ENERGY CODES FOR BUILDINGS:

HOW DO THEY SERVE CITIES?

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES

Washington, DC March 17, 2009
 BCAP – Building Codes Assistance Project

Non-profit, based in D.C. since 1994

Formed as a joint project of the Alliance to Save Energy,

the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

Provide resources, education & advocacy assistance for

adoption, implementation, & advancement of effective
energy codes on behalf of the US Department of Energy
and other funders
 Impact of Buildings

 ~40% of total energy use in the US

 70% of total US electricity consumption
 40% of CO2 emissions – on average……………

The average home emits twice as much

GHG as the average car
In 2004, 2+ million housing units
permitted in US (NAHB)
 Buildings: a critical sector for energy
and climate impacts

Buildings are the nation’s

largest source of global warming
pollution

Energy Efficient buildings

 Reduce stress on power grid and natural gas supplies
 Improve air quality and public health
 Avoid global warming
 Save consumers money
 Energy codes
 Written legal requirements governing the design and
construction of buildings

 Set the MINIMUM level of energy efficiency in

residential and commercial buildings

 Are the foundation of energy efficiency policy for the

buildings sector
 New Buildings

One of the most important opportunities for reducing

energy use & costs.

Energy-efficient from the start

or
A lost opportunity for the next 30-50 years
Energy Savings You Can Capture ------
--- AND MEASURE

 Upgrade from 2006 IECC to 2009 IECC:

15% average energy savings

 Upgrade from 2000-2003 IECC to 2009 IECC:

17% average energy savings

 Upgrade from pre-2000 IECC to 2009 IECC:

25% or more
 Energy Codes

Old way of thinking: The worst we can legally build

and sell

OR

New perspective: Given current technologies,

practices, and costs, the least we should provide our
residents
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block
Grants…………………..& Energy Codes

 Developing/implementing strategy

 Conducting energy audits

 Financial incentive programs

 Developing/implementing building codes

 SEP Funding – and Energy Codes

$3.1 billion available; Sect’y of Energy must receive

Governors’ assurances regarding:

 Building code requirements

 Regulatory policies (decoupling)
 Priority funding for existing programs
 SEP Funding and Energy Codes

Building code requirements:

 Adopt residential and commercial codes that meet

or exceed national model codes

 Execute plans to achieve 90% compliance rates

within 8 years
 STATE
STATUS

National
Model Code
for
Residential
(2009 IECC)
As of
December
2008
 STATE
STATUS

National
Model Code
for
Commercial
(ASHRAE
90.1-2007)
As of
December
2008
 HOME RULE?

 Some states cite Home Rule as justification for not

adopting energy codes
 Some states adopt codes but provide local
flexibility
 Some states preempt Home Rule to adopt
statewide codes
Bottom-line: Home Rule and energy codes
are not mutually exclusive
Codes by Number of Town/Village/City Adopters

Number of Percent in Chicago

Code Towns/Villages/Cities Metropolitan Area

2006 IECC 39 12%

2003 IECC 58 18%

2000 IECC 27 8%

1998 IECC 2 1%

No Code or IRC 188 59%

Local Code 6 2%

Total 320

Sources: Census Bureau and The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC)
 45% of 272 participating
organizations in the Illinois
Metropolitan Mayors Caucus have
adopted a code………
Monthly Household Savings
“…consider an energy-saving home costing $126,000 alongside a standard home costing
$125,000. The following table shows the comparative expenses of a standard home
versus an energy-saving home, assuming that the interest rate is 6% and the term of the
mortgage is 30 years: “

- Kentucky Office of Energy Policy

Standard Home Energy Saving Home

Monthly Mortgage $689 $695

Monthly Energy Cost $50 $20

Monthly Total $739 $715

Pay back period for energy efficient investment = 3.4 years

 Checklist for Energy Code Activity

1. Determine which codes are in place

2. Adopt model energy codes, 2009 IECC &

ASHRAE 90.1-2007, as needed
3. Develop Effective Training and Education
Standards
4. Enforce and Track Compliance
 Adopt National Model Codes

 Adopt codes through Executive Order

- Follow with legislation/rulemaking to keep pace with future
versions of model codes

 Author or support legislation to establish model

codes as baseline for construction

 Expedite existing process to adopt model codes

 Training and Professional Educational
Standards

Draw from national “Best Practices”:

 Assess training content for up-to-date, thorough

coverage of critical information for all key audiences
 Leverage code training resources and a variety of
options; in-person, on-line, etc.
 Establish strict professional certification
requirements
 Enforce and Track Compliance

 Maximize use of existing code resources (e.g., user

guides)
 Identify resource/information gaps and develop
remedies
 Establish current compliance level (baseline)

 Implement strategies for improved compliance

 Perform annual compliance measurement; including

energy and carbon savings
 Thank you

Robin Snyder
Program Director
rsnyder@ase.org
202-530-2226

Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP)

www.bcap-energy.org