The New Georgia Energy Code

Beginning January 1, 2003, Georgians can breathe a little easier as the State adopts a new Energy Code, setting higher standards for building construction. Approximately 40 percent of Atlanta's regional air pollution is the result of energy produced to serve buildings. Energy efficient construction clears the air and enhances public health.

With the adoption of the new code, the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, US Department of Energy and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs have asked Southface to conduct energy code workshops. Southface engineers are currently teaching these full-day classes on both the residential and commercial energy code around the state. Thus far, over 200 people have attended the workshops. Attendees include builders, contractors, architects, designers, code officials, engineers and homeowners.

In addition to using the IECC-2000 (residential) and ASHRAE 90.1-2001 (commercial) energy code manuals, the state has adopted additional paths to prove energy code compliance. The free issue software known as REScheck (formerly MECcheck) for residential applications and COMcheck for commercial applications have been adopted by the state as a "deemed to comply" path to prove energy code compliance. This free issue software is available from www.energycodes.com. Additionally, the state has developed the "single step method" and covers both residential and commercial applications. The "single step method" consists of check sheets that specify single parameters such as insulation R-value, window performance and control requirements, for example. By including these specific requirements, the owner can build to code compliance with little effort. The "single step method" forms part of the Georgia State Energy Code Amendment Package and is available from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs at www.dca.state.ga.us.

For more information on the workshops contact Jessica Emmitt at 404-872-3549 ext. 107, email energycode@southface.org, or go to www.southface.org. If you would like information about the Georgia Energy Code or would like a copy of the Georgia Supplements and Amendments to the code, contact the Codes and Industrialized Buildings section of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs at 404-679-3118 or www.dca.state.ga.us. REScheck and COMcheck are available free of charge from the U.S. Department of Energy at 1-800-270-CODE or www.energycodes.gov