Building Energy Codes

Compliance with building energy codes presents one of the most cost-effective ways of reducing building energy consumption in new construction and substantial building renovation. A "stretch" or "reach" energy code can give communities the option to attain even greater energy efficiency. Find out why implementing a "stretch" code may ensure greater energy savings than adopting a green building rating system. Rating Systems vs. "Stretch" Building Energy Codes (pdf)

Training

NEEP maintains training expertise in energy conservation and Recovery Act (ARRA) compliance. We can provide the training material, and can offer instructors when necessary.

We provide presentations on energy codes compliance for residential and commercial buildings, including important differences between the IECC model code and its ASHRAE 90.1 commercial counterpart. These presentations include the building science behind the model codes requirements, and advanced energy-saving construction techniques and equipment that further reduce our energy dependence. Training is also developed for the use of DOE energy compliance software.

Code Development

NEEP actively participates in the ICC national model code change process, and monitors the ASHRAE standards process for important developments. NEEP authors energy code change proposals for every 3 year cycle, both directly and as an active member of the Energy Efficient Codes Coalition (EECC), a group of national and regional stakeholders in energy efficiency compliance.

Technical Assistance

Upon request, NEEP provides technical information to assist state building energy code update and adoption processes. NEEP services include research and analysis, information transfer between states, surveys of best practices and participation in technical forums. NEEP also helps states participate in national building energy code development processes by researching, recommending and tracking changes to model energy codes that address the needs and issues of Northeast and mid-Atlantic states.

More Information

For more information on training and technical assistance opportunities, please contact NEEP's Building Energy Codes Project Managers, Don Vigneau at 781-860-9177 ext. 136 or email at dvigneau@neep.org, or Mark Tebbets at 781-860-9177 ext. 123 or email at mtebbets@neep.org.

Prioritizing energy efficiency

Using energy efficiently is the fastest, most cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global climate change.

Achieving greater energy efficiency through "stretch" building energy codes

Compliance with building energy codes presents one of the most cost-effective ways of reducing building energy consumption in new construction and substantial building renovation, including building additions. To achieve even greater energy efficiency, states can adopt a "stretch" energy code to supplement their base building energy code. This gives communities the option to adopt a more stringent enforceable code that is at least 20 percent more energy efficient than the base state code.

Annual Energy Savings and Carbon Emissions Reductions in 2020

Building Type	Energy Savings (trillion BTUs)	Equivalent #of Homes	CO2 Emissions Reductions (million metric tons)	Equivalent # of Cars
Residential	63	525,000	3.7	1.85 million
Commercial	104	850,000	5.0	2.5 million
These savings come from adopting and fully implementing energy codes across the region that are 30% more energy efficient than the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code. Once the region reaches net-zero energy level, the annual savings will be much higher.

NEEP's Model Progressive Building Energy Codes Policy offers recommendations to adopt progressively more efficient building energy codes, improve the rate at which buildings and dwellings comply with the code and measure the actual energy performance of buildings and dwellings. It provides guidance to states in creating and adopting building policies that will lead to large-scale energy and carbon emissions savings across the region.

Learn more by downloading the complete Model Policy Paper or the Fact Sheet here. Read the press release in our news room.

More Information

STATUS OF BUILDING ENERGY CODES IN NORTHEAST STATES

Updated April, 2010

NEEP's Building Codes team provides expert advice and technical assistance to states throughout the region to help implement and improve building energy codes.

STATE	RESIDENTIAL CODE	COMMERCIAL CODE	NEXT UPDATE	CYCLE	RESPONSIBLE STATE AGENCY
Connecticut	2003 IRC	2003 IECC	Fall 2009 IRC &IECC	Not more than every 4 years	Department of Public Safety
Delaware	2009 IECC (pending)	2009 IECC Supplement (ASHRAE 90.1-2007) (pending)	Effective July 1, 2010	No Schedule	Delaware Energy Office
District of Columbia	2008 D.C. Construction Code	2008 D.C. Construction Code	2010	Every 3 years	D.C. Energy Office
Maine	2009 IECC (pending)	2009 IECC (pending)	Summer 2010	Every 3 years	Maine Public Utilities Commission
Maryland	2009 IECC	2009 IECC	ADOPTED JAN 2010	Every 3 years	Dept. Of Housing and Community Development
Massachusetts	2009 IECC	ASHRAE 90.1-2007 or 2009 IECC	Effective June 1,2010	Every 3 years	Board Of Building Regulations and Standards
New Hampshire	2009 IECC	2009 IECC	Effective 4/1/2010	Every 3 years	Public Utilities Commission
New Jersey	2006 IECC	2006 IECC	Spring 2010	Every 3 years	Department of Community Affairs
New York	2004 IECC w/NY Amendments	ASHRAE 90.1-2004	Fall 2010	Every 5 years	New York Department of State
Pennsylvania	2006 IECC	2006 IECC	Spring 2010	Every 3 years	Dept. of Labor and Industry
Rhode Island	2009 IECC (pending)	2009 IECC (pending)	July 1,2010	Every 3 years	Department of Administration
Vermont	2000 IECC w/VT amendments	2004 IECC supplement w/VT amendments or ASHRAE 90.1-2004 w/ VT Amd.	Fall 2010	Every 3 years	Department of Public Service

More Information

	Resource	Description
	NEEP's Model Progressive Codes Fact Sheet	This is two-page summary of the Model Progressive Building Energy Codes Policy.
	Third Party Inspection for Enforcing the Building Energy Codes	Describes how to implement a Specialized Inspector system for energy code enforcement. Includes examples from Washington State and Fairfax County, VA.
	CP-28 ICC Code Adoption Process White Paper	NEEP recognizes that the ICC CP-28 hearings policy that now works successfully for most code changes can be modified slightly to prevent any unforeseen conflicts. Therefore, NEEP proposes a small but significant modification to the hearings policy procedures; a change that could bring consistency to all code requirements in as little as a single code cycle.
	Model Progressive Building Energy Codes Policy for the Northeast States	The Northeast region can reduce energy consumption by 7 percent and reduce carbon emissions by 12 percent by implementing a model building energy code policy to govern new building construction and major renovations.The policy, recently released by NEEP, offers recommendations to adopt progressively more efficient building energy codes, improve the rate at which buildings and dwellings comply with the code and measure the actual energy performance of buildings and dwellings. It provides guidance to states in creating and adopting building policies that will lead to large-scale energy and carbon emissions savings across the Northeast.
	Comments regarding National Energy Rating Program for Homes Request for Information	NEEP commends DOE on the inclusion of the guiding principles in the program and makes several suggestions relating to site vs source energy as the consumption metric, asset rating vs. operational rating.
	DOE NERP RFI comment letter	NEEP has responded to DOE's National Energy Rating Program Request for Information. Comments are based on implications for whole home, low income, multifamily, and high rise resisdential efficiency programs, financing products and mechanisms, and informaiton gathered through the report Valuing Building Energy Efficiency through Upgrade and Disclosure Policies
	NEEP Comments to U.S. DOE on Request for Information related to Docket EERE-2010-BT-BC-0012, Building Energy Codes	In NEEP's view, there are several problems or barriers to improved code compliance that need to be addressed, but the overarching barrier to improved code compliance is a lack of self-sustaining funding in the states to address these problems.
	Washington ECC Certification for Inspectors 1997	The Washington State Energy Code: Certification for Inspectors and Plan Reviewers for the Non-Residential Energy Code