Snowmass Village Energy Code Requirements

Town of Snowmass Village Community Development website here…

2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and REOP adoption…

Ordinance No. 2 2011  adoption…

Town of Snowmass Village CFA Maximum
Tier I 1000-3000 HERS 75
Tier II 3001-5000 HERS 70
Tier III 5001-10000 HERS 65
Tier IV 10000+ HERS 60

Link to Colorado Energy Conservation Code Hub for; Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Eagle County, Pitkin County, Town of Telluride and the Town of Mountain Village

Town of Mountain Village Energy Code

As of August 20, 2020…

2018 International Energy Conservation Code

Special provisions for exterior energy use.

Permit fee discounts available for nonexistent or offset exterior energy uses.

Link to Town website and adoption language…

CFA TOMV yes snowmelt no snowmelt
< 3600 Tier I prescriptive prescriptive
3601-7000 Tier II 2018 HERS 60 2018 HERS 60
7001-13000 Tier III 2018 HERS 55 2018 HERS 60
13001+ Tier IV 2018 HERS 50 2018 HERS 60

 

Hi Allison,

I wanted to follow up after our conversation this morning addressing the issue of mechanical rooms and unconditioned space in new construction in the Town of Mountain Village.

As a policy we are allowing for mechanical rooms, and unconditioned garages to be exempted from habitable HERS calculations with the following criteria;

  • No heating of any type will be permitted in these locations
  • Exterior envelope insulation requirements shall be met for ALL walls, ceilings and floors (per the HERS design), with a designed thermal break at floors, including concrete (Check with your engineer as this may cause problems with structural slabs).
  • Doors to these rooms shall be fully gasketed
  • At least one, or a minimum of 25% of the walls shall be directly adjacent to the exterior of the structure.

As you are aware, our CDC and the 2018 IECC do not specifically provide for the installation of PV systems to offset HERS ratings in a residential application. The allowance above will hopefully provide for an easier time of meeting the HERS requirements of the Town, and meets prescriptive requirements. In the future, if one of your raters can provide additional information to review that will support the PV to HERS tradeoff, we are available to review.

Thank you and please contact me with any questions

 

Lars Forsythe

Building Inspector

Building Department

Town of Mountain Village

455 Mountain Village Blvd, Suite A

Mountain Village, CO 81435

O :: 970.369.8246

C :: 970.729.3439

 

Performance HERS changes
Currently the Mountain Village Building Regulations has adopted the 2018 energy code. Per (section 17.7.12.7.i.D) renewable energy sources can be used to lower the HERS score if the Smart Build Program is utilized. Buildings designed with a HERS rating below 50 is the starting threshold to allow the renewable offset. It has come to my attention that RESNET/ICC 301 allows for renewable energy sources to be used to lower the HERS score. In keeping with our commitment to support renewable energy the Mountain Village Building Department has reviewed this document and will allow renewable energy to aid in lowering the HERS score. Effective immediately the Mountain Village Building Department will allow all new residential projects to utilize renewable energy sources to lower the HERS score providing:
(1) All 2018 IECC Residential Mandatory requirements in chapter 4 are utilized.
(2) Depending on the type of construction the minimum requirements of 2018 IECC Tables 402.1.2, 402.1.4 and 402.2.6 are followed prior to the addition of the renewable energy source to assist in the HERS score.
(3) Building Regulations section (17.7.12.D. V.I. A), the onsite renewable energy system will be required to be maintained and operational for the lifetime of the property, through a written agreement with the property owner and a covenant on the property.
Inspection Changes as follows:
The Mountain Village Building Department will require the Performance Rater to perform all the insulation inspections. The Performance Rater will be required to sign off on the pre-drywall inspection prior to drywall being installed as well as any partial inspections. An acceptance email must be sent to the building department for all inspections as well as the final acceptance certificate prior to CO being issued. The Building Department will provide a red line stamp on the reviewed plans stating (3rd party insulation inspection required) to help the contractor be aware of this requirement. The following emails may be utilized for the acceptance reports: larsforsythe@mtnvillage.org and dharrington@mtnvillage.org.
Sincerely Drew Harrington
Chief Building Official
970- 708-7537
970- 369-8251

 

Link to Colorado Energy Conservation Code Hub for; Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Eagle County, Pitkin County, Town of Snowmass Village and the Town of Mountain Village

New Home in Aspen Glen Completed

We are excited to showcase a new home we designed in Aspen Glen.  It is a 2500 sf, 3 bedroom home for a young family. The form of the home has 2 axis to respond to a challenging parallelogram lot. The home includes  indoor/outdoor features including an in and out bar window between the kitchen and rear patio. The master bedroom has a wrap around deck with views oriented towards t Mount Sopris.

