Council Delays Building Code Vote

Ordinance Would Require More Energy Efficient Construction

— The City Council won’t decide for at least four weeks whether homes built in Fayetteville will have to be more energy efficient.

The council on Tuesday unanimously tabled a proposal to require more energy efficient construction. Aldermen are set to review the proposal again July 17.

The delay will give residents and builders more time to review the changes. Those changes would require builders to better insulate a home’s foundation, to seal doors, windows, ducts and chimneys more efficiently and to install fluorescent or light-emitting diode bulbs in at least 50 percent of a house’s light fixtures.

The revisions are based on the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. Fayetteville would be the first in Arkansas to adopt the 2009 standards. Arkansas mandates houses be built to 2003 standards.

A group of area home builders, architects and energy auditors who reviewed Fayetteville’s code change estimated moving from 2003 to 2009 standards would add about $2,200 to building a 1,800-square-foot house. That amounts to about an $11 per month increase on a homeowner’s 30-year mortgage payment, according to Jeremy Pate, city development services director.

At A Glance

Council Action

Fayetteville’s City Council on Tuesday also:

Approved a request to rezone 2.4 acres near Pratt Place Inn for four single-family homes.

Delayed action on a rezoning request for 31.7 acres along Wedington Drive between 46th Street and Broyles Avenue.

Approved 11 appointments to seven boards and commissions.

Source: Staff Report

Pate estimated the same homeowner would save between $22 and $28 on monthly utility bills.

“From day one, the consumer — the new resident — is making money on the improvements,” he said.

Aaron Wirth, a member of the Northwest Arkansas Home Builders Association and owner of Fort Smith-based Cobblestone Homes, said earlier this month he opposed stricter building codes when he first heard about the proposal last year.

“As a builder, there’s a lot of challenges out there,” Wirth said. “I don’t need more hoops and hurdles.”

Wirth said the association now supports the change, following multiple meetings with Mayor Lioneld Jordan and city staff.

“We think if done right, this can be a sales tool, and hopefully will show value,” Wirth said.

Wirth said he hoped the city’s building safety division is up to speed on what they would be inspecting. He added it’s important real estate agents, appraisers and banks see value in energy efficiency upgrades.

Pate said the city would use a phased-in approach to the code change. Home builders will be required to test new houses if changes are approved, but will have some grace period before they’re required to comply with the standards.

Pate said the city would hold biweekly or monthly meetings to educate builders on everything in the updated code.

Another component of the ordinance would require developers to post Home Energy Rating System scores on every home they build. A Home Energy Rating System score indicates how energy efficient a house is and can help home buyers predict utility costs. The lower the score, the more energy efficient a home is.

Pate compared a sticker on each house to miles-per-gallon information car shoppers can use to compare expected fuel costs.

He said that aspect of the code change likely would be implemented early next year.

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