Name/Title of Resource Topic Link Organization Notes
Vancouver Zero Emissions Buildings Plan Visions/Plans Link City of Vancouver Established limits for GHG emissions, EUI and TEDI targets. Offers a Passive House alternative compliance path. Requires airtightness testing and enhanced compliance, metering infrastructure and benchmarking
Toronto Zero Emissions Buildings Framework Visions/Plans Link City of Toronto Establishes stepped GHG & energy targets to Zero Emissions by 2030. Includes Climate Change Resilience Checklist. Informs the Toronto Green Standard.
Cambridge Net Zero Action Plan Visions/Plans Link City of Cambridge Comprehensive plan to phase out GHGs from buildings, including net zero emissions standards for new buildings over time
Boulder Energy Code - 2020 Visions/Plans Link City of Boulder The City of Boulder has set a goal of reaching net zero energy (NZE) construction through building and energy codes by 2031
Washington DC Sustainability Plan Visions/Plans Link Washington DC zero energy new res buildings 2026, com 2032. 50% reduction of energy use of existing buildings
ACEEE Pathways to Zero Energy Buildings through Building Codes Visions/Plans Link ACEEE This white paper examines the current state of zero energy codes and provides an update on avenues to achievingzero energy codes by 2030. It presents an overview of current efforts to achieve zero energy and similarly high-performing buildings, example code proposals that help move the needle toward ZEBs, and thoughts on additional issues and barriers.
DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link DOE DOE’s Zero Energy Ready Home certification requires homes meet the Energy Star New Homes certification criteria, along with additional requirements for water savings, energy savings, indoor air quality, etc. At least 40%-50% more energy efficient than a typical new home. This generally corresponds to a HERS Index Score in the low- to mid-50s, depending on the size of the home and region in which it is built.
Passive House Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link PHIUS Not zero energy per se, but PHIUS certification encompasses many of the tools necessary for achieving net zero energy use, and incorporates DOE's Zero Energy Ready Home protocol as well
PHIUS+ Source Zero Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link PHIUS Builds on Passive House building efficiency guidelines by adding a net zero energy component through generation or procurement of renewable energy
LEED Zero Energy Certification Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link USGBC Certification based on measure of source energy balance within the past year
IgCC/ASHRAE 189.1 Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link ICC and ASHRAE The IgCC, which includes ASHRAE 189, is the first model code that includes sustainability measures for the entire construction project and its site — from design through construction, certificate of occupancy and beyond. The new code is expected to make buildings more efficient, reduce waste, and have a positive impact on health, safety and community welfare.
Architecture 2030 ZERO Code Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link Architecture 2030 Buildings constructed to the Zero Energy Commercial Building Provisions will produce fewer carbon emissions than conventionally powered buildings that place an additional electric load on the grid. See also IECC 2021 Appendix CC.
ASHRAE 90.2 Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link ASHRAE This standard results in homes approximately 50% more efficient than the 2006 IECC baseline and is in line with net zero ready levels of efficiency. It uses a performance based HERS like program which is already familiar to many code officials and home raters.
British Columbia BC Energy Step Code Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link Integral Group, others Thermal energy demand intensity targets, Total EUI targets, air tightness targets, designed as a step code out to their goal of all new construction being zero carbon by 2032. They have also created a smart incentive program tied to the various steps in order to drive market transformation.
New Buildings Institute Stretch Codes Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link NBI 20% and 40% stretch codes for commercial buildings (based on 2015 IECC)
Rhode Island Residential Stretch Code Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link State of Rhode Island Includes compliance with DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certification
Washington DC proposed 2019 energy codes Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link DC city government (DCRA, DOEE, Private staleholders) DC energy codes targeting net-zero energy for new com
buildings and 50% energy use reduction of existing buildings by 2032
Canada Zero Carbon Building Standard Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link Canada Green Building Council/Integral Group, others TEDI targets, Reporting requirements for EUI, peak demand, and embodied carbon.
Seattle Energy Code - 2015 Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link ICC / City of Seattle (click on "read the code")
Highlights include: high-performance heating rules, mandatory air barrier testing, DOAS required for major occupancies, controlled electrical outlets, metering and sub-metering, renewable energy and solar readiness requirements, substantial alterations provisions, commissioning
WA DC Building Energy Performance Standard Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link DC city government (BEPS, building energy performance standard) for existing buildings, every 5 years the energy use/sf, EUI, target is lowered, based on peer buildings in DC, requiring stepped increaed efficiency over time. Also, law over time, reduces the size of buildings required to comply. Different from NYC's requiremnt, in that they do not give exemptions, as of yet.
