Publications
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Document type: State-specific, Technical Assistance report
Publication Date: December 2006
Focus: Adoption
At the request of the Government Accountability Office, The U.S. Department of Energy's Building Energy Codes Program (BECP) undertook an analysis of the energy savings and cost impacts associated with the use of newer and more efficient commercial building energy codes in the states of Louisiana and Mississippi. BECP looked at three levels of energy standards – ASHRAE Standard 90-75, ASHRAE 90.1-2001, and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004 – that cover both the full range of standards currently on the books in Louisiana and Mississippi and the logical next standards for these states.
Document type: State-specific, Technical Assistance report
Publication Date: January 2007
Focus: Adoption
At the request of the Government Accountability Office, the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Energy Codes Program undertook an analysis of the energy savings and cost impacts associated with the use of newer and more efficient residential building energy codes in the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.The intent of this analysis is to determine the potential energy and economic impacts from improved energy efficiency alternatives available for residential buildings during the reconstruction process after Hurricane Katrina.
Document type: State-specific
Publication Date: October 2009
Focus: Adoption
The Maine Legislature enacted the Uniform Building and Energy Code (PL 2007, Chapter 699 and amendments PL 2009, Chapter 261). This document provides some answers to frequently-asked questions about the code.
Document type: State-specific
Publication Date: January 2010
Focus: Adoption
In accordance with the statutory requirements of the Green Communities Act, the Board of Building Regulations and Standards amended the Massachusetts Building Code as of January 1, 2010, requiring the use of the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code with Massachusetts amendments.
Document type: State-specific
Publication Date:
Focus: Adoption
780 CMR: MASSACHUSETTS AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE 2009: Buildings in the state of Massachusetts shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code with Massachusetts Amendments as described in this document:.
Document type: Compliance Tool
Publication Date: October 2010
Focus: Compliance
This document contains a flier and letter templates for use by states. Example:Buildings account for roughly 40 percent of the nation’s energy consumption. Enhancing their efficiency will lead to a stronger economy, a cleaner environment, and decreased dependence on imported oil. With this goal in mind, the (state organization), with support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Energy Codes Program (BECP), is asking local jurisdictions to participate in a statewide study to measure compliance rates with building energy codes. This letter is meant to familiarize you with the study and to solicit your support for this important activity.
Document type: Compliance Tool, Reports and Studies
Publication Date: March 2010
Focus: Compliance
In this document, the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Energy Codes Program provides a detailed set of procedures that may help states as they engage in activities in support of code implementation and enforcement as well as measurement of the compliance rate associated with the codes and standards named in legislation, most notably those associated with measuring and reporting rates of compliance.
Document type: Compliance Tool, Reports and Studies
Publication Date: March 2010
Focus: Compliance
To supplement the Measuring State Energy Code Compliance report, this user-friendly action plan summarizes the main procedures, shows further options, and points to several ready-made resources and web-based tools U.S Department of Energy's Building Energy Codes Program is releasing to support the process.
Document type: Code Notes
Publication Date: October 2011
Focus: Compliance
ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010 and the commercial provisions of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code require that the building envelope be carefully designed to limit uncontrolled air leakage into and out of the building.
Document type: Technical Support Document
Publication Date: September 2012
Focus: Compliance
This report explains the methodology used to develop Version 4.4.3 of the REScheck software developed for the 1992, 1993, and 1995 editions of the MEC, and the 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2012 editions of the IECC, and the 2006 edition of the International Residential Code (IRC). Although some requirements contained in these codes have changed, the methodology used to develop the REScheck software for these editions is similar. Beginning with REScheck Version 4.4.0, support for 1992, 1993, and 1995 MEC and the 1998 IECC is no longer included, but those sections remain in this document for reference purposes.
