Broomfield backs staff plan to adopt state low‑energy and carbon code as part of 2024 package

City and County of Broomfield staff asked council tonight to endorse a timing plan for the community’s energy code update that incorporates the forthcoming Colorado low‑energy and carbon code, and council members gave unanimous consent to move forward with staff’s recommendation.

Tim Pate, the city’s chief building official, told council the city completed phases 1 and 2 of its energy-code roadmap (adopting the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code in 2023 and electric‑ready/solar‑ready requirements effective Jan. 1, 2024). He said the Colorado Energy Office delayed final publication of the 2024 IECC baseline and the state low‑energy and carbon code until Sept. 1, 2025 and that staff recommends adopting the state low‑energy and carbon code as part of Broomfield’s 2024 code package (first reading in January 2026 and effective April 15, 2026) rather than adopting an early 2024 IECC baseline now.

Pate said the state low‑energy and carbon code uses the 2024 IECC as a baseline and includes additional amendments and appendices that will make the final Colorado code stronger than the base 2024 IECC; he cited available estimates that the residential portion of the 2024 IECC is approximately 7% more efficient than the 2021 IECC and that the commercial portion is roughly 10% more efficient, subject to later adjustment by the state’s rulemaking. Pate also said staff is not recommending additional local strengthening amendments at present because the forthcoming state code will already be more stringent than the current local standard.

Pate said staff met with the advisory committee on environmental sustainability (ACES), which supported the recommendation. He asked council whether it supports moving forward with adoption of the state low‑energy and carbon code as part of the 2024 code adoption in early 2026 and for direction to have staff and ACES review the state code in September for potential additional amendments.

Council members asked clarifying questions about whether the state code is “all‑electric” (Pate said it is not an all‑electric code but is effectively “electric‑preferred”: mixed‑fuel systems remain allowed but require additional energy‑efficiency tradeoffs) and whether Broomfield can meaningfully change the state‑level requirements (Pate said the state legislation restricts the Energy Code Board from weakening the base code, but jurisdictions may propose appendices or other amendments through established processes). Council member Tim Ward, Mayor Pro Tem Schaff and others voiced support; the mayor declared unanimous consent to move forward with staff’s recommendation and the proposed schedule.

Staff said the next steps are to review the final published state code, consult with ACES about potential strengthening amendments, and present the 2024 code package for council readings in early 2026 with an anticipated April 15, 2026 implementation date if adopted.