Public Citizen Testimony in Support of SB 783 — Empowering State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) to Move Forward on Energy Efficiency Code Updates
To: Chairman Charles Schwertner and the Members of the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce.
CC: Sen. Phil King, Sen. César Blanco, Sen. Donna Campbell, Sen. Brandon Creighton, Sen. Nathan Johnson, Sen. Lois W. Kolkhorst, Sen. José Menéndez, Sen. Mayes Middleton, Sen. Robert Nichols, Sen. Judith Zaffirini
Via hand delivery and by email.
From: Adrian Shelley, ashelley@citizen.org, and Kamil Cook, kcook@citizen.org, 512-477-1155
Re: SB 783 – Public Citizen testimony in support
Dear Chairman Schwertner and Members of the Committee:
On behalf of 30,000 members and supporters in Texas, Public Citizen appreciates the opportunity to testify in support of SB 783 relating to certain regulations adopted by governmental entities for the construction or alteration of residential or commercial buildings. We are in support of this bill because it allows the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) to move forward on rulemaking for code adoption that is most up to date with energy efficiency code according to the International Code Council. Updated energy codes provide benefits to the grid and health benefits to the people who reside or work in these buildings.
This bill allows SECO to do its job.
This bill grants an exception under the Health and Safety code allowing SECO to amend state code to reflect the most up to date energy efficiency code according to the International Code Council. SECO has full authority to adopt energy, water, and high-performance building code standards for state-funded buildings, and the ability to adopt the latest energy codes of the International Code Council. This legislation would allow SECO to be able to move forward on rulemaking for code adoption for state-funded, residential and commercial energy and related codes. Allowing SECO to move forward will ensure that new construction will be more efficient, save consumers money, and strain the grid less.
This bill allows for more fair exceptions under the law.
This bill simply adds exceptions to the list of exceptions already contained in the statute added by HB 2439 (88th session). As an example, the Legislature added dark sky provisions in the 87th session. This proposed bill adds three exceptions:
(15) an energy code as adopted by the State Energy Conservation Office under Section 388.003(a) or (b), Health and Safety Code;
(16) an energy and water conservation design standard established by the State Energy Conservation Office under Section 447.004; and
(17) a high-performance building standard approved by a board of regents under Section 55.115, Education Code.
Energy efficiency benefits grid reliability, affordability and public health.
Texas has some of the least energy efficient homes in the country. Building more efficient homes is low-hanging fruit for saving precious megawatts of electricity. Some estimates from ERCOT project demand growth tripling by 2039.1 That, in conjunction with the fact that natural gas generators are not increasing their production of turbines in response to load growth, means every option should be on the table for reducing load, and as the population of Texas increases, people will need new homes, apartments, and commercial spaces.2
Energy efficiency code protects the average Texan’s health and pocketbook. Simply replacing resistance heating with energy-efficient heat pumps can save the average Texan $300 on their utility bill annually, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).3 Updated code improves the filtration of a building which reduces the circulation of pollen and dust. This improves internal air quality, thus improving health outcomes and reducing the cost of hospital visits for Texans, especially those that are most vulnerable.