New Changes In The Dallas Plumbing Code

By Walter Wilhelm

In 2008, the Dallas city council passed new laws that will affect Dallas plumbing contractors. These new laws will affect all new construction in the city in an effort to lower the amount of energy and the amount of water that these buildings and homes will be using. The ordinance in order to reach the new goals set by the city is going to require that there be new changes to the Dallas plumbing code.

Dallas has not always had the reputation of being a city aware of the environment. During the days of big oil, Dallas was a very conspicuous consumer of that number on money producer. Transportation was by personal vehicle and the larger the car or truck, the better. Now the city has a goal of becoming carbon neutral by the year 2030 and of lowering its energy consumption by fifty percent. Dallas wants to become know as one of the greenest cities in the nation. Already it has one of the largest fleets of clean city owned vehicles.

Phase one of the ordinance began on October 1, 2009. According to this phase home builders must begin to build more energy efficient homes. In addition, there are six new water reduction strategies that home builders must incorporate at least four of into every new home that is built. This will change Dallas plumbing codes. Codes will become even more strict in October 2011 when every home must reduce water consumption by a minimum of twenty percent.

The city council's ordinance will also effect the plumbing codes that pertain to commercial buildings being constructed in the city. Now they must take measures to reduce their water consumption by twenty percent. Phase two of the ordinance keeps the water reduction at a similar twenty percent.

To reach these goals, Dallas plumbing companies will be looking for new fixtures that meet the requirements stated in the revised Dallas plumbing code. Commercial buildings may decide that they will use water reclamation systems to cut their water usage even further.

While there may be an initial cost increase for the plumbing fixtures that are required to meet the new Dallas plumbing code, owners of the homes and commercial buildings will reap benefits from the changes. Lower consumption means lower power and water bills.

Savings will be far more than monetary. This new ordinance will improve the air that Dallas residents breathe and will ensure more clean air and streams in the city for many more generations. - 30214

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