2021 IECC: IECC National Model Energy Code (Base Codes) | 2021 IECC: Commercial
The following proposals address a wide range of issues and improve the IECC by improving efficiency, clarifying requirements and creating greater flexibility for code users. Votes for proposals included in the 2021 IECC are classified as follows: As Submitted to the Code Action Committee, As Modified by the Code Action Committee, or As Modified by a Public Comment. Some proposals were modified and approved by one or more Public Comments with a number assigned to the Public Comment and in those cases the number is provided.
Code Change Proposal Numbers and Descriptions
Building Envelope
RE 29. Approved as Submitted by Code Development Committee. Results in better wall insulation in cold climates (Climate Zones 4 and 5) by requiring cavity and continuous insulation. Proponent: William Fay, Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition, representing Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition; Daniel Bresette, Alliance to Save Energy, representing Alliance to Save Energy; Maureen Guttman, BCAP-IBTS, representing BCAP-IBTS; Harry Misuriello, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, representing American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
RE 32. Approved as Submitted by Code Development Committee. Results in increased slab edge insulation in Climate Zone 3 and increased insulation performance in Climate Zones 4 and 5. Proponent: William Fay, Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition, representing Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition; Daniel Bresette, Alliance to Save Energy, representing Alliance to Save Energy; Maureen Guttman, BCAP-IBTS, representing BCAP-IBTS; Harry Misuriello, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, representing American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
RE 33. Approved as Submitted by Code Development Committee. Increases ceiling insulation in hot climates (Climate Zones 2 and 3). Proponent: William Fay, Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition, representing Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition; Daniel Bresette, Alliance to Save Energy, representing Alliance to Save Energy; Maureen Guttman, BCAP-IBTS, representing BCAP-IBTS; Harry Misuriello, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, representing American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
RE 35. Approved as Modified by Public Comment 1. Results in more efficient windows in Climate Zones 2 – 4. Proponent: William Fay, Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition, representing Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition; Daniel Bresette, Alliance to Save Energy, representing Alliance to Save Energy; Maureen Guttman, BCAP-IBTS, representing BCAP-IBTS; Harry Misuriello, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, representing American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
RE 36. Approved as Submitted by Code Development Committee. Results in better insulation in above-and below-grade walls.in Climate Zones 4 to 8. Proponent: William Fay, Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition, representing Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition; Daniel Bresette, Alliance to Save Energy, representing Alliance to Save Energy; Maureen Guttman, BCAP-IBTS, representing BCAP-IBTS; Harry Misuriello, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, representing American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
RE 37. Approved as Submitted by Code Development Committee. Requires a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.40 in Climate Zone 5. Proponent: William Fay, Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition, representing Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition; Daniel Bresette, Alliance to Save Energy, representing Alliance to Save Energy; Maureen Guttman, BCAP-IBTS, representing BCAP-IBTS; Harry Misuriello, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, representing American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Building HVAC System
RE 112. Approved as Submitted by Code Development Committee. Reduces heat and conditioned air loss. Proponent: William Fay, Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition, representing Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition; Daniel Bresette, Alliance to Save Energy, representing Alliance to Save Energy; Maureen Guttman, BCAP-IBTS, representing BCAP-IBTS; Harry Misuriello, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, representing American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
RE 133 – New. Approved as Submitted by Code Development Committee. Improves building efficiency by increasing the fan efficacy requirements for exhaust fans that are part of a whole house ventilation. Proponent: Eric Makela, representing New Buildings Institute; Mike Moore, Newport Ventures, representing Broan-NuTone
RE 139. Approved as Submitted by Code Development Committee. Requires Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) or Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) are installed for ventilation systems in Climate Zones 7 and 8. Proponent: Mike Moore, Newport Ventures, representing Broan-NuTone
Water Heating
RE 126. Approved as Submitted by Code Development Committee. Reduces water heating energy use by requiring more efficient water heating systems. Proponent: Lauren Urbanek, representing Natural Resources Defense Council
Lighting and Power
RE 7. Approved as Modified by Public Comment 1. Increases the installed lighting efficacy requirements to 65 lumens/watt for lamps and 45 lumens/watt for luminaires. Eric Makela, New Buildings Institute, representing New Buildings Institute
RE145 – New. Approved as Submitted by Code Development Committee. Requires high-effacy lamps to be 70 lu/W and that occupancy or dimmer controls be installed permanently installed lighting. Note that this proposal passed but conflicts with RE7. The ICC Codes Correlation Committee will use the efficacy requirements from RE7 and the lighting control requirements from RE145. Proponent: Lauren Urbanek, representing Natural Resources Defense Council
RE 147. Approved as Submitted by Public Comment. Requires buildings be electrification ready. Proponent: Lauren Urbanek, representing Natural Resources Defense Council
RE 148. Approved as Modified by Public Comment 1 & 2. This proposal adds a requirement for R-occupancy buildings (such as multifamily buildings) to meet the exterior lighting requirements in the commercial section. Proponent for this proposal is Eric Makela, representing New Buildings Institute.
