The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) is known for tackling issues of national importance. Climate change is one of those critical issues that the mayors addressed at their 2019 annual meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. On July 1, 2019, the USCM unanimously passed a resolution to put the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) on glide path to net zero energy. USCM Resolution 59 urges cities to vote for at least 10% more efficiency in the 2021 IECC using the forthcoming Energy Efficient Codes Council (EECC) Voting Guide.
Mayors realize that energy codes are one of the most cost-effective way for cities to cut carbon emissions, eliminate energy waste, improve comfort and health for building occupants, and increase housing affordability by reducing the ongoing energy burden for owners and renters.
Only International Codes Council (ICC) “Governmental Member Voting Representatives” (GMVRs) that are officially registered by September 23, 2019 may cast votes for IECC proposals this fall. This is a critical step to being able to vote in November. Primary representatives must officially register GMVRs on the ICC website. Then, GMVRs can cast electronic ballots in November.
New Buildings Institute and our national partners from the EECC are working to promote awareness of the process and proposals for this 2021 IECC update. We encourage all ICC governmental members to register their full slate of voters and refer to the EECC voting guide (which will be published in September 2019) to know which proposals to vote for or against. Feel free to reach out if we can help answer any questions.
For more information:
- Contact Amy Cortese, NBI Program Director, at [email protected]
- New Buildings Institute: https://newbuildings.org/hubs/codes-policy/iecc-voting
- Energy Efficient Codes Council: http://energyefficientcodes.com
Other on-demand webinars about the 2021 IECC:
Gaining Momentum On Efficiency: Next Steps in The 2021 IECC Update (June 25, 2019) – Learn about the outcomes from the spring International Code Council Committee hearings in Albuquerque and the best opportunities for achieving substantial energy savings in the 2021 IECC.
Technical Proposals Putting the 2021 IECC on a Glide Path to Efficiency (March 5, 2019) – Learn about the technical proposals under consideration for the 2021 IECC. Experts from NBI and the Energy Efficiency Codes Council explain more about the proposals that would deliver 10-15% better efficiency, add flexibility to the code, and incorporate renewable energy sources in the built environment.
Written by Amy Cortese, Program Director