Document type: Reports and Studies
Publication Date: April 2012
Focus: Code Development
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE’s) Building Energy Codes Program has developed and established a methodology for evaluating the energy and economic performance of residential energy codes. This methodology serves two primary purposes. First, as DOE participates in the consensus processes of the International Code Council, the methodology described herein will be used by DOE to ensure that its proposals are both energy efficient and cost effective. Second, when a new version of the International Energy Conservation Code is published, DOE will evaluate the new code as a whole to establish expected energy savings and cost effectiveness, which will help states and local jurisdictions interested in adopting the new codes. DOE’s measure of cost-effectiveness balances longer-term energy savings against additions to initial costs through a life-cycle cost perspective.
Document type: Technical Assistance report
Publication Date: September 2006
Focus: Adoption
The state of Michigan asked the U.S. Department of Energy to analyze the potential energy effect and cost-effectiveness of the lighting requirements in ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004 as they consider adoption of this energy code in place of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1999. The primary change of interest in the lighting section of the 90.1-2004 Standard is the set of revised interior lighting power densities that provide for stricter lighting compliance levels.
Document type: State-specific
Publication Date: November 2010
Focus: Adoption
Rules governing the energy efficiency for the design and construction of buildings and structures, not including residential buildings, shall be those contained in the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), section 501.1 and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007, including appendices A, B, C, and D. With the amendments noted, Section 501.1 of the IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 are adopted in these rules by reference.
Document type: State-specific, Technical Assistance report
Publication Date: March 2007
Focus: Adoption
At the request of the Montana Energy Office, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Energy Codes Program undertook an analysis of the energy savings associated with slab insulation in small commercial buildings.
Document type: Model Data
Publication Date: April 2011
Focus: Code Development
This speadsheet provides a summary of the percentage of energy savings with plug loads for the ASHRAE Standard 90.1 Prototype Building Models.
Document type: Reports and Studies
Publication Date:
Focus: Code Development
More than 200,000 homes are factory built in the United States each year to the federally preemptive Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards, mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This paper analyzes national energy use and savings potential from improvements to thermal distribution system efficiency, thermal envelopes, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment over what is currently required by HUD code. Estimated energy savings over current HUD code are provided for four cases: National Fire Protection Association Standard 501-2005, the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR manufactured housing guidelines , and Best Practice, based on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Industrialized Housing Partnership program home built in the Pacific Northwest. Savings estimates are also provided from improved HVAC system efficiencies,...
Document type: State-specific
Publication Date: September 2012
Focus: Compliance, Enforcement
This Guide is designed to assist state and local code jurisdictions in achieving statewide compliance with the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for residential buildings and ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007 for commercial buildings.
Document type: State-specific
Publication Date:
Focus: Adoption
Residential energy code application for certification of compliance for new construction, additions or renovations.
Document type: State-specific
Publication Date: August 2011
Focus: Adoption
In compliance with the Title III of the Energy Conservation and Production Act of 1976, as amended, this document certifies that the state of New Jersey has adopted the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for low-rise residential buildings, along with ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 for commercial buildings and all other residential buildings not covered under the 2009 IECC.
Document type: State-specific, Technical Assistance report
Publication Date: January 2003
Focus: Adoption
This paper presents an assessment of the energy savings and economic impact for New Mexico to adopt the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code. As of the writing of this report, the state of New Mexico bases its commercial building energy code on the 1986 Model Energy Code, which in turn references ASHRAE Standard 90a-1980 for the commercial building portion of the energy code.
Document type: State-specific, Technical Assistance report
Publication Date: August 2007
Focus: Adoption
At the request of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and New York State Department of State, the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Energy Codes Program undertook an analysis of the energy savings and cost impacts associated with the proposed adoption of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004, and compared it with the requirements based on ASHRAE Standards 90.1-1999 and 90.1-2001.
Document type: State-specific, Technical Assistance report
Publication Date: April 2004
Focus: Adoption
The state of New York asked the U.S. Department of Energy to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the requirement for heat recovery for service water heating that exists in the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code to determine whether this requirement should be adopted into the New York State Energy code.
Document type: State-specific, Technical Assistance report
Publication Date: September 2004
Focus: Adoption
The New York State Department of State requested the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) compare the effects on energy usage as a result of implementation of the 2004 Supplement to the International Energy Conservation Code with the current New York code. The comparison had to determine whether additional costs of compliance with the proposal would be equal to or less than the present value of anticipated energy cost savings over a 10-year period. Under DOE's direction, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory completed the requested assessment of the potential code upgrade.