Electric Vehicle Ready
CE 217 Part II – New. Approved as Modified by Code Development Committee. Requires residential buildings to have a percentage of their parking as EV Ready and EV Capable. Proponents: Matt Frommer, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, representing Southwest Energy Efficiency Project; Eric Makela, New Buildings Institute, representing New Buildings Institute; jim Edelson, representing New Buildings Institute; Steven Rosenstock, representing Edison Electric Institute; Francesca Wahl; Daniel Bresette, Alliance to Save Energy, representing Alliance to Save Energy.
ERI Approach
RE 184 – New. Approved as Submitted by Code Development Committee. Places a five percent limit on the reduction in energy use of the rated design through the use of renewable energy. Proponent: William Fay, Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition, representing Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition; Daniel Bresette, Alliance to Save Energy, representing Alliance to Save Energy; Maureen Guttman, BCAP-IBTS, representing BCAP-IBTS; Harry Misuriello, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, representing American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
RE 192. Approved as Submitted by Public Comment. Improves the target Energy Rating Index (ERI) values, which were weakened from the 2015 to the 2018 version of IECC. Proponent: William Fay, Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition, representing Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition; Daniel Bresette, Alliance to Save Energy, representing Alliance to Save Energy; Maureen Guttman, BCAP-IBTS, representing BCAP-IBTS; Harry Misuriello, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, representing American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Flex Packages
RE 209. Approved as Submitted by Public Comment. This Flex Point option that allows builder to select one of five packages options to achieve a 5% increase in efficiency. Proponent: Daniel Bresette, Alliance to Save Energy, representing Alliance to Save Energy; Harry Misuriello, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, representing American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Renewables
Residential Renewable Definition. Approved as Submitted by Code Development Committee. The residential section references renewable energy but does not include a definition for renewable energy. This proposal introduces a definition for renewable energy that is consistent with the definition from the commercial section. Proponent for this proposal is Jim Edelson, representing New Buildings Institute.
RE 204-19: Residential Renewable Energy Credits. Approved as Submitted by Code Development Committee This proposal impacts who may claim the environmental attributes of an onsite-renewable energy system. The environmental attributes of solar power, or other renewable energy, have market value that is reflected and transacted in Renewable Energy Credits (REC). It adds a definition for RECs and a requirement that those environmental benefits remain with the building if the energy is to be considered “renewable” for the purposes of the code. Proponent for this proposal is Jim Edelson, representing New Buildings Institute.
ZE Appendix
RE 223-19: Appendix RB Zero Energy Residential Appendix. Approved as Modified by Public Comment 2. This proposal creates an appendix that would provide cities and states a standard to define a zero energy home using the ERI compliance approach. Proponent for this proposal is Eric Makela, representing New Buildings Institute; Lauren Urbanek, representing Natural Resources Defense Council.