Model Survey for Code Officials

This survey was developed by the National Rural Code Collaborative (NRCC) through engagement with rural stakeholders in Texas and Oklahoma. The purpose of this survey is to answer the following research questions related to the goals of the NRCC for the SPEER region of Texas and Oklahoma.

1. To understand the goals and priorities of rural communities in the state, the organizations supporting rural communities in meeting those goals, and their relationship to energy efficiency

2. to understand the drivers of gaps in energy-code adoption, compliance and enforcement in rural areas of the state

3. To understand how to optimize local workforce development to improve capacity and capability of clean energy workforce in rural communities, including the balance between the demand for projects and job creation and training

In addition to building energy code experts in the state, we are seeking feedback from rural community experts, and construction workforce professionals. Your answers to these questions will inform the design of an impactful pilot program focused on improving code implementation in these rural communities for the next phase of the project. All questions are optional, but please answer to the best of your ability.

The following questions are focused on Barriers to Energy Code Compliance and Enforcement.

Question Title

1. Please state your level of agreement with the following statements; (Disagree, Neutral, Agree). (Required.)

	Agree	Neutral	Disagree
The cost of building permits discourages applicants from applying and is a barrier to compliance with building and energy codes in rural communities.	The cost of building permits discourages applicants from applying and is a barrier to compliance with building and energy codes in rural communities. Agree	The cost of building permits discourages applicants from applying and is a barrier to compliance with building and energy codes in rural communities. Neutral	The cost of building permits discourages applicants from applying and is a barrier to compliance with building and energy codes in rural communities. Disagree
The cost of construction to comply with building energy codes is a barrier to meeting those standards.	The cost of construction to comply with building energy codes is a barrier to meeting those standards. Agree	The cost of construction to comply with building energy codes is a barrier to meeting those standards. Neutral	The cost of construction to comply with building energy codes is a barrier to meeting those standards. Disagree
The cost of construction to comply with building energy codes is a barrier to meeting those standards.	The cost of construction to comply with building energy codes is a barrier to meeting those standards. Agree	The cost of construction to comply with building energy codes is a barrier to meeting those standards. Neutral	The cost of construction to comply with building energy codes is a barrier to meeting those standards. Disagree
There is sufficient work to support a robust and trained contractor network in rural communities in your area	There is sufficient work to support a robust and trained contractor network in rural communities in your area Agree	There is sufficient work to support a robust and trained contractor network in rural communities in your area Neutral	There is sufficient work to support a robust and trained contractor network in rural communities in your area Disagree

Question Title

2. Please indicate the degree to which a lack of broadband access, internet access, or a reliable cellular network limits code enforcement in the following ways in rural communities in Texas and Oklahoma: (Required.)

	Very little to none	Neutral - some	Almost all or all
a. Limits the use of electronic permitting	a. Limits the use of electronic permitting Very little to none	a. Limits the use of electronic permitting Neutral - some	a. Limits the use of electronic permitting Almost all or all
a. Hinders permit applications	a. Hinders permit applications Very little to none	a. Hinders permit applications Neutral - some	a. Hinders permit applications Almost all or all
a. Hinders timely inspection scheduling	a. Hinders timely inspection scheduling Very little to none	a. Hinders timely inspection scheduling Neutral - some	a. Hinders timely inspection scheduling Almost all or all
a. Limits access to training and continuing education for code official	a. Limits access to training and continuing education for code official Very little to none	a. Limits access to training and continuing education for code official Neutral - some	a. Limits access to training and continuing education for code official Almost all or all

Question Title

3. Do code officials working in rural communities have access to functional inspection equipment? (Required.)

Yes

Question Title

4. Does your jurisdiction allow remote virtual inspections? (Required.)

Yes

Question Title

5. If remote virtual inspections are allowed, how frequently are they used? (Required.)

Very little or never

10-30% of the time

31-60% of the time

61-80% of the time

Always or almost always

Question Title

6. If remote virtual inspections are allowed and not used, please indicate why (check all that apply): (Required.)

a. Lack of equipment

b. Lack of training to use the equipment

c. Lack of broadband access to allow use of the equipment

d. Other

Question Title

7. Does your jurisdiction have electronic permit application submittal? (Required.)

Yes

Question Title

8. Does your jurisdiction have remote plan review services? (Required.)

Yes

Question Title

9. Please feel free to add any additional comments related to potential barriers to energy code adoption, compliance and enforcement:

The following questions are focused on Code official capacity challenges.

Question Title

10. How many commercial building permits are issued per year on average in the area you serve? (Can be an estimate): (Required.)

