In September 2012, the City of El Paso adopted the Alternative Energy Conservation Code for residential and commercial buildings based on the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). (The energy conservation code of the City was the 2009 IECC.)

In May 2016, the City of El Paso adopted the 2015 IECC as the Energy Conservation Code of the city. 

View the code of ordinances for latest changes and updates.

In June 2008, the City Council of the City of El Paso enacted the Sustainable Design Standards for City Buildings policy (see Ordinance 016911, updated in July 2012 in this solution). All new City buildings over 5,000 square feet in size are required to be designed, contracted, and built to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification level and strive for a higher level of certification (gold or platinum) when possible. Future major renovations and non-occupied City buildings will also be designed, contracted, and built to include as many principles of

Residential

In 2014, the City Council of Houston passed Ordinance No. 2014-5, requiring new residential construction to exceed the energy efficiency requirements under the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) by 15%.

In October 2016, the City of Houston adopted Chapter 11 of the 2015 IECC with amendments per state law. 

Commercial

In April 2008, Houston adopted the City of Houston Commercial Energy Conservation Code based on ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004.

In December 2016, the City of Houston adopted the 2015 IECC with amendments per state law and ASHRAE 90.1-2013 with amendments. 

Solar Solutions Initiative (SSI) is a pilot program that offers additional financial incentives for Solar PV systems participating in the Renewable Standard Offer program. Applications for new projects for the year 2015 will open on January 2, 2015. Participants applying for the Solar Solutions Incentive program are required to apply through the Renewable Standard Offer program.

The program offers performance based incentive of $0.04/kWh for the first 10 years after the project is operational. This incentive is additional to the seasonal and time-of-day price for electricity offered through the Renewable Standard Offer program.

The total capacity for the program for

In March 2011, the City of Fort Worth adopted the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code with amendments as the City’s building energy code.

Per state law, the City of Fort Worth now implements the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code with amendments as the City's residential building energy code. There are two codes that can be used for compliance with the state's energy conservation mandate for the City's commercial building energy code: the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code with amendments and the 2013 ASHRAE 90.1. 

NextEnergy launched the MATch (Michigan Accelerating Technologies) Energy Grant on December 1, 2012. MATch provides cost-share and/or commercialization funds to eligible Michigan businesses and universities applying for advanced energy-related, non-SBIR/STTR federal funding from the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, Department of Transportation, etc. A current list of eligible funding opportunities is available on the program website.

In addition to matching funds, NextEnergy will provide federal funding application services to select companies and universities. For selected companies and universities who go on to win competitively-bid federal funding opportunities, NextEnergy will also provide commercialization services

The Green Colorado Credit Reserve (GCCR) is a loan loss reserve that was created by the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) to incentivize private lenders throughout Colorado to make small commercial loans up to $100,000 for capital improvements that promote energy efficiency and renewable energy. The GCCR is administered by the Colorado Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) on behalf of the CEO.

How the Loan Loss Reserve Works

For each loan made by a participating lender, the GCCR will provide a loan loss reserve equal to 15% of the amount of the loan. For example, if a participating lender makes a loan

Solar/Wind Easements

General

All accessory solar and wind energy systems must comply with applicable building and electrical codes. Owners of accessory solar energy systems are responsible for negotiating with other property owners for any desired solar easements to protect access to sunlight. An easements must be recorded in the office of the appropriate county recorder of deeds.

Building-mounted

Building-mounted solar and wind energy systems are allowed on principal and accessory structures. Solar and wind energy systems may not extend more than 3 feet above the applicable maximum height limit for the subject building type or more than 5 feet above

Any person in the business of installing, repairing, replacing, altering, or maintenance of a solar energy system must, before obtaining any permit or transacting any business, obtain a license from the superintendent of central inspection.

The energy advisory board designates the times and place for examination of all applicants desiring to engage in or work at the business of installing, repairing, replacing, altering, or maintenance of a solar energy system in the city.

All applicants for a journeyman installer certificate must have had a minimum of 1 year practical experience at the trade to prove his ability, or such other qualifications

In March 2011, the City Council of Kansas City adopted a policy that the design, construction, and operation of new facilities of any size and renovations in which the facility affected has at least 5,000 square feet of space must conform to the Gold Rating or higher of the most recent version of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.

Each contract for applicable projects must contain provisions sufficient to require the designer and constructor to comply with the LEED Gold Standard at a minimum and submit documentation to USGBC