If you are a builder that has worked in the City of Boulder, then you know that Boulder has its own subset of Energy Codes outside of the IECC standards that have been adopted. These codes contain amendments and additions to the standard IECC codes that they believe better serve the city as a whole.

Recently, the City of Boulder announced that effective December 1, 2024, they will implement key updates to the City of Boulder Energy Conservation Code (COBECC). These 2024 COBECC updates will affect the energy code guidelines for new residential buildings, additions, and renovations.

We know that these rules can get pretty complicated. That’s why our energy services team is dedicated to staying on top of the Colorado energy code. Our lead energy specialist, Luke Griess, attended the city’s meetings and compiled the must-know code changes on the horizon.  Let’s dive right in!

All-Electric Homes 

The biggest change to the COBECC this year will be aimed at reducing carbon emissions by moving towards all-electric homes. Under this new code, all new builds are required to have all-electric equipment for heating, cooling, water heating, and appliances. For existing homes, existing gas equipment can remain, be extended, or be replaced with like-kind systems. But any new mechanical systems or appliances must be all-electric.

Air source heat pump

The most affordable option for electric-based heating and cooling equipment is an air source heat pump system, which has both heating and cooling capabilities.  These systems can be installed as ducted or non-ducted systems, and are becoming increasingly more efficient.  Heat pump water heaters will generally be your best option for water heating.  And to replace gas cooktops, you can go with electric or induction cooktops, which are becoming more and more popular. Induction cooktops utilize electromagnetism to generate heat and are highly efficient.

Lower ERI/HERS Requirements

The previous energy code for the City of Boulder required new homes to meet an ERI (Energy Rating Index, also known as a HERS score) based on the square footage of the home.

This meant that if a smaller home had good insulation, good windows, and energy efficient equipment, it could achieve a satisfactory HERS score without any solar features. Medium-sized homes needed to meet an even lower HERS score, which required moderate photo-voltaic (PV) solar features.  And homes over 3,000 square feet needed to meet a HERS score of 0 (a Net Zero Home). This means that these homes needed a large PV array that was capable of producing as much energy as the home’s critical systems were anticipated to consume on an annual basis.

With the new code, homes or ADUs under 1,000 square feet have the option of simply showing prescriptive compliance, where they meet the code minimums for insulation and windows.  But for homes over 1,000 square feet, the HERS requirement remains. However, the square footage-based targets are more stringent, and there is now a HERS score that you must meet prior to solar.

Under the COBECC 2024, for new construction:

• Homes over 3,000 square feet will need to meet a HERS 0, while also meeting a Pre-Renewable Energy HERS 50
• Homes 2,999 square feet and under will need to meet a HERS 30, while also meeting a Pre-Renewable Energy HERS 50

The pre-solar requirement of 50 (mentioned above) will require that the home is built with high levels of insulation, windows with lower U-values, and better mechanical specs. Additionally, for most every project, this will result in solar being required to meet the Post-Renewable HERS scores. There is also no longer an envelope backstop, where prescriptive insulation levels had to be met, even on HERS projects.

Duct Leakage Testing Requirements

Duct leakage testing is now required for all new ducted systems, regardless of the location of the ducts. In the previous iteration, you could be exempt from duct leakage testing if all the ducts were within the conditioned space.  Now testing will be required for all duct systems inside or outside the conditioned envelope.

Notably, this is standard for all counties in Colorado that have adopted IECC 2021, so Boulder is simply catching up here.

duct leakage testing fan

At Scott Home Services, duct leakage testing is one of the primary energy services we offer. We recommend testing at the rough-in phase so that duct leaks can be caught and sealed while the ducts are still exposed.

If you are performing a HERS package with us, this will be included in your initial quote.

Mechanical Ventilation

ERVs/HRVs will now be required to achieve sufficient mechanical ventilation in the home. Mechanical ventilation systems (ERV/HRV, bath fans, kitchen exhaust) must all be tested and verified for proper airflow and efficiency by an approved third party at the completion of the project.  Mechanical ventilation testing is one of the services we provide at Scott Home Services. This can be performed at the same time as your final blower door test – another energy test required by COBECC.

ERV system

COBECC Requirements for Remodels and Additions

When it comes to remodels or additions to existing homes, the COBECC requirements aren’t changing all that much:

• For level 1 and 2 alterations (minor remodel projects), you will still have the option of going the prescriptive pathway and meeting the code minimums for any new insulation or windows.
• For level 3 alterations (significant remodel projects) and additions over 1,000 square feet, you will have two options. 1) The project will need to use a HERS to meet an ERI/HERS score of 50 or lower.  2) The project needs to show a 30% reduction from the existing building’s ERI/HERS score. If you select the second option, a baseline HERS report would need to be prepared on the existing home. Then a projected HERS report would be prepared on the proposed home that must show a 30% reduction from the original HERS score.