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11. How many residential building permits are issued per year on average in the area you serve? (Can be an estimate): (Required.)

Question Title

12. Which building codes do you enforce? Check all that apply (Required.)

Energy

Structural

Mechanical

Electrical

Plumbing

Fire and Life Safety

Question Title

13. Are you required to serve multiple jurisdictions? (Required.)

Yes

Question Title

14. Does insufficient capacity of code officials delay projects in the rural communities you serve? (Required.)

Yes

Question Title

Communication and Coordination

None of the above

The following questions are focused on Workforce development for code officials.

Question Title

21. Does your jurisdiction require certifications for code officials? (Required.)

Yes

Question Title

22. Is continuing education on energy code paid for by your employer at no cost? (Required.)

Yes

Question Title

23. Is continuing education on energy code provided by your employer at no cost? (Required.)

Yes

Question Title

24. Do you prefer in-person training or virtual lectures for continuing education? (Required.)

In - Person

Virtual

Question Title

25. Please indicate which of the following are barriers to continuing education (select all that apply). (Required.)

Availability of continuing education resources

Cost

Lack of broadband access

Lost Wages

Transportation

Need for child or elder care

Time availability

Question Title

26. Are you aware of local training programs available for new code officials? (Required.)

Yes

Question Title

27. If yes, who offers them?

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28. Do you think there is enough code official training offered to meet demand? (Required.)

Yes

The following questions are focused on Community Education and Outreach.

Question Title

29. Please indicate which the following goals and measures are important to rural communities in Texas and Oklahoma from your perspective (select all that apply) (Required.)

Increasing available housing units

Increasing housing affordability

Maintaining open space – either natural or working lands

Increasing local, well-paying jobs

Reducing the cost of utility bills

Increasing occupant comfort and indoor air quality inside homes

Enhancing resilience to extreme weather events

Access to healthcare

Question Title

30. Please feel free to provide any additional comments on the role of energy efficiency in addressing the goals of rural communities.

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31. What are the best methods for sharing information in rural communities? (select all that apply) (Required.)

In person community events (church, schools festivals, senior center)

Government website

Industry website

Neighbor-to-neighbor

Flyer postings at local locations (library, church, town hall)

Local radio station

Social Media

Local newspaper (print/online)

Schools

Local Government

Library

Question Title

32. Which of the following statements applied to rural communities in Texas or Oklahoma do you agree with. (select all that apply) (Required.)

Limitations in broadband access restrict online outreach.

Language barriers limit outreach in rural communities.

The role of a building official/code enforcement officer is well understood.

Building codes help promote safety in rural households.

Building codes are unnecessary.

Energy codes reduce utility bills.

Energy codes improve occupant comfort and indoor air quality.

Energy codes promote resilience.

Energy codes are unnecessary.

Energy codes are a priority in local rural government.

The cost to comply with building energy codes outweigh the benefits.

The materials to comply with energy codes are unavailable in my jurisdiction.

Energy codes are too burdensome.

The building official/code enforcement profession is viewed as adversarial in rural communities.

Model Survey for Code Officials

Question Title

* 1. Please state your level of agreement with the following statements; (Disagree, Neutral, Agree). (Required.)

Question Title

* 2. Please indicate the degree to which a lack of broadband access, internet access, or a reliable cellular network limits code enforcement in the following ways in rural communities in Texas and Oklahoma: (Required.)

Question Title

* 3. Do code officials working in rural communities have access to functional inspection equipment? (Required.)

Question Title

* 4. Does your jurisdiction allow remote virtual inspections? (Required.)

Question Title

* 5. If remote virtual inspections are allowed, how frequently are they used? (Required.)

Question Title

* 6. If remote virtual inspections are allowed and not used, please indicate why (check all that apply): (Required.)

Question Title

* 7. Does your jurisdiction have electronic permit application submittal? (Required.)

Question Title

* 8. Does your jurisdiction have remote plan review services? (Required.)

Question Title

* 9. Please feel free to add any additional comments related to potential barriers to energy code adoption, compliance and enforcement:

Question Title

* 10. How many commercial building permits are issued per year on average in the area you serve? (Can be an estimate): (Required.)

Question Title

* 11. How many residential building permits are issued per year on average in the area you serve? (Can be an estimate): (Required.)

Question Title

* 12. Which building codes do you enforce? Check all that apply (Required.)

Question Title

* 13. Are you required to serve multiple jurisdictions? (Required.)

Question Title

* 14. Does insufficient capacity of code officials delay projects in the rural communities you serve? (Required.)