Document type: State-specific, Technical Assistance report
Publication Date: June 2009
Focus: Adoption
The state of New York requested that the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Building Energy Codes Program (BECP) provide an analysis of the impacts of adoption of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007. New York State is unique among states in requiring a ten-year payback for energy code measures. BECP based this analysis on the results of a nationwide, state-by-state code comparison for DOE. This analysis indicates that the adoption of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 is cost-effective under New York’s requirements for all buildings in New York.
Document type: State-specific, Technical Assistance report
Publication Date: June 2004
Focus: Adoption
The state of New York asked the U.S. Department of Energy to analyze the potential energy effect and cost-effectiveness of the lighting requirements in the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code as they consider adoption of this energy code. The new provisions of interest in the lighting section of the 2003 IECC include new lighting power densities and requirements for automatic lighting shutoff controls.
Document type: Code Notes
Publication Date: June 2011
Focus: Compliance
The use of header stock over windows and doors in nonbearing walls is typical construction practice throughout the industry. But a single two-inch by four-inch board is allowed to be used as a header in non-load bearing wall systems..
Document type: Reports and Studies, State-specific
Publication Date: March 2000
Focus: Adoption
This study focuses on verifying that buildings are designed and built to comply with the energy code requirements. The goal of the recommended program is to collect sufficient information to describe construction characteristics and practices related to energy efficiency in new residential and non-residential construction in a representative sample of North Carolina city and county code jurisdictions.
Document type: State-specific, Technical Assistance report
Publication Date: April 2004
Focus: Adoption
This report evaluates the potential costs and benefits to North Dakota residents from updating and requiring compliance with ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2001.
Document type: State-specific
Publication Date:
Focus: Adoption
National codes and standards are incorporated by reference.
Document type: State-specific
Publication Date:
Focus: Adoption
This document outlines the organization and division of the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission.
Document type: Comparison
Publication Date: May 2012
Focus: Regulatory
After a regulatory action has been issued, Section 6(a)(3)(E) of Executive Order 12866 requires agencies to identify in a complete, clear, and simple manner, the substantive changes between the draft of the final determination submitted to The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review and this final determination, and identify those changes in this determination that were made at the suggestion or recommendation of OIRA. This OMB compare document is intended to comply with this requirement.
Document type: Comparison
Publication Date: May 2012
Focus: Regulatory
After a regulatory action has been issued, Section 6(a)(3)(E) of Executive Order 12866 requires agencies to identify in a complete, clear, and simple manner, the substantive changes between the draft submitted to Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review and the action subsequently announced, and identify those changes in the regulatory action that were made at the suggestion or recommendation of OIRA. This OMB compare document is intended to comply with this requirement.
Document type: Code Notes
Publication Date: June 2011
Focus: Compliance
The 2009 International Energy Conservation Code, Section 403.2.2, requires that duct systems be pressure tested, or all ducts and air handlers be located in conditioned space. Building cavities used to convey return air located over a crawlspace or next to an unconditioned space would be required to be tested.
Document type: State-specific
Publication Date: December 2008
Focus: Adoption
Para-Technical's checklist for the Oregon code adoption process.
Document type: State-specific
Publication Date:
Focus: Adoption, Commercial, Residential
The Building Codes Division, part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, enforces the building code to protect the public and prevent unsafe construction work. Oregon has one statewide building code providing a uniform, consistent and predictable process for Oregon’s construction industry, the public, and state and local government.Oregon’s building code is applicable in all cities and counties and is enforced locally across the state. The Division provides code enforcement in areas of the state where the local jurisdiction does not.
Publication Date: July 2009
Focus: Compliance
The overall objective of the combined studies covered in this report is to provide the Vermont Department of Public Service (DPS) with residential new construction market assessments and baselines to help identify opportunities for increased energy efficiency in Vermont. This report summarizes the combined findings of a phone survey of 296 homeowners, on-site audits conducted at 106 recently constructed homes across Vermont, and in-depth interviews with 25 builders, nine HVAC contractors and ten insulation contractors.
