Programs


Building Energy Code Compliance

Strong building energy codes are one of the most fundamental, affordable and effective mechanisms for increasing the long-term energy efficiency of the nation's buildings. Nevertheless, throughout most of the U.S., building energy code compliance initiatives—including training, outreach, implementation, and enforcement—have long been severely underfunded. Statewide reports indicate significant and widespread lack of compliance. As a result, many new and renovated homes and buildings do not comply with codes and consume far more energy and money to operate than they should. A dramatic increase in resources for compliance initiatives at all levels of government and increased enforcement at the local level are necessary to achieve high compliance rates.

Code Compliance Webinar: Register Now!

On Feb. 23, IMT's Code Compliance Specialist Ryan Meres will speak on the topic of 'Local Strategies for Improving Energy Code Compliance,' in a FREE webinar at 2 PM Eastern. This webinar is intended for elected officials, appointed officials, code officials, energy officials, sustainability directors, advocates, and other stakeholders. Over the past six years, national model energy codes have increased energy efficiency by an average of 30%. Unfortunately, these potential savings often go unrealized due to a lack of compliance. This webinar will offer strategies that cash-strapped local governments can use to ensure that buildings are meeting the energy code without busting their budgets.

    Also speaking: John Umphress, Austin Energy Green Building Program, Austin, Texas; and Jim H. Brown, City of Gillette, Wyoming. This event is produced by IMT and presented by the National League of Cities' Sustainability Program, the National Association of Counties, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, and the National Association of State Energy Officials.


CODE COMPLIANCE CASE STUDIES

IMT staff recently completed the first three case studies in a series investigating code compliance strategies.

 
   

In the City of Austin, Texas, the adoption and implementation of a requirement for third-party testing to verify compliance with energy codes in new residential buildings has bolstered energy efficient residential construction. The process of designing and adopting a third-party testing requirement has generated awareness among developers, homebuilders, and contractors of the need to achieve minimum energy efficiency standards. Implementation of a code-required testing program has held these stakeholders more accountable for seeing that these standards are met. The end result: higher energy code compliance rates in newly constructed homes.


 

In Wisconsin, licensed design professionals-architects, engineers, and other designers-have long been responsible for ensuring
that projects are built in compliance both with their designs
and with applicable building codes. Learn how this unusual code compliance model works, and why it has the potential to boost energy-code compliance rates. 

 
   


  
CASE STUDY 3 | Third-Party Plan Review (pdf)

Towns and cities including Dayton, Ohio, and Washington, D.C., regularly hire third parties to conduct construction plan reviews, reducing the expense to the local building department while increasing the level of quality assurance-and helping to ensure that all plans comply with energy and other codes.


  

Since last year, the state of Georgia has had a requirement
for mandatory building-envelope and duct-tightness testing, by certified individuals, on all new residential construction. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this requirement has improved compliance rates. Why? Read the case study to find out more.

  

Streamlining is the practice of improving building regulatory
processes to remove overlap and duplication and create more
efficient administrative procedures. When implemented properly, it not only makes building departments more efficient and effective, but also improves customer service and provides financial savings for the local government, its citizens, and private industry.

CODE COMPLIANCE TASK FORCE

A task force of experts released a series of Fact Sheets identifying a critical lack of funding for energy code compliance. Led by the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT), the group consisted of over 40 representatives from the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), and a broad range of other local, regional, and national stakeholder groups. 

The task force convened from May to August 2010 with the goal of providing perspective on the level of funding needed to improve compliance levels across the U.S. The group set out to quantify (1) the cost to achieve 90% energy code compliance and (2) the cost-effectiveness of such spending. The task force estimates that the additional spending needed to achieve 90% compliance would yield average annual energy savings ramping up to $2.7 billion in 2020 and over $10.2 billion in 2040 and each year thereafter. Including all public and private sector costs associated with code compliance, the energy savings produce a benefit-cost ratio of 6:1.

       
 



Building energy codes are one of the nation's most effective means of reducing energy costs and cutting pollution, but widespread noncompliance weakens these savings. An analysis by an IMT-led task force of experts reveals an annual spending need of $810 million for compliance initiatives at all levels of government, including training, outreach, implementation, and enforcement. Spending would yield a benefit-cost ratio of 6:1 and average annual energy savings ramping up to over $10 billion by 2040.
  
       
 

FACTSHEET | Building Energy Code Compliance: A Low-Cost Tool to Boost Jobs, Cut Pollution, and Advance Energy Independence; Every Dollar Spent Yields $6 in Energy Savings (pdf)

Though many states have adopted or will soon adopt the latest model energy codes, many new homes and businesses fail to comply with mandatory efficiency requirements, consuming far more energy and money to operate than they should. By simply providing the resources needed to fully enforce the energy codes already in place, states and local governments can achieve dramatic energy and emissions reductions at a relatively modest cost. 

   Policy Maker Fact Sheet - Thumbnail Preview

UTILITIES AND CODE COMPLIANCE

IMT is working to develop materials targeted at helping utilities and PUCs consider funding initiatives to improve energy code compliance. Learn more about the opportunities, benefits, and measurement and verification process for utility supported code compliance efforts.

 

       
 

 

FACTSHEET | Utilities and Building Energy Codes: Air Quality and Energy Savings Opportunitites (pdf)

Utilities are uniquely positioned to harness the energy savings from improved compliance with codes, yet fewer than 10 states have legislative or regulatory approval to count energy savings from building codes towards energy efficiency resource standards or utility filed energy efficiency programs. This document from IMT and the Institute for Electric Efficiency explores the opportunities for utilities to claim savings from building energy codes programs.

  
       

IN THE NEWS

A Mundane Approach to a Vexing Problem  |  The New York Times  |  11/28/2010
An article in the NYT gives some political and economic context for building codes and energy savings, citing the Code Compliance Task Force study on funding needed for 90% compliance in the US.

PUBLICATIONS & RESOURCES

EXTERNAL LINKS

BCAP-OCEAN: Online Code Environment & Advocacy Network

U.S. Department of Energy's Building Energy Codes Program