Cambridge Stretch Energy Code High-Performance Design Link City of Cambridge Large commercial energy use = 10% below current Massachusetts state code (site or source energy basis) with alternate stretch requirements for residential and smaller commercial as well.
Labs 21 High-Performance Design Link EPA/DOE Strategies for significant reductions in laboratory energy use
Targeting 100 High-Performance Design Link University of Washington Integrated Design Lab Strategies for design of hospitals at or below site EUI of 100 - now in use in multiple projects
Seattle building tune-up program Existing building efficiency regulation Link City of Seattle Requires buildings to do a thorough audit of energy systems every five years, and fix all the easy and obvious stuff. Or else prove that the building is getting similar attention through some other program.
Danish Energy Code Denmark's very progressive code Link Danish government Very straightforward performance-based building energy code.
2019 California Energy Code Code text and supporting documents Link California Energy Commission title 24 california energy code 2019
City of Fort Collins Link Fort Collins Good compliance steps to reaching EE buildings
Tucson Pima County Zero Energy Standard Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link Pima County Arizona Developed in 2007 time period. Voluntary (intent before great recession was to be mandatory). Has prescriptive and performance residential and commercial sections.
NYC green roof or PV requirement LL92 of 2019 Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link NYC Roofs of certain buildings be partially covered in green roof or solar photovoltaic electricity generating systems (for buildings of five stories of less).
NYC Green roof or PV for roof replacement LL94 of 2019 Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link NYC green roofs or solar photovoltaic electricity generating systems required for roof replacement projects
LL96 of 2019 Finance Link NYC Establishes PACE program for NYC
LL97 of 2019 Policy Link NYC Commitment to achieve certain reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Establishes an "office of building energy and emissions performance"
Oregon Zero Energy Ready executive order Policy Link Good model policy to set the goal, but unclear how enforceable it is
Danish climate roadmap Policy Link PV Magazine Caution: I think envy is one of the seven deadly sins
Vision Zero Home - Case Study Case study - Residential Link GreenBuilder Media Dow and Cobblestone Homes teamed up to build this first net zero home in Midland, MI (CZ5). YouTube video is available
InVision Zero Home - Case Study Case study - Residential Link Fine Home Building Dow and Cobblestone Homes teamed up to build a 2nd more "affordable" net zero home in Midland, MI (CZ5). YouTube video is available
EcoVillage ZE Ready Community Case Study - Residential Link DOE Zero energy homes built less expensively than traditional homes; pre-renewables HERS score of 38
ASHRAE ZE for small office Buildings Design Guide Link ASHRAE
NYStretch Energy Code Advanced Codes, Standards and Programs Link New York State A statewide model code for New York jurisdictions to use to meet their energy and climate goals
Green Inspections Process Manuals, Checklists, and Forms Link DCRA Inspection tools
ASHRAE ZE for small office Buildings Design Guide Link ASHRAE To promote building energy efficiency, ASHRAE and its partners are making the Advanced Energy Design Guides available for free download (PDF). The zero energy Guides offer designers and contractors the tools needed for achieving zero energy buildings. The 50% Guides offer designers and contractors the tools needed for achieving a 50% energy savings compared to buildings that meet the minimum requirements of Standard 90.1-2004, and the 30% Guides offer a 30% energy savings compared to buildings that meet the minimum energy requirements of Standard 90.1-1999.
Implementing Building Performance Standards: Consistency is Key Performance Codes Link NBI This article is a primer on the benefits and use of builing performance standards.
Building Tune-ups Existing Buildings Link Seattle Seattle has enacted a “Building Tune-Up Ordinance” that requires a thorough assessment of a building’s energy-consuming systems every five years, and correction of a list of deficiencies. Such rules ensure that existing buildings are operating close to their optimum
Catalogue of benchmarking tools for existing buildings Benchmarking Link IMT Benchmarking and reporting ordinances are another example of energy conservation policies that are not included in an energy code.
Model Advanced Code Advanced Energy Codes Link NBI A set of efficiency provisions that would result in buildings that use 20% less energy than buildings constructed to the 2013 ASHRAE 90.1 standard.