PHRC Events

The PA Alternative Residential Energy Provisions Worksheet is now available

Date: 5/15/2019

With the 2018 PA Alternative Residential Energy Provisions presenting an energy code compliance path in the PA Uniform Construction Code since October 1, 2018, the PHRC team has received numerous questions and inquiries related to its use and implementation. To respond to these ongoing questions, the PHRC has published a two-page worksheet to assist with the permit application process. This editable PDF can be downloaded HERE.

If you are interested in sharing this worksheet or the full 2018 PA Alternative document on your organization’s website, please do so by directing users to the PHRC link listed below. This will ensure that the latest version is available in the case of subsequent versions of either document being published:

1. 2018 Pennsylvania Alternative Residential Energy Provisions
2. Compliance Worksheet for the 2018 Pennsylvania Alternative Residential Energy Provisions

Interested in learning more about the PA Alternative? The recorded webinar from fall 2018 is available for on-demand viewing HERE.

 

Background Information

Why was the PA Alternative created?

In November 1999, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed Act 45, known as the Uniform Construction Code (UCC), into law mandating a statewide building code across Pennsylvania. Act 45 requires the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) to promulgate regulations to implement the requirements of the legislation and, in addition, to consider the development of alternative prescriptive methods for energy conservation that account for the various climatic regions within the Commonwealth. In deriving these energy standards, the DLI was to seek to balance energy savings with initial construction costs.

What is the PA Alternative?

The Pennsylvania Alternative Residential Energy Provisions were developed with the intent of being: simpler to build and easier to enforce; more rational and flexible; focused on Pennsylvania in terms of climatic and other conditions; and, equivalent to the provisions of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) in terms of energy efficiency. For reference, the current (2018) version of the PA Alternative can be found HERE.

How does the PA Alternative work?

This compliance path allows for some modifications in energy efficiency or trade-offs. To provide for equivalent performance, the building owner or agent must choose one of the energy enhancement options as an entrance requirement for this path.