Energy Focus

Building codes remain essential to meeting our zero-energy goals both in the United States and around the world. The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) addresses energy efficiency on several fronts including cost savings, reduced energy usage, conservation of natural resources and the impact of energy usage on the environment. In 2021, the U.S. Congress enacted the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that, following extensive advocacy by the Code Council, includes funding to provide $225 million in funds available towards energy code implementation in the coming years. The Code Council is currently working on tools and resources for our members to navigate these funds and will continue to encourage policy makers to consider the role buildings and building codes play in driving efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The 2021 International Energy Code (IECC) & Code on a Mission

This year saw several changes to the 2021 IECC including new provisions that increase efficiency and encourage greater flexibility in design and construction as well as changes to existing requirements that provide clarification and improve usability of the code.
These changes will improve efficiency by 9.4 percent and reduce greenhouse gases by 8.7 percent over the 2018 IECC.
In 2021, The International Code Council launched the Code on a Mission challenge to get over a third of the U.S. population covered by energy codes based on the 2021 IECC by the end of 2023.

The Code on a Mission campaign recognizes the important role energy codes play in realizing energy goals. While the adoption process takes time, millions of people are now living in communities that adopted the 2021 IECC and we expect to see many more in 2022.

- Ryan Colker, Vice President Innovation, International Code Council

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Visit our Code on a Mission page
Share news of your adoption of the International Energy Conservation Code
Access the Code on a Mission Toolkit

New Energy /Carbon Framework

As part of our continued effort to assist communities in achieving their energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals, the Code Council released a new energy and carbon framework focused on the delivery of solutions.
The new energy and carbon framework provides governments and building industry stakeholders with a path forward for meeting energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Plans are also in the works for the establishment of an energy and carbon advisory committee that will provide strategic direction to the Code Council to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of all communities.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCE

Review the energy and carbon framework document

Partnerships & Collaborations on Energy

ICC and RESNET began work on a new American National Standards Institute (ANSI) candidate standard on remote virtual inspections (RVI) for the energy and water use performance of buildings. The new standard will provide guidance for implementing RVI for energy code compliance and for energy and water efficiency performance.
The Code Council and RESNET entered into a formal agreement to strengthen the position of HERS Raters as a resource in improving energy code compliance. With RESNET, we launched the IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist Designation, specifically for certified RESNET HERS Raters and Rating Field Inspectors who have passed and been certified by the Code Council for residential energy code compliance. ICC and RESNET continue to equip code officials with tools and resources to assist in demonstrating compliance with the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
To assist the state of Massachusetts in achieving its climate and energy goals, The International Code Council and ASHRAE combined efforts to aid the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources in the publication of a base and stretch code entitled 2020 Massachusetts Energy Code.
The Code Council continues its partnership with ASHRAE and the U.S. Green Building Council to develop the International Green Construction Code.

The continued improvement in the energy efficiency of buildings is a key component for states achieving their climate and energy goals. The Code Council's collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources provides a streamlined, fully integrated base energy code with stretch requirements that allows flexibility for those jurisdictions desiring to achieve greater energy efficiency and savings.

- Mark Johnson, Executive Vice President & Director of Business Development

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES