OVERVIEW:
The 2006 Seattle Energy Code has been adopted. The ordinance was effective on 10 November 2007.  The grace period ended 8 January 2008.

The 2006 Seattle Energy Code consists of the 2006 Washington State Energy Code with Seattle amendments.  The following documents are available:

• 2006 Seattle Energy Code insert pages for the 2006 Washington State Energy Code (download 2006 SEC insert.pdf - 110 pages, 4.8 MB). Print this document double-sided, three-hole punch, and then use the insertion guide to insert the pages into the hard-copy version of the 2006 Washington State Energy Code.
• Summary of the 2006 Seattle amendments (download 2006 SEC summary.doc - 87 pages, 2.1 MB).
• Hard copies of the 2006 Washington State Energy Code (ENG-06C) may be obtained from:
  
  Washington Association of Building Officials
  Post Office Box 7310
  Olympia, Washington 98507-7310
  (360) 586-6725
  www.wabo.org/codebooks
  (look under "2006 WA State Amendments & WA State Codes")
• An electronic version of the 2006 Washington State Energy Code may be obtained from the Washington State Building Code Council website, then “State Building Codes”, then scroll down the page to "2006 CODES ADOPTED New Codes Effective July 1, 2007" and find “2006 Washington State Energy Code”.
• Summary of the 2006 Changes to the Washington State Energy Code (download wsec2006.doc - 1 page, 34 KB).
• Powerpoint file from the 2006 Seattle Energy Code Public Training sessions held in April 2008 (download 2000 SEC Public Training, 2008-04-29.pdf - 38 pages, 165 KB).

RECAP OF THE 2006 SEATTLE ENERGY CODE REVIEW AND ADOPTION PROCESS:
The goals for this Seattle Energy Code update cycle were to:

• incorporate the 2006 Washington State Energy Code changes and
• as necessary, clarify existing Seattle amendments.

Resolution 30280 (Section 1.B.i) directs DPD and Seattle City Light to “propose to the City Council…amendments to the Seattle Energy Code…to achieve up to 20% enhanced energy efficiency beyond the current version of ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1”. The 2004 Seattle Energy Code achieved approximately 20% energy savings compared to ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999. However, since that time, ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 has been published and it contains significant energy efficiency improvements (particularly in lighting). Consequently, it is estimated that the existing Seattle Energy Code only achieves 10% energy savings compared to ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004. Therefore, for the 2006 Seattle Energy Code update, the net energy savings from new amendments would be 10%.

In the fall of 2006, DPD indicated that it would begin a public review of proposed amendments to the Seattle Energy Code in January 2007. Staff from DPD and Seattle City Light developed a proposal. Seattle DPD announced the beginning of the public review and a review meeting in an e-mail to the Seattle Energy Code e-mail list, and in an e-mail to the CCAB e-mail list.

City staff presented the proposals at four public meetings in February (February 1 – overview, building envelope, and lighting; February 8 – mechanical and RS-29; February 15 – carryover issues; and February 22 – new issues in public comments). In addition, presentations were made to professional organizations (January 18 – IES Puget Sound Chapter; January 22 – ASHRAE Puget Sound Chapter; February 7 – AIA Seattle Chapter; and February 15 – BOMA Seattle King County). The written comment deadline was February 20The DPD Construction Codes Advisory Board (CCAB) endorsed the DPD recommendations at their meeting on 17 February 2005.

Staff made a number of revisions in response to issues raised. The most significant change was to not recommend a second tier of higher mechanical equipment efficiencies. However, without the energy savings from mechanical equipment efficiencies, the original draft package of measures for the 2006 Seattle Energy Code would not have achieved the 20% energy savings specified in Resolution 30280. Consequently, DPD staff developed a supplemental draft of Seattle amendments to the 2006 Washington State Energy Code. That supplemental draft for a limited number of sections in Chapter 14 was discussed at a public review meeting on March 13.  Some further modifications were made to those sections based on comments received and were included in the version reviewed by CCAB.

In summary, the changes proposed by staff were refined through public review and endorsed by the DPD Construction Codes Advisory Board at their meeting on 15 March 2007. DPD expresses its gratitude for all of those who participated in this process. Their efforts will result in a Seattle Energy Code that is more workable for all.

In the summer of 2007, the Mayor transmitted the 2006 Seattle Energy Code ordinance to the Seattle City Council. The Council’s Urban Development and Planning (UDP) Committee discussed the 2006 Seattle Energy Code ordinance at its meeting on 26 September 2007. The UDH Committee recommended approval and referred the ordinance to the full Seattle City Council. The Council voted to approve the 2006 Seattle Energy Code ordinance at a following meeting and the Mayor signed the ordinance soon thereafter in early October 2007.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2006 SEATTLE ENERGY CODE:

• DPD is selling hard copies of the 2006 Washington State Energy Code and the 2006 Seattle Supplement at the Applicant Services Center on the 20th floor of the Seattle Municipal Tower at 700 Fifth Avenue, Seattle.
• Updated versions of the following residential compliance forms and nonresidential compliance forms are now available on the website and at DPD:
  (1) Heating Equipment Sizing form
  (2) Target UA Calculation form, Group R occupancy (residential)
  (3) Target UA Calculation form, other than Group R occupancy (nonresidential)
  (4) Lighting Summary form.
• Staff is reviewing Client Assistance Memos and Directors Rules.

TRAINING ON THE 2006 SEATTLE ENERGY CODE:

• For the Seattle Chapter AIA Small Office Roundtable on 6 June 2007, DPD staff reviewed the changes to the 2006 Seattle Energy Code and gave an overview of the Mayor’s Climate Change Initiative.
• For the Puget Sound ASHRAE Chapter meeting on 16 May 2007, DPD staff reviewed the changes to the 2006 Seattle Energy Code and gave an overview of the Mayor’s Climate Change Initiative.
• For the Powerful Business Workshop on 24 May 2007, DPD staff reviewed the changes to the 2006 Seattle Energy Code and gave an overview of the Mayor’s Climate Change Initiative.
• For the Puget Sound ASHRAE Chapter Technology Transfer Committee meeting on 28 January 2008, DPD staff reviewed the changes to the 2006 Seattle Energy Code and give an overview of the Mayor’s Climate Change Initiative.
• Public training took place in April 2008:
  - April 8th covered Lighting, Transformers & Motors;
  - April 15th covered Mechanical Systems & Commissioning Requirements, RS-29;
  - April 22nd covered Building Envelope Design; and
  - a wrap-up session on April 29th was a Recap of Entire Nonresidential Energy Code.
  While the focus was on the Seattle nonresidential amendments, key changes in the 2006 Washington State Energy Code for both nonresidential and residential buildings were covered.
  
  For further information, please contact John Hogan at 206-386-9145 or send an e-mail to john.hogan@seattle.gov. Please indicate if you wish to be added to the Seattle Energy Code e-mail list.