Document type: State-specific, Technical Assistance report
Publication Date: February 2001
Focus: Adoption
The Pennsylvania Housing Research Center (PHRC) has created a proposed alternative path for complying with the energy efficiency provisions of the2000 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or the 2000 International Residential Code (IRC) for residential buildings. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry requested that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) evaluate the PHRC proposal to determine whether it meets or exceeds the energy efficiency requirements of the IECC. Under DOE's direction, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory reviewed and assessed the PRHC proposal.
Document type: State-specific
Publication Date: September 2009
Focus: Adoption
In November 1999, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed ACT 45, known as the Uniform Construction Code, into law mandating a statewide building code across Pennsylvania. Act 45 requires the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) to promulgate regulations to implement the requirements of the legislation and, in addition, to consider the development of alternative prescriptive methods for energy conservation that account for the various climatic regions within the Commonwealth. In deriving these energy standards, the DLI was to seek to balance energy savings with initial construction costs.
Document type: Technical Articles
Publication Date: May 2009
Focus: Compliance
The Building Energy Codes Program compliance tools -- COMcheck™, COMcheck-Web™, REScheck™, and REScheck-Web™ -- have the capability to upload and download files to and from the desktop and Web-based versions of the software you are using.
Document type: Reports and Studies
Publication Date: June 2008
Focus: Compliance
This study looked at seven building measures in both the residential and nonresidential sectors to learn how closely actual building practices adhere to newly adopted codes. Data were collected by reviewing permits and conducting verification site visits for a sample of building projects throughout the state. Key findings from this study include quantitative estimates of noncompliance rates for the seven measures, as well as qualitative information about some unexpected complexities associated with data collection efforts around building practices, both at building departments (during permit review) and at building sites (during inspection).
Document type: Analysis
Publication Date:
Focus: Code Development
A quantitative analysis of the estimated differences between ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1989 and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1999 to inform and support the final determination.
Document type: Technical Articles
Publication Date: May 2009
Focus: Compliance
ASHRAE Standard 90.1 and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)have a long, intertwined history of development, starting with the original development of ASHRAE Standard 90-75 in direct response to the oil crisis in 1973, and continuing on to the latest documents.
Document type: Technical Support Document
Publication Date:
Focus: Compliance
This guide describes how to use the REScheck™ software. REScheck is designed to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the Council of American Building Officials' Model Energy Code (MEC) and the International Code Council's International Energy Conservation Code. It is the most flexible approach for meeting the MEC insulation and window requirements.
Document type: Reports and Studies
Publication Date: June 2009
Focus: Compliance
The objective of this report is to assess the compliance of newly-constructed single-family homes with the Vermont Residential Building Energy Standards (RBES). This analysis is part of a broader study of the single-family residential new construction market in Vermont.
Document type: Compliance Tool
Publication Date: June 2012
Focus: Compliance
In supporting state energy code compliance evaluations, the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Energy Codes Program (BECP) has developed residential data collection checklists. The checklists are available for use as paper checklists or electronic Microsoft® Word® forms.The BECP also developed an online tool, the Checklist Score + Store. While overall compliance can be determined manually for individual buildings and groups of renovations, this tool provides automated building scores and state-wide consolidation of data. Individual building scores will remain confidential (available only to the state and their contractors), but storing data nationally will shed valuable light on nationwide compliance, as well as changes in compliance over time.Guidelines for using the following checklists to evaluate state energy code compliance can be found in...
Document type: Reports and Studies
Publication Date: February 2007
Focus: Compliance
The primary goal of this paper was to review existing energy code evaluation studies, and make recommendations for future work in this area. The secondary purpose is to address this existing body of literature as it relates to the quantification of the savings gap, defined as the energy savings foregone due to non-compliance with the energy code adopted in a state or local jurisdiction.
Document type: Code Notes
Publication Date: August 2012
Focus: Compliance
Over the past several code cycles, mechanical ventilation requirements have been added to ensure adequate outside air is provided for ventilation whenever residences are occupied. These ventilation requirements can be found in the International Residential Code for homes and the International Mechanical Code for dwelling units in multifamily buildings.
