Public Act 096-0778 was signed into law on August 28, 2009 amending the Energy Efficient Commercial Building Act by including residential buildings and amending the name of the act to the Energy Efficient Building Act.  The new requirements for residential buildings became effective on January 29, 2010. 

HISTORY OF THE ILLINOIS ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE
Public Act 093-0936 (Illinois Energy Conservation Code for Commercial Buildings) was signed into law in August, 2004. The Illinois Energy Conservation Code for Commercial Buildings became effective April 8, 2006. On October 9, 2007 the Law was revised to mandate the latest published edition, excluding supplements, of the International Energy Conservation Code. As of August 18, 2009 the Illinois Energy Conservation Code for Commercial Buildings is the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code.  On August 28, 2009, Public Act 096-0778 requiring an energy code for residential buildings was signed into law.  It became effective on January 29th, 2010, officially establishing the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code as the energy code for residential buildings in Illinois.

CURRENT STATUS OF THE 2012 IECC IMPLEMENTATION
Senate Bill 3724, introduced by the state legislature in February 2012, effects the implementation date of the 2012 IECC.  The bill passed both houses of the state legislature and has been sent to the Governor for his signature.  If signed into law, it would amend the effective date of the 2012 IECC to January 1, 2013.   It would also lengthen the time the Board has to review and adopt the latest published edition of the Code and make it effective. This would allow stakeholders more time for training and preparation to build, design, and enforce the future updated codes.

Administrative Rules to adopt the 2012 IECC with amendments were filed with the Secretary of State, May 4th, 2012 in Issue 18 of the Illinois Register.  The 2009 IECC will stay in effect until the rules process is finished or until January 1, 2013 if SB 3724 is signed by the Governor.   

WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES
The Law requires all new commercial and residential construction for which a building permit application is received by a municipality or county to follow a comprehensive statewide energy conservation code. Renovations, alterations, additions, and repairs to most existing commercial and residential buildings must follow the Illinois Energy Conservation Code. The Law requires design and construction professionals to follow the latest published edition of the International Energy Conservation Code which is currently the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1, 2007 “Energy Standard for Buildings except Low-Rise Residential Buildings.” Under the law, the Capital Development Board has the power to modify the Illinois Energy Conservation Code.

Local governments are free to adopt stricter energy conservation Laws for commercial buildings.  However, for residential buildings, local governments may not adopt or regulate energy conservation standards either less or more stringent than the Illinois Energy Conservation Code.  Exceptions which would allow local governments to regulate energy efficient standards in a more stringent manner are municipalities or counties which meet one of the following three provisions:

• A unit of local government that on or before May 15, 2009 adopted or incorporated by reference energy efficient building standards for residential building that are equivalent to or more stringent than the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code
  
• A unit of local government that on or before May 15, 2009 provided to the Capital Development Board identification of an energy efficient building code or amendment that is equivalent to or more stringent than the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code
  
• A municipality with a population of 1,000,000 or more

THE GOALS OF THE LAW
The Law is designed to help protect the environment and reduce energy consumption. By following an energy conservation code, property owners can reduce air pollution, moderate energy demand and stabilize energy costs and electric, oil, and gas supplies.

The efficient gains of the 2009 code set a new baseline for IECC-compliant homes and buildings, and while, there will be regional variability and uncertainty in the technology penetration, preliminary estimates from U.S. DOE suggest the 2009 IECC will be at least 18 percent and possibly even 22 percent more energy efficient than the 2006 IECC.

WHAT THE LAW DOESN’T COVER
The Law does not apply to officially designated historic buildings, buildings exempt from a local building code, and buildings that do not use either electricity or fossil fuel for comfort conditioning.  For purposes of determining whether this exemption applies, a building will be presumed to be heated by electricity, even in the absence of equipment used for electric comfort heating, whenever the building is provided with electrical service in excess of 100 amps. “Illinois’ Energy Efficient Building Act" can be found in Chapter 20 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes, Act 3125.”

New!  2012 Energy Code TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
The Illinois Energy Office's schedule for a 2012 IECC training series directed at the Illinois construction industry is now available. Homebuilders, designers, code officials, realtors, and home performance professionals will be able to learn about the newest energy conservation codes for new construction, additions and renovation projects in Illinois. Sessions will be offered to Illinois Investor Owned Utility customers at no cost.
Registration questions? Click here  

Energy Code Interpretations of the 2009 and 2012 Energy Conservation Code - Email your question or call 1-708-770-0554 for technical interpretations of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code® (IECC®) as it applies to the State of Illinois.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) concerning the 2009 and 2012 International Energy Conservation Code® (IECC®) as it applies to the State of Illinois

Illinois Baseline Compliance Study - Measuring the Baseline Compliance Rate for Residential and Non-Residential Buildings in Illinois Against the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code

Code Enforcement Officials

Building Energy Codes Resource Guide: Code Officials Edition —
Now Available from U.S. Department of Energy!

OTHER RESOURCES

International Energy Conservation Consultants

International Code Council

DOE’s Building Energy Codes Program Compliance Software Tools

REScheck: Used to show compliance on residential building plans

COMcheck:  Used to show compliance on commercial building plans 

Other forms of compliance may be used as approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

USDOE’s Solutions & Help Center - Help with compliance software

CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have questions, please contact:

Bruce Selway
Energy Efficiency Education / Codes
IL Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
Illinois Energy Office
500 E. Monroe, 12th floor
Springfield, IL 62701
217.785.2023 Phone
217.785.2618 Fax
[email protected]
www.illinoisenergy.org

Lisa Mattingly, PE
Administrator, Professional Services
IL Capital Development Board
401 South Spring Street
3rd Floor Wm. G. Stratton Building
Springfield, IL  62706
217.524.6408 Phone
217.524.4208 Fax
[email protected]
www.cdb.state.il.us

Robert Coslow
Electrical Engineer
IL Capital Development Board
401 South Spring Street
3rd Floor Wm. G. Stratton Building
Springfield, IL  62706
217.557.6142 Phone
217.524.4208 Fax
[email protected]
www.cdb.state.il.us