State and Local Policy Database

Compliance

The American Recovery Act called for states to achieve 90% compliance with the ARRA minimum standard building energy code by 2017. A variety of methods exist to increase compliance with building codes. The Building Codes Awareness Project (BCAP) promotes conducting a gap analysis to assess current gaps and identify best practices, and the development of a strategic compliance plan with practical near- and long-term action items. States may also form collaboratives of stakeholders to support code education and training, or may establish a system through which utilities are encouraged to support code compliance.

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: Alabama was one of eight states participating in the US DOE's Residential Energy Code Field Study, which included an initial field study, followed by education and outreach, as well as follow-up data collection to determine the impacts of education on compliance. Alabama's initial compliance rates with the 2009 Alabama Energy and Residential Codes were at least 92%, prompting a re-analysis of savings potential based on the newly adopted 2015 Alabama Energy and Residential Codes.
  • Utility Involvement: There are no commission regulatory guidelines or mandates, but utilities are represented on the AERC Board and are actively involved in supporting energy code compliance through that process as well as education and outreach efforts through the Board and the State Energy Office. Alabama Power also provides low or no-cost training to certify contractors to provide Duct and Envelope Tightness testing verification, as required effective January 1, 2014, under the Alabama Energy and Residential Code.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Alabama Energy Residential Code Board includes representatives from 17 different organizations with an interest in codes. The AERC Board is legislatively required to meet at least once per year, but typically meets closer to quarterly, with meetings held as needed. Furthermore, the Project Team at the DOE Energy Codes Field Study, which is organized through the Institute for Market Transformation, has also served as a stakeholder group since the beginning of the project, helping to coordinate the Field Study efforts, reviewing results, and helping to drive the education and outreach efforts based on those results. The members of this project team can be found here.
  • Training/Outreach: The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) has been actively providing energy codes training for many years. Recent efforts include specific training on the new Alabama Energy and Residential Code targeted toward all building industry professionals as well as building and code officials and inspectors. This year, additional training efforts are being focused on developing resources like online training modules, training videos, and field guides.

Last Reviewed: September 2022

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: BCAP chose Alaska to assist with the development of its gap analysis and a strategic plan, which were completed in late 2012.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: A database has been constructed to capture data on energy code compliance for all new homes. However, an analysis has not been completed to date.
  • Utility Involvement: No regulatory guidelines have been established with regard to involving utilities in supporting building energy code compliance.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: N/A
  • Training/Outreach: The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation has classes for contractors, building officials and others to train in compliance with the Alaska Building Energy Efficiency Standard. Training is offered to about 500 builders, inspectors, and energy raters on an annual basis.

Last Reviewed: May 2022

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: NA
  • Utility Involvement: Four of Arizona's utilities are actively involved in code-related efforts. Up to 1/3 credit of savings from building energy codes can be claimed by utilities to count towards annual savings goals. Utilities must demonstrate and evaluate the savings that they claim.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: NA
  • Training/Outreach: The Governor’s Office of Energy Policy (GOEP) works with utilities, specifically Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project, on education related to energy efficiency codes. The utilities are allowed, per the state’s energy efficiency standards, to count the training towards their energy efficiency requirements. The Arizona Building Officials also sponsors workshops/trainings on codes throughout the year.

Last Reviewed: December 2021 

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: Arkansas is one of eight states participating in the US DOE's Residential Energy Code Field Study. Through the project, DOE plans to establish a sufficient data set to represent statewide construction trends and detect significant changes in energy use from training, education and outreach activities. The first stage of the study is comprised of a baseline compliance study. The study estimated 88% compliance based on the researcher's analysis of energy use intensity.
  • Utility Involvement: See below.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: AEO participates in the Partners Working Collaboratively, a coalition created in conjuction with Arkansas' investor-owned utilities after the establishment Arkansas' EERS. The PWC works to advance efficiency goals and standards in Arkansas. PWC members are encouraged to participate in AEO's energy codes stakeholder group. 
  • Training/Outreach:  Arkansas is actively engaged in energy conservation training and education.  Active programs related to code compliance include professional certifications (Certified Energy Manager, Building Operator Certification, Business Energy Professional, Certified Energy Auditor),  and  HVAC trainings (Commercial and Residential Load Sizing and Duct Design).  New efforts for code compliance training include Residential Blower Door and Duct Blaster training.  An energy code stakeholder advisory group has been active in Arkansas since 2019.  Participants include contractors, utilities, and city officials. This group advises policy and training for the energy code.

