Sustainable Building Code / ZERH Program Background

Following the March 2022 Renewable Energy Mitigation Program (REMP) Roundtables with industry professionals, Staff was directed to follow up with a detailed Update Memo on the Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) training period and proposed next steps for the Town of Breckenridge. Because building codes in Summit County are adopted in concert with neighboring jurisdictions, Summit County’s Building Official has taken the lead on evaluating and proposing alternatives for code compliance. Town of Breckenridge Staff participates in the ZERH Technical Advisory Board and Steering Committee efforts and will evaluate all proposals before making a recommendation to the Breckenridge Town Council.

Scott Hoffman, Summit County’s (former) Building Official heading up the Steering Committee, has taken the two new Steering Committee approved prescriptive Energy Code options to the pure ZERH’s program, before the Summit County Board of County Commissioners during a County Work Session on 5/17/22. He received the go ahead at that Work Session to take them before a Summit County Public Hearing happening on 5/24/22 for a vote, this is where anyone can stand up and be part of the recorded public discourse either supporting or challenging the proposed code amendment. 

Many participants in the Summit County area building community came to the County’s Public Hearing concerning adoption of some prescriptive options to the pure D.O.E. ZERH program discussed above. From builders to architects, energy experts to material suppliers, and from building officials to building inspectors as well. No one spoke in opposition only in support, while expressing their trials and tribulations with the pure ZERH’s program option (which will stay around for the many projects it fits well) on certain common to our unique market designs. The Summit County Board of County Commissioners thanked the Summit County area building community for attending, especially Scott Hoffman and those that were part of his Steering Committee also mentioned above. Then they voted the two new prescriptive options to the D.O.E. ZERH Program into code unanimously, for Summit County’s Building Department to begin to implement and the builders to begin to use in their jurisdiction. View the Resolution here.  Breckenridge has entered into their own process of adopting these same prescriptive options. A productive work session was held on June 28^th with Town Council where staff was given directive to proceed. An official Memo and a formal Bill are being drafted by the Building Official with the Town Attorney's assistance and will be ready for a First Reading at the next Town Council Regular Meeting on July 26, 2022.

Latest Update:  The First Reading on July 26^th went well. Council granted us the go ahead to bring the addition of these two new prescriptive options to the D.O.E.’s ZERH Program to a Second (and final) Reading. This will occur at the upcoming Town Council Meeting scheduled for August 23^rd, 2022. The public is invited to attend this meeting. When this above energy code amendment by ordinance is adopted on 8/23/22, the new ZERH’s options will go into effect in Breckenridge approximately 30 days later.

Click here for the most current Staff Memo with attachments
Old Staff Memo and attachments
Sustainable Checklist (form only) to submit with all new residential construction applications

WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS
To support to the Summit County building community, HC3 has hosted the following workshops since adoption of the new Summit Sustainable Building Code in 2020. Recorded workshops and presentations can be found here.

• April 1, 2020: Zero Energy Ready Home for Designers & Architects
• April 1, 2020: Building Science, Ventilation, and Real-World Applications
• May 7, 2020: Advanced Framing Techniques, Wall Assemblies and Building Envelopes
• June 9, 2020: Basic Building Science
• June 11, 2020: ZERH Program Overview
• June 16, 2020: Energy Star for Homes
• June 18, 2020: Indoor airPLUS
• June 23, 2020: Additional ZERH Program Requirements
• June 25, 2020: Cold Climate Assemblies
• November 18, 2021: ZERH Troubleshooting Workshop for Summit County Designers + Builders
• January 13, 2022: Demystifying the Energy Model
• February 3, 2022: Introduction to HRVs and ERVs
• March 30, 2022: Continuous Insulation Myth-Busting and How-Tos
  Upcoming
  2022 TBD: Advanced Design Techniques for Architects
  2022 TBD: Energy Model Walk-Through

RESOURCES
The High County Conservation Center has resources on the ZERH program, as well as Home Energy Audits, and are happy to assist with any questions.

Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home Official Website

The Town of Breckenridge Building Department is located in Town Hall at 150 Ski Hill Rd. and is open Monday-Thursday from 8-5, and Fridays from 8-Noon.  Contact via phone at 970-453-3180 or via email at building@townofbreckenridge.com.  This page will be updated with any new information as it becomes available.