Bill > H0181

This bill addresses Vermont's residential and commercial building energy standards by establishing several key provisions. The bill begins with findings highlighting the state's housing challenges, including the need for 24,000-36,000 new housing units by 2029 and declining compliance with existing energy codes (Residential Building Energy Standards or RBES, and Commercial Building Energy Standards or CBES). It recognizes that buildings typically remain in service for decades and that poor or energy-inefficient construction can be costly to remediate. The bill proposes changes to address inconsistent code applicability, including lowering the threshold for contractor registration from $10,000 to $2,000 for residential construction projects, requiring liability insurance for larger projects, and mandating that energy efficiency entities attribute energy savings to building code compliance. It also instructs the Department of Public Service to develop methodologies for calculating greenhouse gas reductions and extend the timeline for updating energy standards, increasing the implementation period from three to six months. Additionally, the bill extends the Energy Code Compliance Working Group's existence until legislation is enacted to give a state entity authority to enforce building energy codes. The changes aim to improve building safety, energy efficiency, and address Vermont's housing and construction challenges, with the act set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.181