Page 7 - Green Builder Magazine May-June 2019 Issue

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Green Building NEWS

The Latest on Sustainability and Renewable Energy
Electric Homes Flex

Their Power in

California

Climate and monetary benefits await for

Golden State’s builders and homeowners.
UILDING AND LIVING in all-electric homes can save
homeowners and developers hundreds of dollars each year
compared to homes that use gas for heating and cooking,
B according to a report by Northern and Southern California
water and power utilities.
“Residential Building Electrification in California” by Los Angeles CREDIT: CHRISTIAN SCHNETTELKER§FLICKR
Department of Water and Power, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
and Southern California Edison notes that all-electric construction can
result in an energy savings of $130 to $540 annually. Three-quarters of
new all-electric homes will save at least $15 per month on equipment Big things ahead. More shipping means more work for anyone in the
and energy bills over the life of the equipment, relative to new homes construction industry—and that’s what’s expected after the ICC’s vote on
that use gas. shipping containers.
IBC Change Could Boost

U.S. Commercial

Construction Market

ICC’s vote is considered a ‘major victory’ for
shipping containers industry.

HE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL (ICC) has implemented
CREDIT: BILL BRADFORD§FLICKR a change to the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) that
allows ISO shipping containers to be used in commercial
construction. The addition to Chapter 31 of the IBC—on special
construction—will spell out what code officials should look for

According to Stephen Shang, CEO of Manor, Texas-based Falcon Structures
Electric perk. Research suggests that all-electric homes reduce T in container construction to confirm structural safety.
utility costs, particularly in light of the State’s aggressive solar PV and co-chair of the ICC’s Container Industry Task Force, representatives from
adoption. the shipping container building industry and code officials will also introduce
more clarity into the IBC on the safe use of shipping containers. This will be
Single-family homeowners that retrofit their homes can save $10
to $60 per month on energy bills, and 84 percent will save up to $30 done by releasing a corresponding set of guidelines that explain the new
per month on total lifecycle costs, the report notes. These affordability shipping container building codes.
measures can help increase the pool of prospective homebuyers in Shang called the vote “a major victory for both code officials and the
California, and serve as an example for the rest of the nation. container-based structures industry.”
“Electrification can cut the climate pollution produced by homes The code revision passed with a 97 percent vote—a very uncommon
up to 90 percent by 2050—and this study confirms it can save many occurrence, according to Shang. He and Tom Hardiman, executive director
Californians cash as well,” says Building Decarbonization Coalition director of the Modular Building Institute in Charlottesville, Va., note that the near-
Panama Bartholomy. “We hope decision makers will pay close attention unanimous approval confirms code officials’ serious desire to implement
to the recommendations in this report, as we seek to ensure [everyone the guidelines. The code change will help mitigate the process of approving
has] access to clean, affordable and healthy zero-emission homes.” GB shipping container structures. “Once states adopt the 2021 IBC, we expect to
see an uptick in this type of construction activity,” Hardiman says. GB

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