ICC Board of Directors Issues Unfavorable Responses to the AGA Questions on Appendices in the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).

Back on April 16, AGA staff, as permitted by the IECC development process,  submitted questions about the non-mandatory provisions in the IECC.  Recall that during previous code development processes for the IECC (2021 and 2024), AGA and other stakeholders had objected to including provisions in the IECC that didn’t impact the energy use of the built environment such as electric ready requirements for applications that chose to use natural gas, requirements for Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure, all electric home or building requirements, etc.  While these provisions were removed from the body of the IECC for compliance by the ICC, they were placed in non-mandatory appendices that were included in the IECC.  AGA continues to have an issue with including these provisions in the IECC since they can and are being proposed for adoption by states or jurisdictions as requirements for compliance. These appendices can and do negatively impact the direct use of natural gas applications by either promoting all electric homes and buildings or discouraging the use of natural gas.  During the current code development process of the next edition of the IECC, the ICC had issued a revised Scope and Intent for both the Residential and Commercial editions of the IECC. The revised Scope and Intent includes the following:

“The Scope and Intent of the Commercial and Residential versions of the 2027 IECC require analysis and performance requirements for all IECC provisions.

Each provision must meet the following analysis and performance requirements: Achieve a reasonable level of energy efficiency, that is safe, be technologically feasible, life cycle cost effective and must Consider the economic feasibility, including potential costs and savings for consumers and building owners, and return on investment.”

In the April 16 inquiry, AGA asked specific questions if this same criterion that applies to the enforceable requirements in the IECC would also be applicable to the Appendices provisions. Attached is the questions AGA asked and the response to our Scope and Intent questions submitted.  This past Tuesday, June 10. the ICC Board of Directors (BOD) issued its response that unfortunately agrees with the “Commentary” that anything that exists in the current IECC or appendices in the current or previous editions of the IECC can remain in the code regardless of whether it is cost effective or not. AGA believes that this decision results in continuing conflicting approaches in the IECC development process that permits publication, even non-mandatory appendices, that have not met the requirements of reducing home or building energy use, be cost effective and consider the “ economic feasibility for consumers and building owners and return on investment.” BECS committee members are urged to review proposals for the adoption of the IECC in your service territory, especially proposals that would include the questionable provisions of the non-mandatory appendices. AGA BECS staff should be notified if such proposals are submitted and we would be happy to help to respond to those types of requirements since they can negatively impact the benefits of the direct use of natural gas.

AHRI Releases April 2025 Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data.

For those interested in shipment trends for residential and commercial gas and electric storage type water heaters, residential gas and oil furnaces, electric heat pumps and air-conditioners, click here for the June 13, 2025 Air-Conditioning Heating, & Refrigeration (AHRI) Press Release that provides the April, 2025 U.S. Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data. For previous monthly shipment releases and historical data, please click here . You may also wish to share this information with other groups or individuals within your organization that would be interested in this shipment data.

State Codes Activity Update.

Attached is a weekly feature of the “Friday Update” covering state code calendar activities as presented by the online utility “Fiscal Note,” which is sponsored by APGA and AGA Code and Standards. Please review the update and determine if there are state code activities that impact your service territory or organization.