Document type: Code Notes
Publication Date: June 2011
Focus: Compliance
The 2006 and 2009 International Energy Conservation Code require sizing calculations be performed on every home by referencing International Residential Code Section M1401.3. Section M1401.3 requires heating and cooling systems be sized to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Manual J - Eighth Addition or other approved heating and cooling load calculations. The ACCA sizing methodology has sufficient built-in safety factors to accommodate most conditioning needs.
Document type: Reports and Studies
Publication Date: May 2004
Focus: Compliance
A study prepared for the Long Island Power Authority to analyze "new construction practices and market conditions from the summer and fall of 2003." The results of the study were used during the design of the Long Island Power Authority's New York ENERGY STAR Labeled Homes Program (NYESLHP).
Document type: Compliance Tool
Publication Date: January 2012
Focus: Compliance
This Quick Reference Guide will guide you, step-by-step, through a typical plan review process for energy code compliance and show how it can be conducted quickly and efficiently. The U.S. Department of Energy’s REScheck™ Compliance Software is designed to create simplified compliance certificates that can be easily reviewed by enforcement personnel.
Document type: Reports and Studies
Publication Date: January 2006
Focus: Compliance
A report conducted by the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) that "reviews state and utility programs aimed at stimulating the construction of highly energy-efficient new homes in the states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah."
Document type: Reports and Studies
Publication Date: June 2004
Focus: Code Development
Energy-efficiency requirements were developed for manufactured homes, which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A life-cycle cost analysis from the homeowner's perspective was used to establish parameters for a least-cost home in a large number of cities. Economic, financial, and energy-efficiency measures for the life-cycle cost analysis were selected and documented. The resulting energy-efficiency levels were aggregated to zones that were expressed as a maximum overall home U-value (U0) requirement for the building envelope. The proposed revised standard's costs, benefits, and net value to the consumer were quantified. This analysis updates a similar effort completed in 1992, which was the basis for the existing HUD code U0 requirement. Updated U0s for manufactured homes are recommended.
Document type: Code Notes
Publication Date: May 2009
Focus: Compliance
Rigid board insulation (foam plastic) is an effective draft stop, while providing part of the required R-value of the attic kneewall, if installed on the attic side of the kneewall.
Document type: Technical Articles
Publication Date: May 2009
Focus: Compliance
This article discusses building energy simulation software appropriate for use with the Energy Cost Budget method in ASHRAE Standard 90.1 and the Total Building Performance section of the International Energy Conservation Code.
Document type: Code Notes
Publication Date: June 2011
Focus: Compliance
A single top plate is allowed under the International Residential Code, but it is not a common construction practice. The standard practice for exterior and interior wall framing is using a double top plate to connect wall segments, and to support framing above the plates.
Document type: Reports and Studies
Publication Date: March 2007
Focus: Compliance
A study prepared for the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance that "characterize ssingle-family residential new construction using a representative sample of buildings constructed in 2004 and 2005...The results will provide a baseline for ENERGY STAR® New Homes Northwest specifications."
Document type: Technical Articles
Publication Date: May 2009
Focus: Compliance
The sun is the main source of heat in all homes. By looking at how houses receive sunlight, site planners can help optimize how much solar energy is available to heat a house, and how much heat must be removed with air conditioning. In hot climates, site planners should use lot orientation to avoid solar gains in the summer.
Document type: Technical Articles
Publication Date: May 2009
Focus: Compliance
To have a building certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), architects and designers can use several tools to demonstrate that the building complies with various sustainable design requirements. The USGBC certifies the building through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. This is a voluntary, consensus-based performance rating system. This article discusses the software that may be used to verify compliance.
Document type: Analysis, Reports and Studies
Publication Date: April 2012
Focus: Code Development
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) conducted a series of cost effectiveness analyses for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), covering the 2009 and 2012 editions of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for new single and multifamily homes. The evaluations were performed against a 2006 IECC baseline, taking state-specific code amendments into consideration. These reports outline the results of these analyses, including a National Cost Analysis and Cost Analyses for selected states.
