow fixtures
and faucets (.5 credit), high efficiency windows (.5 credit) and a high efficiency heat pump or ductless
split system (1 credit) totaling 3.5 credits. There are several more options available for energy credits,
but these are the simplest to achieve.
Effective July 1, 2020, the minimum required energy credits for the same structure will increase to 6.
While the State has created additional items and construction methods to obtain energy credits,
applicants will still have to obtain 2.5 more credits. Additional credits can be in the form of purchasing
super high efficiency windows and adding exterior foam insulation between the plywood and the siding
plus added floor insulation (1.5 more credits), reducing the air leakage in a new home from five air
exchanges per hour to two (1 credit), or providing a 1,200 kilowatt-hour solar panel system (1 credit),
just to name a few.
Kittitas County Community Development Services will be hosting an energy code update class and
workshop on May 11, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. at the Kittitas County Event Center Armory Hall. Washington
State University Energy Code Program specialists will be at the class to offer education and
suggestions for meeting the updated code. The event is free and open to anyone interested in learning
about the new energy code.
COMMUNITY PLANNING • BUILDING INSPECTION • PLAN REvtEw • ADMINISTRATION • PERMIT SERVICES • CODE ENFORCEMENT