BetterBuilt NW March 2021 Newsletter

Understand what the new Washington State Energy Code means for your projects

Washington state finalized the start date of the 2018 Washington State Energy Code (WSEC), effective February 1, 2021. Recently, the State Building Codes Council recommended an extension of the start date to July 1, 2021, which was repealed by the Washington State Governor’s office. At the time of this publication, all residential buildings permitted on or after February 1, 2021 must meet the 2018 WSEC.

In order to help stakeholders with code adoption, the BetterBuiltNW team recommends using the posted resources and recorded trainings available at the Washington State University Energy Extension Program’s website. Resources include prescriptive worksheets and a code compliance calculator. Trainings include recorded webinars available on demand. In addition, the State Building Codes Council published Answers & Opinions that provide guidance to jurisdictions on certain code interpretations that may be helpful in understanding heat recovery ventilation efficiency requirements and dual fuel heat pump compliance credits, among other topics.

For additional on-demand trainings to help you meet and exceed energy code, register for courses with BetterBuiltNW’s online training portal.

Case Study: Passive Design Promotes Energy Savings in Washington

Explore a recent energy-efficient property built by WoodRidge Custom Homes in Washington.

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Programs in the News

Every month BetterBuiltNW highlights different programs in the news to keep builders and Raters/Verifiers informed about key updates, program changes, and features. This month’s Programs in the News features the following update:

2021 New Construction Built Green Checklists Now Available

Built Green recently updated its checklists to match the 2018 Washington State Energy Code (WSEC) that is now in effect. New construction projects permitted under the 2018 WSEC seeking Built Green certification must use the new 2021 Built Green checklists. Projects permitted under the 2015 WSEC should continue using the 2017/2018 versions of the checklists. Additionally, the 2021 multifamily checklist has entered its piloting stage and is available on the Built Green website. Built Green members can submit questions or feedback about the multifamily checklist through April 1, 2021. Updates to the Built Green handbook are forthcoming.

Download the new Built Green checklists today.