CHAPTER 431. ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDING ACCREDITATION PROGRAM - Texas Statutes

PROPERTY CODE

TITLE 16. TEXAS RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION ACT

SUBTITLE D. STATE-SPONSORED INSPECTION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

PROCESS; STATUTORY WARRANTY AND BUILDING AND PERFORMANCE

STANDARDS

CHAPTER 431. ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDING ACCREDITATION PROGRAM

Sec. 431.001. ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDING ACCREDITATION PROGRAM.

(a) In this section, "National Housing Act" means Section

203(b), (i), or (k) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C.

Sections 1709(b), (i), and (k)).

(b) The commission, in consultation with the Energy Systems

Laboratory at the Texas Engineering Experiment Station of The

Texas A&M University System, the Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality, and an advisory committee appointed by the

commission, may establish an energy-efficient building

accreditation program for buildings that exceed the building

energy performance standards under Section 388.003, Health and

Safety Code, by 15 percent or more.

(c) If the commission establishes a program under this chapter,

the commission, in consultation with the Energy Systems

Laboratory, shall update the program on or before December 1 of

each even-numbered year using the best available energy-efficient

building practices.

(d) If the commission establishes a program under this chapter,

the program must include a checklist system to produce an

energy-efficient building scorecard to help:

(1) home buyers compare potential homes and, by providing a copy

of the completed scorecard to a mortgage lender, qualify for

energy-efficient mortgages under the National Housing Act; and

(2) communities qualify for emissions reduction credits by

adopting codes that meet or exceed the energy-efficient building

or energy performance standards established under Chapter 388,

Health and Safety Code.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

843, Sec. 46, eff. September 1, 2007.

Sec. 431.002. PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAM. The commission may

establish a public information program to inform homeowners,

sellers, buyers, and others regarding energy-efficient building

ratings.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

843, Sec. 46, eff. September 1, 2007.

Sec. 431.003. MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR REDUCTION IN ENERGY AND

EMISSIONS. If the commission establishes a program under this

chapter, the Energy Systems Laboratory shall establish a system

to measure the reduction in energy and emissions produced under

the energy-efficient building program and report those savings to

the commission.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

843, Sec. 46, eff. September 1, 2007.

Sec. 431.004. CERTIFICATION FEE. If the commission establishes

a program under this chapter, the commission may set a

certification fee sufficient to cover the cost of administering

the program and pay for any education efforts conducted under

this chapter.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

843, Sec. 46, eff. September 1, 2007.