Zero Cities Project

Codes & Policy / February 13, 2019 / Energy Codes

The Zero Cities Project is a three-year project supporting both cities and their most impacted communities* to co-develop and implement actionable and equitable roadmaps and policy strategies to achieve a zero-net-carbon (ZNC) building sector by 2050. Through a community collaboration...

Zero Energy/Carbon Codes

Codes & Policy / October 28, 2018 / Zero Net Energy (ZNE)

Building energy codes are playing an increasing in facilitating the move to ZE buildings. As advances in construction practices and building components and systems are proven out, communities are  strengthening the building codes so that higher levels of building efficiency...

Stretch Codes (Advanced Codes)

Codes & Policy / October 15, 2018 / Energy Codes

New design and process strategies can be demonstrated through a variety of advanced code strategies.  NBI builds market capacity for higher efficiency energy codes by encouraging the use of stretch codes (also referred to as reach codes). To support the...

Washington State Energy Code Roadmap to 2031

Codes & Policy / October 15, 2018 / Energy Codes

Many organizations and jurisdictions have adopted a range of building performance goals over the past decade that have significantly changed the conversation about energy codes and building energy performance.  The primary policy driver for the Washington State Energy Code increases in...

2018 IECC Code (Base Codes)

Codes & Policy / September 14, 2016

NBI demonstrated its leadership in codes by submitting proposals for the IECC that included a unified chapter for multifamily housing codes and a lighting measure to begin to tackle indoor agricultural energy usage before the industry expands further. FINAL STATUS...

Steps to Achieving Outcome-Based Energy Codes

Codes & Policy / December 22, 2015

Outcome-based energy codes, codes  require that a number of policy, data and administration pieces be put in place.  

Tool 4 | Demand Response in the IgCC

Codes & Policy / December 22, 2015

Recommended Action: Approve GEW-54 As Modified by PC1 and PC2 and GEW 58-14AMPC Background Demand response (DR) refers to the ability to adjust energy use in response to a price or information signal from a grid operator or other automated...

Tool 3 | Renewable Energy in the IgCC

Codes & Policy / December 22, 2015

Approved GEW-133-14 AMPC and GEW-137-14 Background Over the past several years, onsite renewable energy systems have been evolving and are being deployed at an increasing rate that exceeds the ability of construction codes to keep pace. The 2015 International Code...

Tool 2 | Cool Roofs in the IgCC

Codes & Policy / December 22, 2015

Recommended Action: Approve GG163, GG166, GG168, GG169 and GG302 Disapprove GG77, GG156, GG164 Background Mitigating the urban heat island (UHI) effect can produce benefits for buildings, neighborhoods, cities, suburban areas, and the globe. Air-conditioned buildings can see reduced energy bills...

Tool 1 | Outcome-Based Compliance in the IgCC

Codes & Policy / December 22, 2015

Recommended Action: Approve GEW-147 AMPC Background Currently, energy codes offer two primary pathways to demonstrate required energy savings: modeled and prescriptive. Prescriptive pathways limit the ability of architects and engineers to use integrated systems and innovative technologies to lower a...