Compliance
The American Recovery Act called for states to achieve 90% compliance with the ARRA minimum standard building energy code by 2017. A variety of methods exist to increase compliance with building codes. The Building Codes Awareness Project (BCAP) promotes conducting a gap analysis to assess current gaps and identify best practices, and the development of a strategic compliance plan with practical near- and long-term action items. States may also form collaboratives of stakeholders to support code education and training, or may establish a system through which utilities are encouraged to support code compliance.
- Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: Governor's Executive Order 2010-15 created an Energy Task Force Committee to develop and implement a Strategic Energy Plan. Regular meetings are being held since 2010. A Strategic Energy Plan was developed in 2013 with the assistance of NREL and US Department of Interior with a goal of 20% reduction in fossil fuels by the year 2020 (20x20) through energy efficiency and renewable energy. In addition to the task force, the Governor's Guam Energy Working group, consisting of Government of Guam and Federal Government entities, meets every three months to share programs, upcoming energy events, and energy initiatives.
- Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: NA
- Utility Involvement: NA
- Stakeholder Advisory Group: NA
- Training/Outreach: Energy code workshops are held once a year open to the general public, once a year for the Government Officials, and information booths are set up at outreach events whenever available (at least two times a year).
Last Updated: September 2016
- Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: NA
- Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: NA
- Utility Involvement: NA
- Stakeholder Advisory Group: NA
- Training/Outreach: Regularly, the Permits Office provides training and outreach programs for contractors and other professionals of the construction industry. The first edition of the new Puerto Rico Building Code was started in 2009 when the Permits Office formally established a Construction Codes Committee, composed of representatives from the construction industry, architects, engineers, and regulatory government agencies, to review and implement a transition from the existing 1997 Uniform Building Code (UBC) to the family of the International Codes® of the ICC (I-Codes®). Several seminars were offered with the help of the International Code Council to familiarize all stake holders with the 2009 I-Codes. Three days were used for Technical Hearings where proposed amendments were evaluated in order to produce a Building Code for Puerto Rico which took into consideration its unique geographical, climatological, social, and economic characteristics. These series of amendments to the I-Codes, together with the original 2009 code, composed the 2011 Puerto Rico Building Code.
Last Updated: July 2015
- Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: NA
- Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: NA
- Utility Involvement: NA
- Stakeholder Advisory Group: NA
- Training/Outreach: The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) - Division of Building Permits (DPNR) has hired and trained inspectors assigned exclusively to energy code compliance in each district. The Virgin Islands Energy Office and DPNR has conducted IECC code compliance training for inspectors, architects, engineers, and contractors. One-on-one instruction on COMcheck and REScheck software is provided by phone, email and in person through DPNR staff.
Last Updated: July 2015