Public Act 0778 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3987 Enrolled LRB096 11406 JDS 21870 b

Public Act 096-0778

AN ACT concerning energy efficiency.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Energy Efficient Commercial Building Act is amended by changing Sections 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 45 as follows:

(20 ILCS 3125/1)

Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Energy Efficient Commercial Building Act.

(Source: P.A. 93-936, eff. 8-13-04.)

(20 ILCS 3125/5)

Sec. 5. Findings.

(a) The legislature finds that an effective energy efficient commercial building code is essential to:

(1) reduce the air pollutant emissions from energy consumption that are affecting the health of residents of this State;

(2) moderate future peak electric power demand;

(3) assure the reliability of the electrical grid and an adequate supply of heating oil and natural gas; and

(4) control energy costs for residents and businesses in this State.

(b) The legislature further finds that this State has a number of different climate types, all of which require energy for both cooling and heating, and that there are many cost-effective measures that can reduce peak energy use and reduce cooling, heating, lighting, and other energy costs in commercial buildings.

(Source: P.A. 93-936, eff. 8-13-04.)

(20 ILCS 3125/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions.

"Board" means the Capital Development Board.

"Building" includes both residential buildings and commercial buildings.

"Code" means the latest published edition of the International Code Council's International Energy Conservation Code, excluding published supplements but including the adaptations to the Code that are made by the Board.

"Commercial building" means any building except a building that is a residential building, as defined in this Section.

"Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

"Municipality" means any city, village, or incorporated town.

"Residential building" means (i) a detached one-family or 2-family dwelling or (ii) any building that is 3 stories or less in height above grade that contains multiple dwelling units, in which the occupants reside on a primarily permanent basis, such as a townhouse, a row house, an apartment house, a convent, a monastery, a rectory, a fraternity or sorority house, a dormitory, and a rooming house; provided, however, that when applied to a building located within the boundaries of a municipality having a population of 1,000,000 or more, the term "residential building" means a building containing one or more dwelling units, not exceeding 4 stories above grade, where occupants are primarily permanent.

(Source: P.A. 93-936, eff. 8-13-04; 94-815, eff. 5-26-06.)

(20 ILCS 3125/15)

Sec. 15. Energy Efficient Building Code. The Board, in consultation with the Department, shall adopt the Code as minimum requirements for commercial buildings, applying to the construction of, renovations to, and additions to all commercial buildings in the State. The Board, in consultation with the Department, shall also adopt the Code as the minimum and maximum requirements for residential buildings, applying to the construction of all residential buildings in the State, except as provided for in Section 45 of this Act. The Board may appropriately adapt the International Energy Conservation Code to apply to the particular economy, population distribution, geography, and climate of the State and construction therein, consistent with the public policy objectives of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 93-936, eff. 8-13-04.)

(20 ILCS 3125/20)

Sec. 20. Applicability.

(a) The Board shall adopt the Code within 9 months after its publication. The Code shall take effect within 3 months one year after it is adopted by the Board and shall apply to any new commercial building or structure in this State for which a building permit application is received by a municipality or county, except as otherwise provided by this Act. In the case of any addition, alteration, renovation, or repair to an existing commercial structure, the Code adopted under this Act applies only to the portions of that structure that are being added, altered, renovated, or repaired.

(b) The following buildings shall be exempt from the Code:

(1) Buildings otherwise exempt from the provisions of a locally adopted building code and buildings that do not contain a conditioned space.

(2) Buildings that do not use either electricity or fossil fuel for comfort conditioning. For purposes of determining whether this exemption applies, a building will be presumed to be heated by electricity, even in the absence of equipment used for electric comfort heating, whenever the building is provided with electrical service in excess of 100 amps, unless the code enforcement official determines that this electrical service is necessary for purposes other than providing electric comfort heating.

(3) Historic buildings. This exemption shall apply to those buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places or the Illinois Register of Historic Places, and to those buildings that have been designated as historically significant by a local governing body that is authorized to make such designations.

(4) (Blank). Residential buildings.

(5) Other buildings specified as exempt by the International Energy Conservation Code.

(c) Additions, alterations, renovations, or repairs to an existing building, building system, or portion thereof shall conform to the provisions of the Code as they relate to new construction without requiring the unaltered portion of the existing building or building system to comply with the Code. The following need not comply with the Code, provided that the energy use of the building is not increased: (i) storm windows installed over existing fenestration, (ii) glass-only replacements in an existing sash and frame, (iii) existing ceiling, wall, or floor cavities exposed during construction, provided that these cavities are filled with insulation, and (iv) construction where the existing roof, wall, or floor is not exposed.

(d) A unit of local government that does not regulate energy efficient building standards is not required to adopt, enforce, or administer the Code; however, any energy efficient building standards adopted by a unit of local government must comply with this Act. If a unit of local government does not regulate energy efficient building standards, any construction, renovation, or addition to buildings or structures is subject to the provisions contained in this Act.

(Source: P.A. 93-936, eff. 8-13-04.)

(20 ILCS 3125/45)

Sec. 45. Home rule.

(a) No unit of local government, including any home rule unit, may regulate energy efficient building standards for commercial buildings in a manner that is less stringent than the provisions contained in this Act.

(b) No unit of local government, including any home rule unit, may regulate energy efficient building standards for residential buildings in a manner that is either less or more stringent than the standards established pursuant to this Act; provided, however, that the following entities may regulate energy efficient building standards for residential buildings in a manner that is more stringent than the provisions contained in this Act: (i) a unit of local government, including a home rule unit, that has, on or before May 15, 2009, adopted or incorporated by reference energy efficient building standards for residential buildings that are equivalent to or more stringent than the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code, (ii) a unit of local government, including a home rule unit, that has, on or before May 15, 2009, provided to the Capital Development Board, as required by Section 55 of the Illinois Building Commission Act, an identification of an energy efficient building code or amendment that is equivalent to or more stringent than the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code, and (iii) a municipality with a population of 1,000,000 or more.

(c) No unit of local government, including any home rule unit or unit of local government that is subject to State regulation under the Code as provided in Section 15 of this Act, may hereafter enact any annexation ordinance or resolution, or require or enter into any annexation agreement, that imposes energy efficient building standards for residential buildings that are either less or more stringent than the energy efficiency standards in effect, at the time of construction, throughout the unit of local government.

(d) This Section is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State. Nothing in this Section, however, prevents a unit of local government from adopting an energy efficiency code or standards for commercial buildings that are more stringent than the Code under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 93-936, eff. 8-13-04.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.