1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to energy; requiring the commissioner of labor and industry to allow 
1.3 	builders flexibility in the methods used to achieve the energy reduction goals of 
1.4 	the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code;amending Minnesota Statutes 
1.5 	2014, section 326B.118.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 326B.118, is amended to read:
1.8 	326B.118 ENERGY CODE.
1.9 	(a) The commissioner, in consultation with the Construction Codes Advisory 
1.10 	Council, shall explore and review the availability and appropriateness of any model energy 
1.11 	codes related to the construction of single one- and two-family residential buildings. In 
1.12 	consultation with the council, the commissioner shall take steps to adopt the chosen code 
1.13 	with all necessary and appropriate amendments.
1.14 	(b) The commissioner may not adopt all or part of a model energy code relating to 
1.15 	the construction of residential buildings without research and analysis that addresses, 
1.16 	at a minimum, air quality, building durability, moisture, enforcement, enforceability 
1.17 	cost benefit, and liability. The research and analysis must be completed in cooperation 
1.18 	with practitioners in residential construction and building science and an affirmative 
1.19 	recommendation by the Construction Codes Advisory Council.
1.20 	(c) The commissioner must adopt an energy rating index performance path providing 
1.21 	a range of options for compliance with the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code 
1.22 	(IECC). Compliance with the index performance path constitutes compliance with IECC 
1.23 	(2012) requirements.

2.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment. 
2.2 	The commissioner must adopt the performance paths by August 1, 2015.