BUILDING INDUSTRY NEWS

HERS® Index Training and House Bill 3215 Presentation

On April 5, 2023, the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), the Texas Association of Builders (TAB), and the Rio Grande Valley Builders Association hosted an energy code training class for local code officials, builders, and other building industry professionals. The event addressed House Bill 3215 and how it will affect their compliance with the State’s energy code.

Code officials from McAllen, Edinburg, Pharr, San Juan, Donna, Palmview, and Alton attended the training class. The event was held at Edwards Abstract and Title Co. in Edinburg, who sponsored the luncheon, along with BUILT TO SAVE®, Magic Valley Electric Cooperative, and AEP Texas.

Governor Greg Abbott signed Texas House Bill 3215 into law on June 13, 2021, recognizing the Home Energy Rating System (HERS®) Index as a standalone compliance pathway. This Bill allows builders in Texas to use the HERS® Index (in addition to 2018 IECC mandatory backstops) in lieu of the State’s energy code or any stretch code adopted by municipalities for energy code compliance. From September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2025, the required HERS score for compliance using this new pathway is 59 (or less) for Climate Zone 2, which is where the Rio Grande Valley is located.

The HERS® Index is the nationally recognized standard for inspecting, testing, and rating a home’s energy efficiency. A lower HERS® Index Score means the home will consume less energy. More importantly, the new HERS® Index pathway can potentially reduce construction costs compared to other options, like the prescriptive pathway.

The State of Texas has led the country in the number of HERS® rated homes for the third year in a row. The quality of homes in the Rio Grande Valley is in large part due to the commitment of our local building code officials and builders who make it a point to stay abreast of new code regulations. Contact info@ resnet.us or visit www.resnet. us/builder/hb3215 for more information.