Topic: Energy Codes
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...
Moving Energy Codes Forward: A Guide for Cities and States
Guideline / June 4, 2018 / Energy Codes
In cities, the building sector is a major contributor to carbon emissions and energy use accounting for up to 40% of the total energy consumed. Some jurisdictions may have climate policies and climate action plans that set targets and lay…
Zero Energy Performance Index (zEPI) and zEPI Jurisdictional Scores
Online Tool / May 16, 2018 / Energy Codes
The Zero Energy Performance Index (zEPI) provides a scale for measuring commercial building energy performance and represents a fundamental shift in measurement of building efficiency as it sets energy targets for actual energy consumption rather than using a predictive energy…
NBI’s Legacy of Code Advocacy Lives On
Post / March 8, 2018 / Energy Codes
New Buildings Institute (NBI) has played an active and influential role in building energy codes since the day its doors opened in 1997. Jeff Johnson, one of its first executive directors, was an ardent codes advocate with a long track...
Eric Makela Joins NBI’s Codes and Policy Team
Post / February 22, 2018 / Energy Codes
We are pleased to announce the addition of Eric Makela to our Codes and Policy team. He brings over 30 years of global expertise in energy code development, training and evaluation, throughout the United States as well as abroad, including...
Checking in with the Passive House Network
Post / December 7, 2017 / Energy Codes
It’s been over 25 years since the Passive House concept — tight, well designed and insulated envelope and minimized mechanical loads — was formalized in Germany, and it feels like the movement has reached a tipping point here in North...
Outcomes Matter
Post / November 16, 2017 / Energy Codes
by Ryan M. Colker, Vice President of National Institute of Building Sciences We all know what it takes to lead a healthy life—eat your vegetables, exercise, and visit your doctor to monitor your cholesterol, blood sugar, weight and blood pressure....
Model Stretch Code Provisions for a 20% Performance Improvement in New Commercial Construction
Guideline / November 6, 2017 / Energy Codes
This summary document describes a set of code strategies that represent a 20% performance improvement for commercial buildings over the ASHRAE 90.1-2013 code baseline (and approximately similar savings over the IECC 2015 baseline).
Stretch Codes: A Disruptive Solution to Super Charge Green Building
Post / November 6, 2017 / Energy Codes
This week, thousands of building industry professionals will converge at Greenbuild 2017 to share their excitement and progress advancing green buildings. While the number of green buildings—energy-efficient, zero energy, LEED and ENERGY STAR-certified, etc.—has grown dramatically over the last decade,...