Nevada

Nevada's first energy code, "Energy Conservation Standards for New Building Construction," was adopted on January 1, 1978. This code, based on ASHRAE Standard 90-75, was written by the state and formulated by the Nevada Department of Energy. All cities and counties were required to enforce the energy code requirements. The Nevada Department of Energy was disbanded in 1983. Between 1983 and 1986, the state did not support or enforce this energy code.

In 1985 the legislature gave the Nevada Office of Community Services authority to formulate new statewide standards for energy conservation in new buildings. Adopted on July 8, 1988, the "Regulations for the Conservation of Energy in New Building Construction" were formulated based on the 1986 MEC with minor state amendments. This code is applicable only in areas where the local jurisdiction had not previously adopted an energy code. This remains the basis for the statewide energy code. The Nevada Office of Community Services was dissolved in the fall of 1993. Currently, the state does not actively support or enforce this energy code.

In 1995 the Nevada State Energy Office sought authority to upgrade the state energy codes via legislation submitted to the state legislature, but the Senate Finance Committee effectively killed the bill by failing to act on it. The legislation would have adopted the 1992 MEC for all low-rise residential buildings and the codified version of the ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1-1989 for all other buildings. The state is pursuing voluntary compliance strategies. The 1995 legislature imposed a two year moratorium on the adoption of new state regulations.

The Nevada State Energy Office is currently working to link the 1992, 1993, and 1995 editions of the MEC to a home energy rating system. Nevada's EPAct certification, extended one year, reflects the Nevada legislature's inaction.

On May 28, 2009, Gov. Jim Gibbons signed into law legislation (SB 73) that revises the process of updating the state's building energy codes by establishing the standards adopted by the Nevada State Office of Energy as the minimum standards for building energy efficiency and conservation. The law requires local governments to adopt the codes set by the Office of Energy and to enforce them (they are also allowed to adopt more energy efficient standards provided they give notice to the Office of Energy).

The law mandates the adoption of the most recent version of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and requires the adoption of the most recent updated version of the IECC every three years. The Office of Energy must still hold public hearings in three different locations in the state after giving 30 days notice of such hearings before adopting any new standards.

On November 10, 2011, The Nevada State office of Energy adopted the 2009 IECC with an effective date of July 1, 2012.  Jurisdictions in southern Nevada adopted the 2009 IECC effective July 5, 2011