Question Title

* 15. Is capacity for inspections supplemented by third party inspectors or circuit riders in the jurisdictions you serve? (Required.)

Question Title

* 16. How well do the local governments in the jurisdictions you serve support enforcement of energy codes: (Required.)

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* 17. How would you rate your own proficiency in energy codes? (Required.)

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* 18. How would you rate the proficiency of qualified energy assessors serving your rural community? (Required.)

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* 19. How would you rate the proficiency of contractors serving rural communities in the energy code? (Required.)

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* 20. What are the most frequent issues you encounter related to the energy code compliance in inspections? Check all that apply: (Required.)

Question Title

* 21. Does your jurisdiction require certifications for code officials? (Required.)

Question Title

* 22. Is continuing education on energy code paid for by your employer at no cost? (Required.)

Question Title

* 23. Is continuing education on energy code provided by your employer at no cost? (Required.)

Question Title

* 24. Do you prefer in-person training or virtual lectures for continuing education? (Required.)

Question Title

* 25. Please indicate which of the following are barriers to continuing education (select all that apply). (Required.)

Question Title

* 26. Are you aware of local training programs available for new code officials? (Required.)

Question Title

* 27. If yes, who offers them?

Question Title

* 28. Do you think there is enough code official training offered to meet demand? (Required.)

Question Title

* 29. Please indicate which the following goals and measures are important to rural communities in Texas and Oklahoma from your perspective (select all that apply) (Required.)

Question Title

* 30. Please feel free to provide any additional comments on the role of energy efficiency in addressing the goals of rural communities.

Question Title

* 31. What are the best methods for sharing information in rural communities? (select all that apply) (Required.)

Question Title

* 32. Which of the following statements applied to rural communities in Texas or Oklahoma do you agree with. (select all that apply) (Required.)

1. Please state your level of agreement with the following statements; (Disagree, Neutral, Agree). (Required.)

2. Please indicate the degree to which a lack of broadband access, internet access, or a reliable cellular network limits code enforcement in the following ways in rural communities in Texas and Oklahoma: (Required.)

3. Do code officials working in rural communities have access to functional inspection equipment? (Required.)

4. Does your jurisdiction allow remote virtual inspections? (Required.)

5. If remote virtual inspections are allowed, how frequently are they used? (Required.)

6. If remote virtual inspections are allowed and not used, please indicate why (check all that apply): (Required.)

7. Does your jurisdiction have electronic permit application submittal? (Required.)

8. Does your jurisdiction have remote plan review services? (Required.)

9. Please feel free to add any additional comments related to potential barriers to energy code adoption, compliance and enforcement:

10. How many commercial building permits are issued per year on average in the area you serve? (Can be an estimate): (Required.)

11. How many residential building permits are issued per year on average in the area you serve? (Can be an estimate): (Required.)

12. Which building codes do you enforce? Check all that apply (Required.)

13. Are you required to serve multiple jurisdictions? (Required.)

14. Does insufficient capacity of code officials delay projects in the rural communities you serve? (Required.)

15. Is capacity for inspections supplemented by third party inspectors or circuit riders in the jurisdictions you serve? (Required.)

16. How well do the local governments in the jurisdictions you serve support enforcement of energy codes: (Required.)

17. How would you rate your own proficiency in energy codes? (Required.)

18. How would you rate the proficiency of qualified energy assessors serving your rural community? (Required.)

19. How would you rate the proficiency of contractors serving rural communities in the energy code? (Required.)

20. What are the most frequent issues you encounter related to the energy code compliance in inspections? Check all that apply: (Required.)

21. Does your jurisdiction require certifications for code officials? (Required.)

22. Is continuing education on energy code paid for by your employer at no cost? (Required.)

23. Is continuing education on energy code provided by your employer at no cost? (Required.)

24. Do you prefer in-person training or virtual lectures for continuing education? (Required.)

25. Please indicate which of the following are barriers to continuing education (select all that apply). (Required.)

26. Are you aware of local training programs available for new code officials? (Required.)

27. If yes, who offers them?

28. Do you think there is enough code official training offered to meet demand? (Required.)

29. Please indicate which the following goals and measures are important to rural communities in Texas and Oklahoma from your perspective (select all that apply) (Required.)

30. Please feel free to provide any additional comments on the role of energy efficiency in addressing the goals of rural communities.

31. What are the best methods for sharing information in rural communities? (select all that apply) (Required.)

32. Which of the following statements applied to rural communities in Texas or Oklahoma do you agree with. (select all that apply) (Required.)