Cities, county collaborate for standard energy inspection

MADISON COUNTY – All inspection departments across Madison County now will use a consistent inspection process that satisfies the new Alabama State Energy Code.

(RECORD PHOTO)

Governing bodies for Madison County, the City of Madison and City of Huntsville collaborated for the benefit of consumers and builders for the new policy, Howell Lee said. Lee works as governmental affairs liaison with the Huntsville/Madison County Builders Association.

A press conference explaining the code implementation will be held Sept. 27 at 11:30 a.m. at the builders association office, 2804 Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville.

To announce the new Alabama Energy Code implementation, the press conference will include County Commission Chairman Dale Strong, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Troy Trulock, along with representatives from Huntsville Utilities and Huntsville/Madison County Builders Association.

Lee describes the standard inspections as “another first for Madison County. Madison County is the first county in the State of Alabama to adopt an energy code inspection process that will be identical in all three inspection departments.”

Cooperation among inspection departments for all three jurisdictions — Huntsville, Madison and Madison County — “will serve as a model for other counties in the state,” Lee said.

“A consumer or builder can utilize Huntsville Utilities or any other certified Home Energy Rating System (HERS) or Building and Pest Inspection (BPI) inspector to conduct the state mandated energy inspection,” Lee said. The policy applies to new construction and substantial remodeling of existing homes.

Consumers can “know they are receiving the same quality inspection regardless of the jurisdiction,” Lee said.

The Huntsville Madison County Builders Association is a professional trade association representing the building industry in Madison County. For more information, call 256-536-2602 or visit buildersassn.org.