     

 

A new home for Little Blue Preschool

Confluence Architecture along with local non-profit  Blue Lake Preschool  is honored to announce that after searching  for 5 years they were able to find a permanent location. Last September, Blue Lake Preschool  acquired the  property at 55 N 7th st, which happens to be the former residence of Mary Ferguson, a Carbondale icon. She was born at Spring Gulch in 1906, taught in one room schoolhouses, was a town council member, a volunteer and historian.  We find this connection to be a valuable  continuation of  Mary’s love of teaching.

Construction is now underway on the addition and remodel to to transform this 1950’s ranch home into an energy efficient  healthy and cozy preschool. Some of the energy efficiency  attributes include  addressing air circulation and filtration by utilizing a HRV system with Merv 13 filter, and upgrading  the insulation.  We seek to replace all the flooring with environmentally friendly natural linoleum and will use zero or low VOC paints.

Confluence Architecture has thrown its support behind this worthy project by contributing our professional services of  planning, property analysis, and Architectural services.  Blue Lake Preschool  is seeking funding to assist with construction.  This permanent home will allow Little Blue to increase the number of infant care spaces in Carbondale, a critically underserved demographic. We encourage all to donate to this worthy cause.  Donations can be made at Blue Lake’s website  https://bluelakepreschool.org/donate.

Town of Telluride Energy Conservation Code

Link to adoption language, Article 9…

effective February 18, 2020

Mandatory ERI path

2018 ERI 61 (zone 6)

 

Adopted the 2018 version of the IECC

c) Residential Energy.

(1) Amend Section R401.2 “Compliance” to read:

All new buildings and any building having an addition of 1000 square feet or greater shall comply with Section R406. All other buildings shall comply with one of the following:

The remainder of the section remains unchanged.

(2) Add new Section R402.2.14 “Exterior walls” to read:

R402.2.14 Exterior Walls. Recess step lights are not permitted in exterior building walls except where the required R-value is met for the wall assembly.

(3) Add a sentence to Section R402.4.5 to read:

Recessed can lights are allowed in ceiling-roof assemblies only if the required R-value of insulation can be met between the top of the fixture and the roof decking material.

(4) Amend Table R402.4.1.1 by adding to the Insulation Installation Criteria for the Walls Component:

Wood or Engineered Headers-R-10 wherever possible.

Steel Header – R-10 with insulation provided on both the exterior and/or the interior sides of the steel if possible, to maintain a continuous thermal barrier.

(5) Amend Section R403.5.3 to read:

R403.5.3 Hot water pipe insulation (Mandatory). Insulation for hot water piping with a thermal resistance, R-value, of not less than R-3 shall be applied to the following:

Items 1 through 7 remain unchanged.

8. Hot water line piping shall not be placed in an exterior wall to the extent practical. When not practical as determined by the Building Official, hot water piping may be placed in an exterior wall provided the required insulation R-value of the wall is provided in between the piping and the exterior of the wall.

9. An insulating blanket shall be provided that covers entire water tank fastened with appropriate tape.

(6) Add a last sentence to Section R403.7 to read:

Systems shall be designed by a certified Mechanical Engineer for single family residential structures greater than 2,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area including the basement area.

(7) Amend Section R406.1 to add to the following as the last sentence:

ERI refers to the ERI Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score.

(d) Additional Requirements for Residential and Commercial Buildings.

(1) Cement. All cement used within the Town shall be mixed with western coal fly ash, except such a mix is not required for exterior slabs.
(2) Low Volatile Organic Compounds (“VOC”). The general contractor and the property owner shall sign the Homeowner VOC Awareness Checklist provided by the Town prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for a project.
(3) Energy Star Ratings. Energy Star rated appliances, exhaust fans and light fixtures shall be installed.
(4) Exterior vegetation irrigation systems shall be installed with a moisture sensor and timer to control irrigation.

(5) Pools and Spas (Hot Tubs).

