101.027 Energy conservation code for public buildings and places of employment.

(1) In this section, “energy conservation code" means the energy conservation code promulgated by the department that sets design requirements for construction and equipment for the purpose of energy conservation in public buildings and places of employment.

(2) The department shall review the energy conservation code and shall promulgate rules that change the requirements of the energy conservation code to improve energy conservation. No rule may be promulgated that has not taken into account the cost of the energy conservation code requirement, as changed by the rule, in relationship to the benefits derived from that requirement, including the reasonably foreseeable economic and environmental benefits to the state from any reduction in the use of imported fossil fuel. The proposed rules changing the energy conservation code shall be submitted to the legislature in the manner provided under s. 227.19. In conducting a review under this subsection, the department shall consider incorporating, into the energy conservation code, design requirements from the most current national energy efficiency design standards, including the International Energy Conservation Code or an energy efficiency code other than the International Energy Conservation Code if that energy efficiency code is used to prescribe design requirements for the purpose of conserving energy in buildings and is generally accepted and used by engineers and the construction industry.

(3)

(a) The department shall begin a review under sub. (2) whenever one of the following occurs:

1. A revision of the International Energy Conservation Code is published.

2. Three years have passed from the date on which the department last submitted to the legislature proposed rules changing the energy conservation code.

(b) The department shall complete a review under sub. (2) as follows:

1. If the department begins a review under sub. (2) because a revision of the International Energy Conservation Code is published, the department shall complete its review of the energy conservation code, as defined in sub. (1), and submit to the legislature proposed rules changing the energy conservation code, as defined in sub. (1), no later than 18 months after the date on which the revision of the International Energy Conservation Code is published.

2. If the department begins a review under sub. (2) because 3 years have passed from the date on which the department last submitted to the legislature proposed rules changing the energy conservation code, the department shall complete its review of the energy conservation code and submit to the legislature proposed rules changing the energy conservation code no later than 9 months after the last day of the 3-year period.

History: 1993 a. 242; 2005 a. 141.