This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah House adopted updated construction and fire codes Tuesday, but rejected efforts to require more energy-efficiency measures.
Kevin Emerson, spokesman for Utah Clean Energy, a nonprofit group that pushes for energy efficiency, said leaving the most current international energy codes out of the bill "will cost owners of new homes an extra $175 in extra energy costs."
But Michael Morley, R-Spanish Fork, sponsor of HB203, said an interim committee that studied building codes could not reach consensus on adopting new energy codes.
"This bill was meant to push forward areas where there are consensus," said Morley, who urged people interested in adding other measures to run separate bills.
The bill passed the House 58-12. It now goes to the Senate.
Lee Davidson