With the new year underway, we hope you have renewed energy and optimism. The Codes for Climate team at New Buildings Institute (NBI) and RMI is looking forward to continuing to support cities and states in what is expected to be a pivotal year for code development and adoption.
We will continue to inform and convene stakeholders at key points during the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) code adoption process. Our team is available to provide technical assistance and to support you in your efforts to develop and implement forward-thinking building codes. At anytime, please reach out with any questions.
NBI’s Kim Cheslak was profiled by Leverage.com discussing the role of energy codes and policies in decarbonizing the building sector. Read the story here.
RMI’s Russell Unger was interviewed by NPR about New York City Council’s ban on gas-powered heat and cooking appliances. Listen to the interview here.
RMI’s Johnny Kocher and Talor Gruenwald published a blog on how Washington State could lead the nation on building electrification codes. Read the blog here.
NBI’s Kim Cheslak was featured in Governing Magazine’s “Biggest Issues to Watch in 2022” discussing the increased focus on building electrification we expect to see this year. Read the article here.
Codes and Standards Development Updates
The International Code Council (ICC) residential and commercial code development process for the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is underway. Committee and subcommittee meetings happen frequently and can be tracked by following the ICC Codes and Standards calendarand tracking the Residential Consensus and Commercial Consensus Committee web pages. The Codes for Climate team will continue sharing critical updates and opportunities for engagement.
The 2024 IECC subcommittees have begun meeting to evaluate code change proposals. Several NBI code proposals have recently been approved in subcommittee meetings, and now require a vote by the full consensus committee. These include the following Commercial proposals:
CEPI-185-21 (horticultural lighting) was approved by the Commercial Electrical, Power, Lighting and Renewables subcommittee.
CEPI-12-21 Part II (biomass) was approved by the Commercial Electrical, Power, Lighting and Renewables subcommittee.
EV consensus proposal (a combination of CEPI-146 (NEVA) CEPI-26 (ChargePoint), CEPI-140 (NBI), CEPI-201 (EEI), and CEPI-258 (DOE/PNNL)), was approved by the Commercial Electrical, Power, Lighting and Renewables subcommittee.
Codes and Standards Adoption Updates
Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (SB2408) is a comprehensive climate bill that includes the creation of a statewide stretch code and incorporation of building electrification measures into energy efficiency program offerings.
The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) recently announced a first-of-its-kind Building Performance Standards Coalition. It includes 33 state and local governments committed to advancing legislation or regulation for cleaner, healthier, more affordable buildings by Earth Day 2024.
New Resources
The Version 2 monograph of the public input to the 2021 IECC, International Residential Code (IRC) Chapter 11 and ICC Performance Code (ICC PC) Chapter 15 is available here.
