Flagstaff Council asks staff to study stronger energy‑code options, including net‑zero‑ready standards
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Summary
City staff presented four energy‑code pathways tied to the 2024 IECC, with tradeoffs between upfront construction costs and long‑term utility savings. Council directed staff to prioritize studying higher‑tier options (including the 'net‑zero ready' appendix) and complementary measures such as multifamily opt‑ins and radon mitigation.
Genevieve Pertree, senior sustainability planner, asked the Flagstaff City Council on Jan. 6 to give staff direction on four potential energy‑code options based on the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). "Today, we're seeking council direction 4 potential energy code options," Pertree said, summarizing choices that range from maintaining current standards to adopting a "net‑zero ready" standard aimed at dramatically lowering operational energy use in new buildings.
Pertree said the options are layered: Option 1 keeps existing requirements, Option 2 adds several residential and commercial appendices (solar‑ready, electric‑ready outlets, EV infrastructure and demand‑response readiness) and modest efficiency upgrades, Option 3 deepens those requirements and adds an additional energy‑efficiency appendix, and Option 4 targets "net‑zero ready" performance (a roughly 31–42% improvement in modeled energy efficiency over the base code). Staff presented ballpark cost ranges for single‑family construction, payback estimates and long‑term utility‑cost savings, and emphasized that many of the most expensive measures represent a small share of a home's sales price.
Council members asked for more detail on multifamily impacts, radon mitigation and whether the timing of other code and planning efforts (the 'last cap' / development code updates) would change the net effect on affordability. Council member Aslan said he was "very supportive of option 4" and framed energy‑code upgrades as a long‑term investment in building performance and resilience. Council member Matthews urged caution about upfront mortgage impacts on buyers and said he was leaning toward Option 2 until additional data and cross‑code analysis are completed.
Several speakers from the public and civic groups addressed the dais. Tom Pearson and other commenters urged care on affordability tradeoffs; advocates including Friends of Flagstaff's Future urged a strong code to meet Flagstaff's carbon‑neutrality goals. Pertree said staff will take the council’s direction into the wider public engagement and the formal code‑adoption process, including vetting technical amendments with the building and fire board of appeals and city commissions.
Outcome and next steps: Council directed staff to focus technical study and public engagement on the higher‑tier options (staff will research and draft possible amendments for Options 3 and 4 while retaining the baseline appendices in Option 2), to analyze multifamily and commercial impacts in more detail, and to return with draft language, modeled costs, and community feedback as part of the mid‑2026 code update process.
