Northwest Region

Considering that buildings in the U.S. represent 72% of all electricity consumption and 38% of CO2 emissions, national, state and local energy policy leaves a staggering amount on the table for the effective use of and adherence to building energy codes and standards. Despite this clear connection, compliance with building energy code requirements across the United States often goes unchecked. As a result, compliance rates in most states are very low. Advocacy to improve compliance with energy codes, through enforcement, has failed to take a holistic approach and has subsequently seen dismal results. However, as a condition of receiving energy funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, all states are required to achieve 90% compliance with the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007.

 

There is no “one-size-fits-all” answer for energy code enforcement. Varying state and local statutes, governing structures and political climates play critical roles in how and if energy codes are enforced. A holistic approach recognizes these varying influences and acknowledges that code officials have numerous codes to enforce with limited resources. This paper will address the following successful strategies that have proven effective in various states and local jurisdictions: (1) streamlining compliance processes, (2) third-party enforcement, and (3) advanced training.