Category: Energy Codes and Policy
Codes for Loads – Making Our Buildings Work with Renewable Power Grids
Post / July 22, 2021
Thirty states and the District of Columbia have adopted Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), policies that require or set goals for all energy supply to be renewable by a chosen date mostly within the next two decades. The Biden Administration earlier...
The Future of Building Decarbonization Starts Now
Post / July 8, 2021
With buildings currently representing 39% of U.S. carbon emissions from operational and embodied sources, jurisdictions look toward advanced building codes and policies as critical and urgent strategies for meeting their climate goals. Despite overwhelming support from public bodies, recent efforts...
Checking in on State Energy Code Progress Toward Zero Energy
Post / April 14, 2021
ACEEE’s 2020 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard was released in December with California reclaiming the number one spot from Massachusetts. This is based on five categories including utility and public benefits, transportation, building energy efficiency, state initiatives, and appliance standards, according...
Stretch Codes: A Key Tool on the Path to Carbon Neutral Buildings
Post / December 16, 2020
Adopting energy codes that go beyond the base, or required minimum code, is proving to be an effective way to achieve energy savings and reduce carbon emission from the built environment. We have long been hearing about states such as...
The New Residential Zero Energy Appendix: An Important Addition for Code Adoption
Post / December 8, 2020
For the first time, the new 2021 update of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which is anticipated to be released in the next few weeks, includes a Zero Energy Home Appendix that provides cities and states with ready-made code...
Reduce Carbon in Existing Buildings and Put America Back to Work
Post / October 28, 2020
We all know too well of the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These impacts are compounded by increasingly destructive wildfires, hurricanes, and flooding – so much so that nearly two-thirds of Americans – including more than half...
The 2021 IECC’s circuitous path to conclusion
Post / October 12, 2020
It’s been one year, eight months, 28 days since proposals were due into the International Code Council’s (ICC) system for consideration into the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). That doesn’t include the time proponents spent considering and drafting proposals...
Implementing Building Performance Standards: Consistency is Key
Post / September 29, 2020
A building performance standard (BPS) provides a powerful solution for cities working to meet climate goals, achieve energy savings and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As a forward-looking policy for existing buildings, a BPS commits a city or state to...
Does the changing policy landscape pit efficiency against renewables?
Post / September 24, 2020
With cities and states pursing renewable portfolio standards and national calls to decarbonize the grid by 2035, does efficiency still matter with a clean grid? The first answer: yes, energy efficiency benefits are, as they have been for decades, delivering...
2021 Energy Code Progress Challenged: Climate and Affordability Stand to Lose Unless We Speak Up
Post / July 28, 2020
Update: See final result In December 2019, more than 1,000 government representatives from cities and states across the U.S. did something remarkable when they voted to improve the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) by 10%. Since buildings account for...