Document type: Compliance Tool
Publication Date: September 2010
Focus: Compliance, Residential
This document contains sample survey questions designed for use by states wishing to conduct a survey of their building jurisdictions as one method of better understanding energy code compliance rates in their state.
Document type: Reports and Studies
Publication Date: May 2007
Focus: Adoption, Compliance
The goal of the study was twofold: 1) to refine the original estimates made of noncompliance, initial market penetration, and naturally occurring market adoption rates by researching and analyzing the factors contributing to each parameter; and 2) to test the 2006 California Energy Efficiency Evaluation Protocols (Evaluation Protocols) as it applies to determining net savings resulting from Program activities.
Document type: Reports and Studies
Publication Date: April 2010
Focus: Compliance
This report explains Minnesota’s experience in demonstrating that it is possible to implement a code requiring tight construction, as long as provisions are included for ventilation and make up air to avoid the potential harmful effects of depressurization.
Document type: Code Notes
Publication Date: July 2009
Focus: Compliance
The appropriate treatment of task lighting for energy code compliance has always been a potentially confusing issue. The intent of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 (as well as previous editions back to 1999) and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) (including editions back to 2003) is for task lighting to be included in compliance calculations when it is part of the lighting design. This applies to office spaces where task lighting is common, as well as other spaces where task lighting may appear in various forms.
Document type: Technical Support Document
Publication Date: September 2012
Focus: Compliance
This technical support document (TSD) is designed to explain the technical basis for the COMcheck software as originally developed based on the ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-1989 (Standard 90.1-1989). Documentation for other national model codes and standards and specific state energy codes supported in COMcheck has been added to this report as appendices. These appendices are intended to provide technical documentation for features specific to the supported codes and for any changes made for state-specific codes that differ from the standard features that support compliance with the national model codes and standards. Beginning with COMcheck version 3.8.0, support for 90.1-1989, 90.1-1999, and the 1998 IECC and version 3.9.0 support for 2000 and 2001 IECC are no longer included, but those sections remain in this document for reference purposes.
Document type: Technical Support Document
Publication Date: November 2006
Focus: Compliance
This Technical Support Document describes the process and methodology for the development of the Advanced Energy Design Guide (AEDG) for Small Office Buildings, a design guidance document intended to provide recommendations for achieving 30% energy savings in small office buildings over levels contained in ASHRAE Standard 90.1- 1999. This the first in a series of guides being developed by a partnership of organizations, including ASHRAE, the American Institute of Architects, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, the New Buildings Institute, and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Document type: State-specific
Publication Date:
Focus: Adoption
The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office will implement enforcement of adopted energy codes for new building project submissions as of Friday, July 1, 2011. The energy codes adopted are:
- All buildings other than state buildings: The 2006 International Energy Conservation Code
- State buildings: ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007.
Document type: State-specific, Technical Assistance report
Publication Date: September 2005
Focus: Adoption
In 2001, the State of Texas adopted the 2001 International Energy Conservation Codes as its statewide commercial building energy code standard. this report examines the potential impacts of updating lighting requirements in Texas the 2003 IECC.
Document type: Brochures/Fliers
Publication Date: October 2010
Focus: Adoption
The purpose of this brief is to provide a discussion related to amending or not amending model codes and standards when adopting them at the federal, state, or local level. It was considered necessary based on the significant amendment activity related to energy code adoption and the observation that in almost every case mistakes are made—some as significant as inadvertently excluding key building types from the code. In some cases, governing bodies will opt to amend with the goal of increasing energy savings; this is positive, and it is necessary to have states that are trendsetters with regard to efficiency. However, it is sometimes possible for amendment activities to yield the opposite result because of increased debate about the technical provisions and the “islanding” of jurisdictions with respect to the support infrastructure available for implementation and compliance with the model codes and standards.
