HB1180

Energy efficiency makes economic sense!

I am an Architect licensed in NH, VT, ME and MA and a professional member of NH Chapter of the AIA. I support the adoption of this Bill to update the State Energy Code from 2018 IECC to the 2024 IECC. This will keep our State compliant with the 'state of the art' for responsible building energy usage. This has been shown to decrease costs of construction. Equally important is that it helps reduce the raw energy used by building for heating and cooling. Responsible energy usage has benefits both long term and wide-spread across society, including environmental and public health.

As a building professional, builder and a property owner for rental properties I strongly support this bill as it advances affordable housing holistically by addressing the cost of 'building' AND 'using' a building for its entire life span. This approach allows to focus on the KNOWN cost of building now by eliminating the uncertainty of UNKNOWN cost of using the building over time. Unknown cost being primarily the fluctuation in cost of utilities to heat and cool the building to safe and comfortable levels of the inhabitants. With that certainty of the low operational cost, both owners and renters (and by extension the lenders for funding the construction) have much more assurance that the loans applied can be reliably paid. The approach supports a sustainable and long-term view of providing reliable and safe housing stock in the Granite state. Thank you.

In this current situation of high inflation and housing un-affordability any effort to decrease the energy demands for heating and cooling our homes and businesses is beneficial to all. Building energy codes reduce the cost of home and building ownership by lower month energy bills. Energy codes reduces the heating/cooling load on the power grid and/or gas/oil consumption thus driving down energy costs by reducing consumption. The incremental upfront costs have been proven to have short payback times.

I support the adoption of changes to the building code (ICC/IBC) as addressed in the Bill language and take no exceptions to the Bill's stated annual implementation expenses.

Please approve updating the energy code to IECC 2024. It is a common sense approach to have the energy code mesh with the other ICC codes, and will reduce the cost of living for those dwelling in housing built to IECC 2024 standards. It does this by reducing operating costs more than the minimal increase in first building costs. Payback is quick and in the positive. Please consider the big picture, beyond day 1 and help ease the housing cost burden for NH residents. Thank you.

Written Testimony in Support of HB1180 – Adoption of IECC 2024 House Executive Departments and Administration Committee Hearing: Wednesday, January 28 at 10:30 AM My name is Seth Clarke, AIA, and I am a licensed architect and a member of the New Hampshire Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIANH). I have over 20 years of professional experience in residential, institutional, and commercial architecture, and I currently serve in a leadership role focused on preconstruction, design coordination, and cost control for complex residential projects. My work requires balancing first cost, long-term value, constructability, and owner outcomes. I am writing in strong support of House Bill 1180 to update New Hampshire’s building energy code to the IECC 2024 standard. Based on both professional experience and the cost and energy analysis prepared by the NH ASHRAE committee, it is clear that modern energy codes reduce the total cost of building ownership. While there is a modest upfront investment, this is more than offset by measurable reductions in heating and cooling costs over the life of the building. These savings matter deeply to homeowners, renters, and building owners—who, unlike builders, are responsible for long-term operational costs. Energy codes also serve an important consumer protection function. In the absence of clear, enforceable standards, building owners are exposed to the risk of substandard construction practices that shift future energy, moisture, and durability costs onto them—often invisibly and irreversibly. A strong statewide code establishes a consistent baseline of quality, protects buyers from hidden performance deficiencies, and ensures that energy efficiency is not treated as an optional upgrade available only to those with specialized knowledge. From a building science perspective, the IECC 2024 standard supports healthier, longer-lasting buildings. Improved insulation, air sealing, and ventilation reduce the risk of mold, condensation, and rot, while also improving indoor air quality for occupants. These measures extend building life cycles, reduce costly repairs, and protect the housing stock of New Hampshire over the long term. Finally, adopting IECC 2024 aligns with broader public benefits. Energy-efficient buildings reduce demand on electrical and heating fuel infrastructure, helping stabilize energy costs statewide. They also reduce carbon emissions and increase resale value, making New Hampshire’s homes and buildings more resilient, more affordable to operate, and more competitive in the marketplace. For these reasons, I urge the Committee to support HB1180 and adopt the IECC 2024 energy code. This legislation represents a practical, data-backed step toward protecting building owners, improving construction quality, and lowering long-term costs for the people of New Hampshire. Respectfully submitted, Seth Clarke, AIA Member, AIANH Licensed Architect, New Hampshire Director of Business Development for Bensonwood - a large employer (~150 get) in Keene and Walpole and a leader in offsite home building and building science.

