A regional trade group is imploring Naperville decision-makers to consider the depth of energy-related code requirements in the future. They caution more stringent provisions could cause home construction costs to rise and further challenge the affordability of homes within the community.
The discussion occurred at a Tuesday, Feb. 3, city council meeting. The council had a first, or preliminary, reading of ordinance amendments to building code and building regulation passages within the Naperville Municipal Code.
Stretch energy code possibility under the microscope
Local professionals with the Northern Illinois Home Builders Association, an Aurora-based trade organization, implored the council not to adopt a concept known as the stretch energy code, which is a state-based, voluntary list of performance considerations.
The city’s current building code and building regulation amendments under review do not directly address the stretch energy code provisions, though Kimberly Schmidt, deputy director of Naperville’s transportation, engineering, and development (TED) department, did address the concept in a memo to the council…