Document type: Program Information
Publication Date: May 2011
Focus: Adoption
Today’s energy, economic, and environmental challenges—combined with the fact that buildings consume nearly 40% of the nation’s energy—make energy codes a central part of a sustainable future.Here are 10 key reasons to adopt them.
Document type: Code Notes
Publication Date: October 2011
Focus: Compliance
Adequate attic ventilation is a long-standing requirement in building codes for moisture control. However, unvented attics can reduce residential energy needs, and are allowed by the code under certain conditions.Section R806.4 of the 2009 International Residential Code® (IRC), and Section R806.5 of the 2012 IRC have requirements for unvented (conditioned) attic assemblies.
Document type: Code Notes
Publication Date: May 2009
Focus: Compliance
ASHRAE modified its ventilation procedure to reflect more current data available on indoor air quality. The Standard was developed under American National Standards Institute guidelines and released in 2004: ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2004, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality.
Document type: State-specific, Technical Assistance report
Publication Date: May 2009
Focus: Adoption
An analysis by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory show that the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) contains several major improvements in energy efficiency over the current Utah code, the 2006 IECC. The most notable changes are improved duct sealing and efficient lighting requirements. A limited analysis of these changes resulted in estimated savings of $168 to $188 for an average new house in Utah at recent fuel prices.
Document type: State-specific
Publication Date: September 2012
Focus: Compliance, Enforcement
This Guide is designed to assist state and local code jurisdictions in achieving statewide compliance with the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for residential buildings and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 for commercial buildings.
Document type: Code Notes
Publication Date: May 2009
Focus: Compliance
Condensing dryers can be useful in situations where the laundry room is located a significant distance from an exterior wall to which it can vent. By eliminating long dryer vent runs, they eliminate possible moisture condensation problems in that run.
Document type: Technical Articles
Publication Date: May 2009
Focus: Compliance
The primary intent behind the requirement for a vestibule is to reduce infiltration into a space that includes doors with high volume of pedestrian traffic. Vestibules reduce the infiltration losses (or gains) from wind and stack effect by creating an air lock entry.
Document type: Code Notes
Publication Date: May 2012
Focus: Compliance
The intent of the vestibule requirement is to reduce infiltration of air into a space, thereby addressing energy conservation and comfort issues for occupants located near primary entrance doors. The majority of infiltration comes through primary entrance doors that are typically used to access public areas, and have higher usage rates than doors classified for personnel use. Vestibules can reduce the infiltration losses (or gains) from wind and stack effects by creating an air lock entry.
Document type: State-specific, Technical Assistance report
Publication Date: December 2006
Focus: Adoption
The U.S. Department of Energy has requested Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to estimate the energy savings, economic impacts, and pollution reduction from adopting the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as the mandatory residential energy efficiency code in the state of West Virginia. The state currently allows a less energy efficient replacement option. This report addresses the impacts for low-rise residential buildings only.
Document type: State-specific
Publication Date:
Focus: Adoption
This rule establishes the standards considered necessary by the State Fire Commission for the safeguarding of life and property and to ensure compliance with the minimum standards of safe construction of all structures erected or renovated throughout West Virginia.
Document type: Code Notes
Publication Date: December 2011
Focus: Compliance
ASHRAE Standard 62.2 defines the roles of and minimum requirements for mechanical and natural ventilation systems to achieve acceptable indoor air quality. This material supplements requirements contained in the model energy codes with respect to mechanical ventilation systems.
Document type: State-specific
Publication Date:
Focus: Adoption
Under the statute sections listed in this document, the Department of Commerce has the responsibility to adopt rules that establish uniform, statewide standards for the construction of 1- and 2-family dwellings. This code, in its entirety, first went into effect in 1980. Sections 101.63 (5) and 101.73 (8), Stats., require the department to review these rules on a biennial basis.
Document type: State-specific, Technical Assistance report
Publication Date: October 2007
Focus: Adoption
As of the writing of this report, the state of Wyoming currently does not have a statewide building energy efficiency code for residential buildings, although Laramie adopted the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code. The U.S. Department of Energy has requested Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to estimate the energy savings and economic impacts from adopting the 2006 IECC. This report addresses the impacts for residential buildings only.
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