Task force calls for stricter energy-efficiency standards in building codes

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A Wisconsin task force is calling for state building codes to have stricter energy-efficiency standards as part of a series of recommended policy changes meant to combat climate change.

Wisconsin’s Climate Change Task Force released a report earlier this month containing 55 recommendations aimed at helping the state limit the effects of a warming climate. Among other things, the report calls for strengthening energy-efficiency standards in the state’s building codes, putting more money into Wisconsin’s popular Focus on Energy program and supporting the development of microgrids and other renewable-energy infrastructure.

The report lists various ways to achieve these policy goals. These include executive action from Gov. Tony Evers, the adoption of new legislation by state lawmakers or rulemaking from state agencies or regulators such as the Public Service Commission. The report, however, doesn’t analyze the cost of carrying out the policy recommendations.

The 32-member task force was established in October 2019 and met regularly while working on the report. Rep. Mike Kuglitsch, of New Berlin, was the sole Republican on the panel.

Building code changes

One of the report’s main recommendations calls for revising Wisconsin’s “outdated” commercial and residential building codes to incorporate stricter energy-efficiency standards and take account of the development of new technologies such as electronic-vehicle-charging stations.

Wisconsin now follows the International Energy Conservation Code’s 2015 standard for commercial buildings and its 2009 standard for residential structures.

The report recommends the state’s Department of Safety and Professional Services revise those codes to match the most recent IECC standards.

“Because Wisconsin’s codes are outdated, new building projects have not implemented all potential cost-effective energy efficiency measures included in newer codes, and the state does not have EV charging readiness requirements for new buildings,” according to the report.

Beyond adopting recent International Energy Conservation Code standards, the report recommends allowing municipalities — Madison or Milwaukee, for example — to approve energy-efficiency standards that are stricter than statewide requirements. Current Wisconsin building codes forbid municipalities to have energy-efficiency measures that go beyond the state’s.

Offer more clean-energy debt financing

The report also calls for establishing debt-financing methods to help private developers make use of energy-efficient features in new construction. Wisconsin should, for example, do more with so-called property-assessed clean-energy financing. PACE, as its known for short, provides financing to energy-efficiency projects through the use of special charges tacked onto property-tax bills.

The report also suggests utilities should provide financing for residential or governmental customers that want to make energy-efficiency improvements but can’t take advantage of the PACE program. Borrowers would pay back these low-interest loans through a charge on their utility bills, according to the report.

Additionally, Wisconsin could consider founding a Green Bank to provide additional loans to energy-efficiency projects.

More money for Focus on Energy, developing community solar and microgrids

The report recommends Wisconsin put more money into its popular Focus on Energy program, which is funded by investor-owned utilities and provides incentives for renewable-energy projects.

A 2018 study found the program is the lowest-cost energy-efficiency program in the country. Every dollar put into it is believed to produce $4.80 in benefits. Along similar lines, the report calls for developing programs that will help people make more use of electrical appliances.

The report also recommends Wisconsin establish a so-called community solar program to help renters or homeowners, some of whom might live in places without much sun, undertake solar projects. A number of states, including Minnesota, already have these sorts of programs.

Wisconsin could also make better use of microgrids to help power buildings such as hospitals, business complexes or universities. These complexes could become self-sufficient through the use of renewable energy and battery storage and have better access to backup power in case of power outages.

Transportation programs

The report separately recommends the Wisconsin Department of Transportation better plan for the widespread adoption of electronic vehicles, make sure road projects have accommodations for pedestrians and promote public transit. It finds that WisDOT could rely more on eminent domain, for instance, to acquire land for pedestrian and bike trails. The state, according to the report, should also set-aside more money for transportation alternatives, and direct more resources to low-income neighborhoods in Wisconsin. Follow @natebeck9