a. Exterior swimming pools are prohibited in Telluride unless otherwise approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission pursuant to the use permitted on review development review process contained in the Telluride Land Use Code.
b. Pools, custom-built hot tubs, or factory-built portable spas shall also meet the Energy Mitigation Program requirements in Section 15-9-40.
c. Pools, custom-built hot tubs, or factory-built portable spas shall be equipped with a vapor-retardant pool cover on or at the water surface. Pools/spas capable of being heated above 90 degrees F must have a pool cover with a minimum insulation value of R-16.
(6) Garage door for heated garages shall have a value of R-18.
(7) Electrical resistance heating in living space is prohibited except for (a) the replacement of an existing system that is not subject to meeting the requirements of the Energy Code as provided in Subsection (c) of this Section; or (b) for heating small spaces less than one hundred (100) square feet.
(8) Mechanical Systems. Roofs shall be designed to not need electric underlayment mat heating unless approved by the Building Official and shall require temperature and moisture sensors.
(9) Snow- and ice-melting systems shall include automatic controls configured to shut off the system when the pavement temperature is above fifty (50) degrees F (ten (10) degrees C) and precipitation is not falling, and an automatic or manual control that is configured to shut off when the outdoor temperature is above forty (40) degrees F (four (4) degrees C). Electric resistance snow/ice melt systems are prohibited except for the heat tracing of gutters and associated downspouts. Snow/ice melt systems (except roof or gutter heat tracing) shall also meet the Energy Mitigation Program requirements in Section 15-9-40.
(10) Construction Waste. All sites shall have at least two (2) lockable bear-proof polycarts for (a) food items and (b) recyclables.

(11) Renewable Energy.One hundred percent (100%) of the building’s electricity use must be provided for with renewable energy, either produced on site or purchased through a Green Power Production Program. Creative alternative options will be considered by the Building Department. (Ord. 1502 §1, 2020)

 

Jump to Energy Conservation Code Hub for; the western slope of Colorado; Aspen, Telluride, Mountain Village, Town of Snowmass Village, Basalt, Carbondale, Pitkin and Eagle County…

 

Colorado Energy Conservation Code Hub

One stop for energy code information on the multiple jurisdictions of the Roaring Fork Valley, Telluride and Mountain Village.

I will try to keep this list current.

City of Aspen

Jump to Aspen Colorado’s energy conservation code compliance page…

City of Glenwood Springs

Jump to City of Glenwood Springs, Colorado’s energy conservation code compliance page…

Eagle County

Jump to Eagle County Colorado’s energy conservation code compliance page…

Garfield County

Jump to Garfield County Colorado’s energy conservation code compliance page…

Pitkin County

Jump to Pitkin County’s energy conservation code compliance page…

Town of Basalt

Jump to Basalt Colorado’s energy conservation code compliance page…

Town of Carbondale

Jump to Carbondale Colorado’s energy conservation code compliance page…

Town of Mountain Village

Jump to TOMV energy code compliance page…

Town of Snowmass Village

Jump to TOSV’s energy conservation code compliance page…

Town of Telluride

Jump to Town of Telluride Colorado’s energy conservation code compliance page…

San Miguel County

Jump to San Miguel County’s energy code compliance page…

 

 

 

 

 

Pitkin County, Colorado’s energy code addendum

2021 IECC

New residential structures of any size:

For permit submittals… Prescriptive, Total UA and the Performance Paths have been deleted. Projects must use the ERI compliance path. Since the 2021 ERI capped solar PV intervention at 5%, HERS Ratings are now accepted in lieu of ERI’s. Projects must show a HERS of 60 before photovoltaic solar energy is applied, and HERS 30 afterwards.

Additions, remodels, and heated accessory structures:

For permit submittals…

Option 1  Prescriptive Modified table 402.1.2 from the 2021 IECC including U-factors of .28 for exterior glazing and .40 for skylights (and better) or a weighted average meeting those values.

Option 2 Total UA Passing a 2021 ResCheck (Total Building UA Calculation) using glazing U-factors of .28 for exterior glazing, .40 for skylights, and continuous exterior insulation.

Continuous exterior insulation requirement may be waived if proven non-feasible, existing exterior wall assemblies remain unchanged or existing siding remains unchanged.

Option 3 HERS rating of 53 from table R406.4 in the 2015 IECC

Commercial buildings:

Building thermal envelope -2021 IECC prescriptive table or pass a 2021 ComCheck thermal envelope compliance report.

Lighting -Pass a 2021 ComCheck Interior and exterior lighting compliance report.

Mechanical -Pass a 2021 ComCheck mechanical compliance report.

REMP, CREMP & GREMP

Renewable Energy Mitigation Program (REMP) payment option is voluntary. Applicants interested in exterior energy use systems can alternatively choose to produce on-site renewable energy (Section 301) with solar photovoltaics and/or solar hot water, ground-source heat pumps or micro-hydro. Download Pitkin County REMP Calculation Sheet

 

Confluence Architecture & Sustainability can help with REMP calculations and provide all the documentation, modeling, testing and certification required to navigate the code.

Jump to Energy Conservation Code Hub for; the western slope of Colorado; Aspen, Telluride, Mountain Village, Town of Snowmass Village, Basalt, Carbondale, Pitkin and Eagle County…

 

Carbondale’s new Energy Code adoption

Beginning the 1st of July 2020, The Town of Carbondale revised their REBP (Residential Efficient Building Program). Carbondale is currently on the 2009 IRC (International Residential Code), the 2012 IgCC (International Green Construction Code) and the 2015 IECC (International Energy Conservation Code).

