During this year’s annual convention our state Home Builders heard from two officials and advised 
attendees to expect sweeping code changes and a renewed push for energy efficiency. Legislatively, the two issues will become more intertwined as the economy struggles to lurch forward. The first speaker, Mr. Lynn Underwood, Norfolk Building Inspector and member of the BPCOA/ICC reported that with the adoption of the 2009 IRC/USBC the following areas (to name just a few) will be affected: new construction windows will be required to have a lower U-Factor (.35 or below); duct 
sealing and testing to be required on all new homes (duct-blaster by licensed contractors); tamper proof wall outlets (receptacles) and all new homes making a zero energy impact by 2020. The 
current HBAV legislative committee has not taken a position on any of the new code changes as of yet. Next, Doug Domench, Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources gave attendees a refreshing and down-to-earth account of Bob McDonnell’s focus on battling and reforming needless environmental restrictions. The McDonnell Administration successfully delayed the new Storm Water Management Mandates until after the assessment by the EPA Report due in December of 2010. This victory was due in large part to the HBAV Legislative Committee’s work with State Government and saved 
developers millions of dollars in additional E&S costs as well as preventing a loss of density (lots per project). Mr. Domench also noted that energy dependence is a big issue affecting our State. Virginia is the second largest importer of energy behind the state of California and thus the McDonnell administration will support tools to reduce our energy importation from drilling off-shore to heightened energy
 efficiency in our buildings (hence the tie-in with the code changes above). You can be sure our HBAV Legislative Committee will be involved in these issues going forward. Our local HBACV will host all HBAV Committees in September this year. I encourage everyone to welcome our fellow Builders and Associates from around the State as they descend upon the City of Lynchburg. If you are interested in more information on anything in this report, as always feel free to contact the HBACV Office at: 434-385-6018.