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Codes for Climate is celebrating our one year anniversary, after launching at last year’s National Energy Codes Conference. Our goals remain steadfast around providing achievable pathways for cities and states to adopt climate-aligned codes to accelerate significant carbon and energy savings for both new construction and existing buildings, for all building types within the next decade.

• Publishing guidance, model language and resources including the Building Decarbonization Code, a Cost Study to the Building Decarbonization Code, residential and commercial decarbonization code factsheets, model language and considerations for incorporating lifecycle GHG in codes, and model language and guidance for governments looking to adopt a zero emissions building policy

• Participating in the 2024 IECC development process, including serving on both the Residential and Commercial Consensus Committees and various subcommittees, and submitting and defending over 50 code change proposals to modernize the IECC to be more aligned with building decarbonization

• Providing input into the development of Federal funding programs to support code adoption and implementation, including submitting comments on the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Resilient and Efficient Codes (RECI) Request for Information (RFI) in collaboration with eight other leading organizations

The Codes for Climate team can provide consultative support to jurisdictions seeking help with adopting climate-aligned codes, as well as work with foundations and other NGOs with an interest in driving codes forward. Reach out to learn more about the support the team can provide.

The Committees and Subcommittees have reviewed and voted on all of the proposals that were submitted as part of the public input process late last year (including over 50 submitted by NBI). Under the new balloting process, the full Residential and full Commercial Committee must now approve the entire code by a two-thirds vote before the 2024 IECC is released for public comment. If the Committee fails to achieve the required two-thirds vote in the balloting process, additional action must be taken to address committee member concerns until a two-thirds vote is achieved. Commercial ballots are due Monday, August 1st and Residential ballots are due Friday, August 5th.   

The status of key NBI-submitted proposals are available here. For more information about upcoming meetings, see the ICC Codes and Standards calendar.

On July 5, New York Governor Hochul signed a legislative package of three bills, one of which - The Advanced Building Codes, Appliance and Equipment Efficiency Standards Act of 2022 - strengthens the State’s energy codes and appliance standards. NBI’s Kim Cheslak attended the bill signing on invitation from NYSERDA.

On July 12, the Washington D.C. City Council unanimously adopted a regulation that requires new construction and significant renovations to be net zero energy by 2026, and also bans on-site fossil fuel combustion in most new buildings. As of the date of this newsletter, the legislation still needs mayoral and Congressional review and approval before becoming law.

On July 21, The U.S. DOE released its Notice of Intent (NOI) to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) on Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation. The anticipated FOA is in response to section 40511 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), and will support “successful, widespread, and sustained implementation of updated building energy codes by states, local governments, and across the U.S. and range of affected stakeholders.” More information about the FOA, including resources and guidance provided by DOE to date, is available here.

The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) and the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) have opened the application process for their Energy Code Board. More information about the governing legislation, an overview of the board, and the application process is available here. Applications are due by 5pm MST on Friday, August 19, and the board will be selected and seated by October 1. 

RMI has published state scorecards for six states to clarify the progress made and the work remaining in the buildings sector (and other energy sectors).