Residential

Link to REBP guidelines and REBP checklist here…

Carbondale has adopted the 2015 IECC and has a REBP (Residential Efficient Building Program). The chart below is the crux of understanding the energy code compliance.

Note that SF in this case refers to a special definition in the REBP glossary. Ignore “floor area” and look to “total square footage”; where it says “for the purposes of this program…”. floor area will mean; inside of walls, include basement, exclude garage, no deduction for unfinished areas, storage or structure.

What are the submittal requirements? Let me try and unpack what this chart means.

Carbondale has made solar PV mandatory in almost all cases. Is this lopsided push for PV is born out of COREs mission to electrify all houses? And why not PV? Because- the point of doing an energy model is to find the most cost-effective path to a set goal. If you declare PV the winner without a fight, you have cheated the science, tipped the scales. PV is pretty great, when would it really matter? When glazing becomes a large portion of the envelope load. When does that happen? Remodels obviously. The math might show that the old windows should really be replaced for reasons of heat loss, service life, comfort, etc. but, the project has already blown it’s wad on a PV system, got all the points they need, window replacement off the table. Another time glazing becomes overwhelmingly important- large areas of glazing facing south or west. I routinely see custom homes in River Valley Ranch with more than 30% glazing factor (30% of the above grade walls are made from glass). In these homes getting the right kind of glazing is huge. Sometimes the SHGC is more dominate than the U-factor! These southern view window walls are the only reason some of these houses require air conditioning. Also, a blind favoritism towards PV will stifle development/implementation of other kinds of renewable energy production, sorry GSHP, thermal solar and Drain Water Heat Recovery. Same argument for CI on the walls. The code does not make CI mandatory, I think, because flexibility is good, and CI can easily be traded off for better performance elsewhere. Ranch style houses typically have more roof area than walls area, why not make CI on the roof mandatory? It would move the needle more. And on the roof, you don’t even have all the technical problems with fenestration openings, siding and stone veneer attachment, etc. CI has many wonderful benefits, and I recommend it for most jobs, but it is rarely the first most cost-effective way to conserve energy. Ok, I’m getting off the soapbox, on with the submittal requirements…

I’m told the “percent better than code” row should be stricken from this chart; it no longer applies.

I’m told the “(option)” under the Tier 1 column means that a less than 2000 square foot house can submit using the prescriptive path as long as 1.5 watts per square foot of PV is provided. I don’t understand why, but they also require a Total UA Compliance calculation to be performed and submitted. No requirement to perform over basic compliance, so it just equal to prescriptive anyway. Or submit a Projected HERS rating of 50 in lieu, PV or not.

So basically what Carbondale is saying is that the prescriptive (402.1), the performance path (405) and ERI (406) are not a compliance option. Every single project will have to submit at least a Total UA Compliance Calculation (402.1.5), and PV design showing 1.5 watts per square foot or a HERS rating.

Currently, the Town is not considering ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) as their own unit. No need to include in REBP submittal, HERS rating or blower door infiltration test.

The required points refer to the REBP checklist (an Excel spreadsheet). Points are earned by including features in the house like, efficient framing, water conservation, chemical reduction, etc. Refer to the guidelines to understand how to fill out the checklist. Extra points are awarded for above code HERS (Home Energy Rating Score), infiltration rates and solar. Confluence can perform these tests and produce these compliance reports. Please call us early in the process so we can help you optimize the insulation and comply with the energy code in the most cost-effective way.

Commercial

Carbondale is on the 2009 IBC (International Building Code), but they have also adopted the 2012 IgCC (International Energy Conservation Code).

Link to Carbondale’s heavily amended adoption of the IgCC here…

Navigating the IgCC is a deep subject, but expect it touch every phase of your project. The code requires above IECC insulation and infiltration mitigation, construction waste tracking and structured plumbing. The code requires third-party inspections and testing for the envelope. Confluence has been the code compliance and envelope consultant for six IgCC projects now. The Town of Snowmass Village has also adopted this code. Please calls us early in the process if you are planning a commercial project in The Town of Carbondale or The Town of Snowmass Village.

Jump to ICC’s overview of the International Green Construction Code…

Jump to Energy Conservation Code Hub for; the western slope of Colorado; Aspen, Telluride, Mountain Village, Town of Snowmass Village, Basalt, Carbondale, Pitkin and Eagle County…

 

Confluence turns 20!

April 1st 2020, Happy birthday Confluence Architecture and Sustainability.

Solar-powered inspections…

And Mark became a certified International Code Council certified Residential Energy Inspector/plans examiner and a IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist.