Bridging the Gap: Advancing Equity in the Public Hearing and Comment Period for Building Energy Codes

There are various limitations that restrict community involvement in the code development process, particularly during the public engagement periods. Limited resources, geographical constraints, tight timelines and other barriers significantly hinder community participation, especially among marginalized groups such as language-isolated communities, low-income communities, and those with environmental justice designations. States and local jurisdictions can work to address barriers to public engagement during the code development process to encourage the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and innovative ideas, to advance building energy codes. The strategies outlined in this brief enable states and municipalities to ensure that building energy codes are developed through accessible and transparent processes that foster inclusive decision-making.