CHAPTER 425
An Act to direct the Board of Housing and Community Development to consider adopting amendments to the Uniform Statewide Building Code relating to energy efficiency and conservation upon each publication of a new version of the International Code Council's International Energy Conservation Code.
[H 2227]
Approved March 30, 2021
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. § 1. That upon each publication by the International Code Council of a new version of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), the Board of Housing and Community Development (the Board) shall consider adopting amendments to the Uniform Statewide Building Code (Building Code) to address changes in the IECC relating to energy efficiency and conservation. In doing so, the Board shall consider adopting Building Code standards that are at least as stringent as those contained in the new version of the IECC. For the purposes of this act, a standard shall be deemed to be as stringent as one contained in the IECC if such standard would perform the same function as that contained in the IECC without using more energy than would be used under the IECC standard. In conducting its review, the Board shall assess the public health, safety, and welfare benefits of adopting standards that are at least as stringent as those contained in the IECC, including potential energy savings and air quality benefits over time compared to the cost of initial construction.