Additionally, there is no longer a separate category for level 4 alterations. These are now considered part of level 3.

Additional Conservation Credits for COBECC Compliance

Finally, there is also a list of Additional Conservation Credits that that each project will have to meet. The different credit options are outlined on table R408.1 of the code (shown below). There are several credits available for using building products with low embodied carbon. Some other credit options are available for energy efficient features, such as geothermal heating/cooling, smart electrical panels, heat pump water heaters with demand response controls, and many more.

• For new homes, a total of 10 credits is required, which must be detailed on the plans and verified at the completion of the project.
• Remodels or additions to existing homes will require 5 credits.

One of the most reasonable methods to attain all of the credits needed for a remodel/addition is to have an Energy Audit performed on the existing building prior to beginning the project. This is another service we offer!

For more info about the 2024 COBECC update, you can visit the City of Boulder’s website OR watch a recent webinar here.

Scott Home Services – Your Guide to Colorado Energy Code

We know that all these code updates can be a lot to digest. And as cities like Boulder continue to move toward increased energy efficiency and sustainability, it’s inevitable that code updates and changes will continue. That’s why we have a team of energy specialists dedicated to staying informed about these types of changes. If you have any questions about the upcoming 2024 COBECC updates (or any CO energy codes for that matter), do not hesitate to reach out to our energy team.

If you are a builder or contractor in need of energy services on your next project, we hope that you will consider Scott Home Services. We have an extensive list of energy services, such as duct leakage testing, mechanical ventilation testing, HERS Rating Services and more!

To see a full list of our energy services, visit us online or you can contact us to book your energy services today.

The post Explaining Boulder’s 2024 COBECC Updates appeared first on Scott Home Inspection.

The fun part is the county and the city each have very different requirements. Today we are going to focus on the COUNTY requirements for remodels, alterations, or retrofits. This falls under what is known as BuildSmart.

Boulder county’s code requirements for retrofits are based on how large the project is. This can be beneficial for smaller projects as the requirements are less stringent. The county provides a table below to help you understand where your project falls:

A question that we get all the time is, “What does ‘Choose a Retrofit Measure’ mean?”

The county outlines 9 retrofit measures. These measures are a list of options that improve the energy efficiency of a home. You have to choose the allotted number of options and work that into your remodel plan.

If some of these items are already completed in the home, that counts towards the total and you have one less measure to undertake.

The options are outlined in the table below:

As you can see, there are many options all differing in costs and difficulty. Some may work for your project and others may not. Our resident energy expert, Joe Ophoff, explains each option in the video below:

The 9 BuildSmart Retrofit Methods

1. Replace Furnace or Boiler with Condensing Appliance.

Older heating devices with standard draft flues are typically lower efficiency units in the 80% range. There are higher efficiency gas burning condensing units that are power vented. These units will have PVC vent pipes and intake lines and can be up to 96% efficient.

If it makes sense to replace your heating device during the remodel, or if you already have a high-efficiency unit, this is a good measure to opt for.

2. Replace Water Heater with Condensing Appliance. 

Just like the heating equipment, there are higher efficiency versions of water heaters as well. Typically, when you think of a condensing water heater, you think of a tankless unit, but there are condensing units that have storage tanks as well that are slightly less costly.

Since water heaters need to be replaced more frequently than furnaces or boilers, it might be a good option for a retrofit that has a very old unit that will need to be replaced soon anyway.

3. Air Sealing to 5 ACH

While there is already an air sealing requirement for all retrofits in the county, opting for this method is stating that you are planning on achieving an even tighter home than what is needed. In the county. Any remodel will need to have a blower door test at the end of construction and the building will need to be tighter than 7 ACH (Air Changes Per Hour – a measurement of the tightness of a home). With this method, you are opting to achieve a 30% better score than what is required.

Air sealing improvements can be a difficult proposition if you are only remodeling a portion of the home. The county also requires an “Energy Assessment” on the front end of construction in some cases where a blower door test will be done. If you get a low ACH reading before construction starts, then it is likely only going to get better after construction.

We recommend you go this route for an easy method if that initial blower door test’s ACH is already under or close to 5 ACH.

4. Electrical Vehicle Charging Station

This method is straightforward. The county would like you to install an EV charging station on the property. Most commonly found in the garage. This can be a great and easy solution if you already plan on doing some electrical work as this usually just requires adding one breaker and charging devices.

5. Balance Mechanical Ventilation

Home ventilation technology and building science have come a long way. As homes get more air sealed, make-up air needs to be introduced in order to keep the home healthy.

While there are many ways to do this, the most energy-efficient way is to use an ERV or HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator). These devices are typically attached to a forced-air heating system and exchange interior and exterior air in an efficient way that doesn’t cause additional air leaks.

While this can be great for the overall health and comfort of your home, it is not always the most cost-effective solution if you don’t plan on messing with the heating system.

6. Water Efficiency Retrofit

This section is fairly simple. The county wants to see water-saving devices installed in the home. This means replacing all the aerators, showerheads, and toilets in the home with low-flow devices. The requirements for what the flow rates are vary depending on the device.

The other option here is to have one energy star washing machine or dishwasher. If you already have one in the home, this requirement is fulfilled.

7. Radon System

Adding a radon mitigation system to a home is usually reserved for homes with high radon levels. If you are unsure of your home’s radon levels or what radon is, we recommend you read our article about radon levels in Colorado.

If you do have high radon levels, which many homes in Colorado do, adding a radon mitigation system can help mitigate those issues and also check one box on the HomeSmart Retrofit options.

8. PV System

PV stands for photovoltaic, meaning solar panels that create energy. This is probably the most costly item on the list but is a big energy saver that can pay itself off over time.

If something like this interests you, or if the panels are required for a different reason then this might be a good option for you.

9. Conditioned Crawlspace

If your home is older and has an uninsulated crawlspace, the absolute best bang for your buck will be to condition your crawlspace. Not only will this complete one of the retrofit options, but it will also give you a big boost in home energy efficiency and comfort levels.

Older vented crawlspaces make homes very uncomfortable with large temperature swings. Building science has moved beyond this technique and onto a seal and conditioned crawlspace design. While it may not be the cheapest option on the list, it will greatly improve your home.

Hopefully, this article and video help explain the different options that are available to you when you are remodeling a home in Boulder County and need to meet BuildSmart Retrofit Methods.

This is just one small section of the retrofit code so if you have further questions feel free to reach out or comment below!

The post Explaining the BuildSmart Retrofit Methods In Boulder County appeared first on Scott Home Inspection.

The City of Boulder Energy Conservation Code (COBECC 2020) was adopted in July of 2020. As Boulder states on its website, “The city updates our energy code on a three-year cycle with the goal of attaining net-zero energy, outcome-verified code by 2031 to meet broader city-wide climate commitment goals.”

This new energy code brings sweeping changes to how residential construction projects achieve compliance in the city, most notably that new construction houses over 3000 sq ft are now required to achieve HERS net-zero scores.

A Quick Note: An ERI (Energy Rating Index) is the term that COBECC 2020 and other energy codes use to score homes. This index is found by performing a HERS rating on a home to find the HERS score. Throughout the video and the article, we use these terms interchangeably. If you want to learn more about these terms, visit the RESNET website here. 

In addition to the city’s overall goal of better performing new construction homes, remodels can be categorized differently under the new “Levels of Alteration.”

Achieving HERS (ERI) Net Zero on new construction homes

The sliding scale that the city used in COBECC 2017 just got a lot shorter.  The previous energy codes required HERS (ERI) scores of zero on houses larger than 5000 sq ft, but that requirement has been pushed to 3000 sq ft.

A HERS score of zero can only be achieved with the installation of Photo Voltaics (PV) systems, more commonly known as solar panels.  If you are building a new construction house in the city of Boulder, plan on a sizable PV system for compliance.

If you are interested in learning more about HERS scores and how that process works, check out our 4 part HERS rating guide!

What about remodels and renovations?

COBECC 2017 had a notoriously confusing system of “structural assessment” and “construction valuations” to determine the appropriate energy pathway for compliance.

Some remodels could even be pushed into new construction requirements under this system!  Thankfully, that is all gone.  A new system of “Alterations” has been built into the COBECC 2020 that is based on the scope of work and determines the pathway to compliance.

Level 1 and 2 Alterations do not require a HERS score at all.  Level 3 Alterations allow for a baseline score to be established on the existing house and then a 30% performance increase is required.

Level 4 Alterations are reserved for significant projects on existing houses and new construction HERS scores with a 10% lenience granted are required.  Projects that include both an addition and a renovation are reviewed by the city based on the scope of work and would need to achieve either the addition or alteration requirements.

A Brief Overview of COBECC 2020

This is a fairly quick overview of the city of Boulder’s Energy Conservation Code. There are many more specifics and details that are included. You can read the entire document here as well.

If you would like to speak with one of our energy specialists, feel free to send us an email at info@scotthomeinspection.com. Before you leave, check out all of our energy services geared towards helping builders and architects.

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