Responsible Department:
Growth Management, Building Services Division

Activity Contact Person:
Jay Dagner, Interim Building Official
(352) 343-9653, jdagner@lakecountyfl.gov

Funding Allocation: $73,399.96

Project Status: Ongoing

The Building Codes, Quality Inspection and Measurement activity consists of three (3) projects: Building Codes; Quality Inspection; and Measurement and Verification.

Building Codes

Lake County seeks to identify barriers and roadblocks to energy efficiency upgrades by examining and revising County building codes and permitting procedures. This project has three parts:

1. Frame a path to International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) 2009 compliance and set up a program to meet IECC requirements.
2. Train County officials, architects, and builders on the updated building codes.
3. Evaluate the current building permitting process to identify bottlenecks, reduce/eliminate permitting fees, and simplify permitting paperwork to encourage energy efficiency projects.

Lake County is required to abide by the state's building codes, which are on track to meet ARRA requirements. In his March 23, 2009 letter to DOE Secretary Steven Chu, Governor Crist promised that "Florida's law will: (A) meet or exceed the most recent International Energy Conservation Code, or will achieve equivalent or greater energy savings; (B) meet or exceed the ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007, or will achieve equivalent or greater energy savings; and (C) achieve 90 percent compliance with the above energy codes within eight years and will include active training and enforcement programs and annual measurement of the rate of compliance."

Quality Inspection/Measurement and Verification

Lake County proposes to create an inspection program to ensure that the energy efficiency upgrades partially financed through the RSC Rebate (Go Green Get Green) are properly installed so that the expected savings can be fully realized. The quality inspections will occur throughout the rebate program's performance period on a representative sample of building upgrade projects. These inspections will uphold the high-quality standards of the County and the reputation of its energy efficiency program, while ensuring home and business owner satisfaction. By verifying correct installation of wall and duct insulation, energy-efficient lighting, and other energy efficiency improvements, the County will be able to reduce waste and maximize the return on investment. The cost savings and greenhouse gas reduction realized by the energy efficiency upgrades associated with this program will also be measured.