Planner warns lawmakers that energy-code rollout needs enforcement, resources and care for older homes

Chris Camps, executive director of the Windham Regional Commission, told the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee on April 30 that the state's building energy code goals must be matched with clear administrative responsibility, enforcement resources and technical guidance for municipalities, contractors and homeowners.

"Requiring the towns to provide building, energy code information when a building or zoning permit is applied for may be reasonable. But for reasons I'll get into, it may not lead to significantly greater code compliance," Camps told the committee, summarizing a recurring concern from municipal representatives and planning staff.

Why it matters: Camps said a state code without a statutorily assigned, resourced state agency to interpret, administer and enforce it can produce ambiguity that leads to disputes among buyers, sellers, contractors and local officials. He and other witnesses urged that any expansion of energy-code requirements be paired with staff, training, education and faster inspection workflows so work moves quickly and does not stall construction.

Key points from testimony: - Enforcement and resources: Camps said whichever state agency takes on code oversight must be properly resourced, including staff training and outreach. He cautioned against creating a statutory requirement that municipalities must implement or file compliance certificates when many towns lack permitting capacity. - Municipal variability: Vermont's nearly 250 municipalities vary widely; Camps noted roughly 40 towns have no zoning bylaws and may not require local permits for many building activities, limiting the effect of a municipal filing requirement. - Existing homes and durability: Camps described how older Vermont construction was often designed to "breathe" and how sealing and higher-performance measures can introduce moisture-management challenges in older walls and roofs. He offered a personal example: a decision that saved a builder a few thousand dollars in one period led to much higher remediation costs later, and he said the state should weigh those downstream costs when setting expectations. - Site grading and climate: Camps said simple site-grading rules matter to durability and moisture control, especially as climate change brings more intense precipitation and shifting wet/dry cycles. - Greenhouse gas reporting and methodology: He supported the statute's call for the Department of Public Service to collaborate on a methodology for calculating and reporting greenhouse gas reductions annually, but said the department will need resources to carry that work out.

Committee members asked about code compliance and whether builders generally provide good-quality construction; Camps said construction practices have improved but that gaps in knowledge and inconsistent permitting mean compliance can be uneven. Members also discussed commissioning and post-construction testing as ways to ensure systems work as designed.

Taper: Camps said the state can adopt higher-performance standards, but that doing so responsibly requires resourcing enforcement, clarifying who administers the rules and providing education and timely inspections to avoid unintended health, durability or cost consequences for homeowners and municipalities.