PROGRESS EVALUATION OF THE WASHINGTON STATE ENERGY CODE PROGRAM

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DECEMBER 1991
PREPARED BY PACIFIC NORTHWEST LABORATORY
RICHLAND, WA

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY
In January 1990, the Washington State Legislature ordered the creation of new statewide building codes. These codes specified conservation standards for all new residential and commercial buildings and created ventilation requirements applicable to some of these buildings.

The Washington State Energy Code (WSEC) Program is intended to facilitate implementation of this new code. The program provides training, technical and financial assistance to code enforcement officials and the construction community.

This document reports on a progress evaluation conducted to establish the effectiveness of the WSEC program in facilitating full and timely implementation of the new codes.

Three key findings have emerged from this evaluation:

1. The program appears to be working. However, limited construction experience under the new code prevents us from reaching a more definite conclusion about program impacts.
2. Some jurisdictions will be responsible for simultaneously enforcing and administering two different energy code programs, creating a potential for confusion during the transition from the existing Northwest Energy Code (NWEC) to the new WSEC.
3. Bonneville Area Office staff have clear roles and responsibilities under the current NWEC Program. Their role under the WSEC Program is not clear, especially during the transition from the existing NWEC to the new WSEC.

The balance of this report is organized into four major sections. The first reviews the key features of the WSEC and the WSEC program. The second examines the objectives, approach and methodology used to evaluate the progress of the WSEC program. The third presents evaluation findings while the fourth offers recommendations based on these findings.