August 29th, 2019
by Michelle Britt

The International Code Council is pleased to announce that they are on a team receiving U.S. Department of Energy grant funding to lead a study on building industry standard practices. This solutions-based study will support code development and enforcement; while focusing on:

  • Identifying energy code issues which impact or impede implementation or are perceived to limit effectiveness of each International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) compliance path and offer technical solutions.
  • Investigating how labeling for energy code compliance may impact consumer expectations in new home purchases.
  • Convening a Technical Advisory Committee to identify code official requirements for quality assurance with respect to third-party code inspection and verification entities. The Code Council will produce a set of minimum requirements and specifications that can be used by code authorities such as states or municipalities for creating uniform systems.

“Energy efficient construction allows homeowners to maximize energy savings and reduce their carbon footprint. The International Energy Conservation Code provides important health and safety benefits to home occupants and increases the resiliency of the structure,” said Michelle Britt, director of Energy Programs at the Code Council. “We are honored to partner with national leaders in residential building efficiency research to assist with this innovative research and help advance the standard practice of residential building construction.”

The Code Council is looking for jurisdictions that are willing to be part of the study. We are first looking for jurisdictions that receive IECC documentation showing compliance via the PERFORMANCE and ERI paths (e.g., Sections R405 and R406). Secondly, we will be inviting all jurisdictions to participate via a comprehensive survey that will take place this fall.

If your jurisdiction receives a sizable amount of Sections R405 and R406 based compliance and you are interested in joining the study, please contact Michelle Britt at 888-ICC-SAFE (888-422-7233), ext. 4287 by Sept. 20, 2019.

About the Author
Michelle Britt
Michelle Britt is the former director of energy programs at the International Code Council. She has more than 15 years of experience impacting building energy use and broader sustainability and has served national, state and local governments; industry; and non-profits across the U.S. and the Pacific. Her broad background in land use and transportation planning and environmental impact analysis brings a holistic approach to her work in building energy. Previously, she was a partner with the Britt/Makela Group and a senior research scientist with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and a master’s degree in architecture.