While builders may not appreciate the updated construction codes adopted at the state level, environmentalists and those in the business of code enforcement welcome them.

The handful of new construction codes that were adopted in May by the state Review and Advisory Council mark the first such update since 2009.

Code enforcement officers will continue to work under the 2009 standards until the new ones take effect on Oct. 1.

Although they were adopted this year, the new codes are from 2015. State law mandates that codes remain three years behind so as not to force overly strict standards on builders.

Peg Russell, the president of the code enforcement consulting firm Code. Sys. Code Consulting, welcomes the new standards.

“I'm happy to see we are finally moving forward in this,” Russell said. “It's a good thing for the industry in general.”

She said because code enforcement officers have been bound by the 2009 construction codes, they could not approve any facet of a residential or commercial structure that includes technology not available in 2009.

Russell used as an example the charging stations seen in airports, where phones can be directly plugged in using a USB port, which many builders of restaurants and other facilities have wanted to include in their plans.

Because the chargers are not included in the 2009 construction codes, they could not be approved by code enforcement officials.

“There are a multitude of things like that,” Russell said.

She said the additional $8,000 in costs the new codes will cause per home will not likely deter someone building a $250,000 house.

Russell said that additional cost will be made up in the decreased cost to heat and cool new homes, which will be more energy efficient due to the new codes.

Windows with better protection from ultraviolet light and additional insulation are two energy-efficient facets of the new codes that Russell is aware of.

Builders and municipal code enforcement officials know the basics of the new construction codes, but most are relying on upcoming seminars to apprise them of the effect they will have on their jobs.

“I know we are going to have to buy new code books, go to some seminars and get up on the new codes,” Russell said.

She said code enforcement experts at her company are glad they will be able to approve more modern plans that can now include the latest technology.

“I'm glad it's finally happening,” Russell said.

Jeff Marshall, the manager of code enforcement for Cranberry Township, said the new construction codes shouldn't increase the fees the township charges for building inspections.

“It doesn't add inspections and it doesn't take anything away,” Marshall said.

He said in Cranberry Township, many builders already exceed the mandates in the building codes regarding things like energy efficiency and will have no problem complying with the new standards.

Marshall said he and his department look forward to learning about the new codes.

“We have training coming up shortly for when these are in place,” he said.

Gary Peaco, who has served as Adams Township's code enforcement officer for 17 years and will become the municipality's first township manager next week, said some builders are not going to like the new codes because they are more stringent, but most already build to exceed the new energy efficiency standards.

Peaco said recouping the increased up-front cost of newly required materials like low-UV windows and high-efficiency hot water tanks and furnaces may be less of a selling point for families in Southwestern Butler County because they tend to move frequently.

Peaco is also looking for classes for Adams officials so the fast-growing township can be up to date come Oct. 1.

“There will be a learning curve,” Peaco said.

Lauren Urbanek, a blogger for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said a U.S. Department of Energy analysis on the new Pennsylvania construction codes found that homes built using the new codes will see more than $550 in energy cost savings in the first year alone compared to homes built under the 2009 standards.