As a homeowner, my family and I are strongly in favor of this bill. It will ensure that homes are energy efficient, thereby reducing long term energy cost for us and for our communities as well. Everyone wins when building codes are updated! Please approve this bill and thank you.

I support updating the NH building code to the IECC 2024 standard. We built our house about 10 years ago and chose to invest in efficiency measures that exceeded the current code. We had a Residential Energy Analysis and Rating done to show us what we could expect from this investment. The actual performance has met or exceeded our expectations, especially as we have had periods of higher than usual energy prices, hotter than usual summer temperatures, and colder than usual winter temperatures. Plus, our indoor air quality is quite good and the insulation and good windows keep house is really quiet when the wind is howling. In our old house, the windows would rattle in the windy gusts and there was always moisture in the sills, and I don’t miss those random cold spots where there was spotty insulation. Updating the standards will lower the cost of ownership for others by saving them money on heating and cooling - and the buildings that meet the updated code will contribute less carbon to the atmosphere. I think we take this atmosphere for granted, but it is the only one we have, and there is a natural balance we need to maintain, and it is what differentiates us from the other planets….

I am writing to send my strong support for House Bill 1180 to update the NH building code to the IECC 2024 standard. Passage of HB1180 would help address the housing crisis in our state, because housing affordability is affected by high energy costs when buildings are built at outdated lower efficiency standards. I have read the NH ASHRAE report which documents the value of building to the IECC 2024 standard in NH. Their recommendation makes sense financially and would also lead to environmental and health benefits for the property owners and their communities. Please vote yes on HB1180.

- Building energy codes reduce the cost of home and building ownership by lower month energy bills. - Home and building owners need to be protected from unscrupulous builders who do not use the proper materials and methods needed to produce an energy efficient building thus forcing these costs onto the unsuspecting building/homeowner. - IECC 2024 code will improve building quality, which will extends the life-cycle of buildings by preventing mold and rot. - This, in turn, will Improve the health of the building occupants by providing an improved indoor air quality and proper ventilation.

Over the past several months Paul Bemis of ASHRAE has led a team to perform cost and energy savings analysis between the IECC 2018 code, which is currently in effect in NH, and the IECC 2024 code. The results mirror the ASHRAE national analysis with energy savings in the 14-17% range and a lower cost of ownership in both a 30-unit multi-family as well as a single family home. Mr. Bemis concludes that energy efficient buildings lower the cost of ownership by saving money on heating and cooling costs for a modest upfront investment. The entire report can be found at https://gc.nh.gov/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx). I support HB 1180 because better building energy codes: 1. Reduce the cost of home and building ownership through lower monthly energy bills. 2. Extend the life-cycle of buildings by preventing mold and rot. 3.Improve the health of the building occupants by providing an improved indoor air quality and proper ventilation. 4. Reduce carbon emissions and thereby is better for the environment. 5. Reduce the heating/cooling load on the power grid and/or gas/oil consumption thus driving down energy costs by reducing consumption. 6. Increase the resale value of the building. 7. Encourage home builders to use the proper materials and methods needed to produce an energy efficient building, thus reducing long term costs for building/homeowners.

Over the past several months Paul Bemis of ASHRAE has led a team to perform cost and energy savings analysis between the IECC 2018 code, which is currently in effect in NH, and the IECC 2024 code. The results mirror the ASHRAE national analysis with energy savings in the 14-17% range and a lower cost of ownership in both a 30-unit multi-family as well as a single family home. Mr. Bemis concludes that energy efficient buildings lower the cost of ownership by saving money on heating and cooling costs for a modest upfront investment. The entire report can be found at https://gc.nh.gov/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx). I support HB 1180 because better building energy codes: 1. Reduce the cost of home and building ownership through lower monthly energy bills. 2. Extend the life-cycle of buildings by preventing mold and rot. 3.Improve the health of the building occupants by providing an improved indoor air quality and proper ventilation. 4. Reduce carbon emissions and thereby is better for the environment. 5. Reduce the heating/cooling load on the power grid and/or gas/oil consumption thus driving down energy costs by reducing consumption. 6. Increase the resale value of the building. 7. Encourage home builders to use the proper materials and methods needed to produce an energy efficient building, thus reducing longterm costs for building/homeowners.

The 2024 IECC code is better than the 2018 version for the residents and citizens of our state. This change will reduce costs for homeowners, reduce strain on the power grid, reduce emissions, and improve quality of life overall. In addition, homes built to the 2024 standard have better durability and decreased depreciation. A home is one of the most expensive investments many people will ever make. Therefore, it is imperative that we hold homebuilders to a high standard of care.

Let's get up to date in NH and implement the current standard for energy efficiency in construction. - Building energy codes reduce the cost of home and building ownership by lower month energy bills.  - This is the big one for me. I know what it's like to live in a home that is not energy efficient. I spend hundreds of dollars a month on heating in the winter. - Increases the resale value of the building. - people don't want to move into houses that are drafty and expensive to heat.

Revising the state building code to include the International Energy Conservation Code 2024 (or similar code that achieves equivalent or greater energy savings) would be great for all New Hampshire residents as it would continue to raise standards for energy efficiency for new buildings. This would reduce long-term energy costs for homeowners and businesses and also keep New Hampshire aligned with best practives while perserving local implementation and authority. Thank you for your support on this bill!

I support HB1180 to update the NH Building Code from 2018 IECC with NH amendments to 2024 IECC. I am a member of the International Code Council, a member and past president of the NH ASHRAE chapter, and a practicing HVAC and Plumbing Professional Engineer. Throughout my professional career of 40 years I have seen ASHRAE and the International Code Council continually update and improve energy codes to the benefit of all building owners. Building costs include both first cost and operating cost. While first cost is important to be able to afford to build the building, operating cost are a forever part of the cost of ownership. The relatively small incremental first cost of building to the 2024 IECC over the 2018 IECC with NH amendments reaps benefits for years including lower monthly energy bills, reduction in carbon emissions, reduces the load on the energy grid, reduces fossil fuel energy consumption, and increasing the resale value of the building. I encourage your support of this important bill for the future of New Hampshire.

it needs to be amended to include an update to the international energy conservation code.

I am writing to urge your support for HB 1180, which would update New Hampshire’s building code to the 2024 IECC. Modern energy codes lower the true cost of owning a home by reducing monthly energy bills and protecting buyers from substandard construction practices that lock in high operating costs. They also improve indoor air quality and ventilation, which directly affects occupant health, and extend building life by reducing risks of mold and moisture damage. At a system level, more efficient buildings reduce heating and cooling loads on the electric grid and on gas and oil systems, helping keep energy costs down for everyone. They also increase long-term property value and resilience while cutting unnecessary energy waste. Updating the code is a practical, cost-effective step that benefits homeowners, future buyers, and the state as a whole. I encourage you to support HB 1180. Sincerely, Tom

This bill blatantly serves the interests and protects the profits of the fossil fuel giants at the expense of ratepayers by failing to update ONLY the International Energy Conservation Code among all the codes it otherwise updates. Leaving this one code at the 8-year-old 2018 level will "lock in higher energy bills for decades and undermine NH’s economic competitiveness" (Paul Bemis, NH ASHRAE).