Skip to main content

Technical Assistance Network

The Department of Energy (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program (BECP) mission is to support building energy code development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act have made significant new funds available to states and local jurisdictions specifically to improve building energy codes and achieve the maximum practicable, cost-effective improvements in energy efficiency while ensuring safe, healthy buildings for occupants.

Code adoption, implementation, and enforcement take place at state and local levels, varying significantly from state to state. To meet states where they are and better understand specific needs and priorities related to building energy codes, BECP is expanding proactive, individualized engagement with states and local jurisdictions. BECP continues to offer a robust and ever-evolving collection of information and technical assistance resources available online to help all states, territories, jurisdictions, and tribes save energy and improve their buildings.

Plugging Into the Network

Image
REEO Map

Facilitated by Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL), in coordination with the six Regional Energy Efficiency Organizations (REEOs) and additional technical assistance providers, the Network will utilize regional code professionals, building science experts, and experienced trainers to customize technical assistance to states and jurisdictions. Access to the network is available now.

Contacts

Region REEO Energy Code Contact PNNL Regional Representative
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) Cornelia Wu Mike Turns
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) Maggie Kelley-Riggins Kim Cheslak
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) Alison Lindburg Mark Lyles
South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource (SPEER) Randy Plumlee Paula Zimin
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) Kevin Rose Mark Lyles
Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) Jim Meyers Paula Zimin

Maximizing State and Local Code Impacts

To amplify the impacts of federal funding, the expanded BECP technical assistance is designed to provide complementary resources—such as code development and benefits analysis, compliance tools and assessment, and direct education and training—to help states and local governments achieve their goals. Increased building energy codes adoption and compliance will save energy, and support state and local objectives around job creation, resilience, equity and climate.

Technical Assistance Opportunities and Resources

BECP’s Energy Codes Technical Assistance Network seeks to maximize energy savings through code adoption, advancement, implementation, and long-term compliance through customized and tailored support. The scope of the assistance is wide ranging and intends to address place-specific barriers, leverage local priorities and initiatives, quantify local benefits of codes, and link equity and Justice40 considerations to increase building efficiency, health, and resiliency. Building on the core technical assistance already provided by BECP, example opportunities to customize and enhance technical assistance activities include:

Core Technical Assistance
Support Available by Request
Expanded Technical Assistance
Proactive Engagement and Plan for Support
Code Development and Adoption

  • Standard analysis of savings and cost impact
  • Comparative analysis of model code options
  • Potential modification of model code language
Code Development and Adoption

  • Specific adoption tools and code language
  • Tailored economic and impact analysis
  • Stakeholder engagement to address place- based concerns on design and compliance
Compliance Tools and Resources

  • REScheck and COMcheck
  • Code Compliance Studies
  • Courses for IECC and ASHRAE changes
  • Overviews of specific code and policy topics
Compliance Tools and Resources

  • Specific implementation tools and trainings
  • Customized compliance study support to address equity, local building trends, and policy changes
  • Customized trainings on local code and policy changes and construction practices
Stretch Codes/Zero Codes/Advanced Policies

  • Model code language
  • Supporting technical information and impact analysis
Stretch Codes/Zero Codes/Advanced Policies

  • Customized code development support
  • Analysis to meet climate policy goals

BECP Help Desk

If you can’t find the resources you need to support energy codes in your state or local jurisdiction, BECP encourages the use of the fully staffed Help Desk. The Help Desk is available to anyone to obtain assistance with COMcheck/REScheck, ask an energy code question, or make a detailed technical assistance request, such as analyzing the benefits of a certain energy code.