Page 7 - CodeWatcher Winter 2017 Issue

Residential Buildings moderately cold days.”
Now take a look at the current
As noted in the article:
“The biological processes that underlie cold-related level of adoption of IECC Energy
mortality mainly have cardiovascular and respiratory effects. Codes nationwide. The states
Exposure to cold has been associated with cardiovascular shown in white have absolutely
stress by affecting factors such as blood pressure and no energy code in place. The
plasma fibrinogen, vasoconstriction and blood viscosity, ones in red, such as Tennessee,
and inflammatory responses. are only slightly ahead of
Similarly, cold induces bronchoconstriction and them with very weak energy
suppresses mucociliary defences and other immunological requirements for homes.What
reactions, resulting in local inflammation and increased risk this tells us is that many States,
of respiratory infections. These physiological responses can particularly in the “Bible Belt”
persist for longer than those attributed to heat, and seem to region of the United States, are
produce mortality risks that follow a smooth, close-to linear ill prepared to deal with any
response, with most of the attributable risk occurring in type of weather extreme.

Last February, for example,
the Governor of the State of
Tennessee announced a state
emergency, as 21 people died
from cold-related issues. It’s no
coincidence that Tennessee is
one of the last Southeast States
to embrace energy efficiency.
Many of those who died were
homeless and without any
shelter, but several were people
who lost power for hours—or
days—and had no way to heat their inefficient homes.
It’s an oversimplification to blame building codes alone
for cold-related deaths, of course, but they are often a
contributing factor, and the level of contribution spikes up
quickly as extreme cold becomes the norm, not an occasional
climate fluke. Along with extreme weather typically come
power outages and slower emergency services.
To date, weather patterns have not seen the prolonged,
long-term shift toward icy conditions across the United
States, but long winters of deep freeze conditions look
increasingly likely as Climate Change changes all the rules.
Why not prepare now, and build homes that are highly
efficient, with backup sources of power and heat, to weather
any storm? CW

Consumer

CORNER

You can help home buyers understand
what the HERS score is and how buying a home
with a low score will translate into lower utility
bills and higher resale value down the road.
RESNET makes this education easy
with its new consumer video,
“The HERS Index in Less Than Three Minutes.”

www.codewatcher.us January 2017 / CodeWatcher 7