Last Reviewed: December 2022

 

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), in collaboration with the Energy Commission, adopted the state’s Long Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan (“Strategic Plan”), presenting a single roadmap to achieve maximum energy savings across all major groups and sectors in California. This comprehensive Strategic Plan for 2009 to 2020 represents the state’s first integrated framework of goals and strategies for saving energy, covering government, utility, and private sector actions, and holds energy efficiency to its role as the highest priority resource in meeting California’s energy needs. The Strategic Plan established the Big Bold Energy Efficiency Strategies (BBEES), which call for all newly constructed residential buildings to be Zero Net Energy by 2020 and all newly constructed Commercial buildings by 2030. The Codes and Standards Action Plan and Zero Net Energy Action Plan add detail to the Strategic Plan.  In addition, the CPUC/IOUs on an ongoing basis conduct EM&V studies to investigate ways to improve compliance with the Standards. The IOU Compliance Enhancement Program developed a Best Practices report in 2012based on a gap analysis of seven building departments.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: The CPUC completed evaluations of building energy code compliance for the 2006-2008 program cycle in 2010 and for the 2010-2012 cycle in 2014. Reports can be found on the CALMAC website.
    • In October 2014 the CPUC completed the “Statewide Codes and Standards Program Impact Evaluation Report For Program Years 2010-2012.” In April 2015 BayREN completed the “BayREN Codes and Standards, Permit Resource Opportunity Program - PROP Final Report and Energy Code Resource Guide.” In January 2017 the CPUC completed the “Codes and Standards Compliance Improvement Program Years 2013-14 Process Evaluation.” The CPUC completed the 2013-2015 Impact Evaluation. The “California Statewide Codes and Standards Program Impact Evaluation Report Volume Two: T-24 Building Standards,” which assessed compliance with the 2013 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, was published in June 2017.
    • In 2021, the CPUC completed the Appliance Standards Evaluation Vol. 1 for the 2016-2018 program cycle. The report can be found on the CALMAC website. Volume 2 addressing building codes will come at a later date (delay due to COVID 19).             
  • Utility Involvement: California codes are supported by IOU incentive and rebate programs. Besides utility incentive programs, they develop and deliver building energy code training to a variety of stakeholders including builders, building departments, trades people, engineers, and architects in support of increase compliance. Regulatory guidelines have been established in Public Resources Code §25402.7 requiring significant utility involvement in supporting building energy code compliance. The CPUC has authorized the IOUs to support standards development since the early 2000s. Since 2008, the CPUC has authorized the IOUs to claim savings from standards development activities and to specifically develop and implement actions to support compliance improvement and standards implementation.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Energy Commission works with numerous collaborative stakeholder groups and organizations, which focus on improving code compliance throughout the state. These groups meet on a monthly, quarterly, and/or annual basis and include: Regional Energy Networks (RENs), including the Bay Area REN (BayREN), Southern California REN (SoCalREN), and Tri-County REN (3C-REN); enforcement agency and Code groups, including the California Building Officials (CALBO), County Building Officials Association of California (CBOAC), International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI), International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and International Code Council (ICC) regional chapters; and industry groups, including the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), Associated Lighting Representatives (ALR), International Brotherhood of Electrical Works (IBEW), National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), Institute of Heating and Air Conditioning Industries (IHACI), regional Construction Specifications Institutes (CSI), regional Building Owners and Managers Associations (BOMA), regional County Contractors Associations, regional Builders/Contractors Exchanges, and California Association of Building Energy Consultants (CABEC).
  • Training/Outreach: The Energy Commission conducts extensive outreach and education concerning the California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) for enforcement agencies and the industry, to assist with compliance and enforcement. Such efforts include staffing exhibitor booths to distribute educational materials at over a dozen events, and developing and providing over 200 hundred hours of in-person training on the newly adopted 2019 CA Energy Code at: California Building Official (CALBO) education events, Redwood Empire Rebuild Green and Construction Technology Expos, Sacramento Valley Association of Building Officials (SVABO) Minstitute, Pacific Coast Builders Conference (PCBC), National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) annual meeting, International Code Council (ICC) chapter meetings, County Building Officials Association of California (CBOAC) annual events, California Association of Building Energy Consultants (CABEC) annual events, American Institute of Architects (AIA) chapter meetings, International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI) meetings, Associated Lighting Representatives (ALR) meetings, and the Institute of Heating and Air Conditioning Industries (IHACI) annual events. 
  • Also, the Energy Commission develops and publishes hundreds of resources to help facilitate compliance and enforcement with the Energy Code, including the Blueprint newsletter (published quarterly), webinars, fact sheets, quick references, guides, counter cards, and presentations. All of these resources are located on the Energy Commission's Online Resource Center (ORC) at: www.energy.ca.gov/title24/orc.
  • The Energy Commission also staffs an Energy Standards Hotline, which responds to technical inquiries about the Energy Code from homeowners, consultants, architects/engineers, builders/contractors, and enforcement agencies. The Hotline responded to over 9,000 Energy Code technical inquiries last year.
  • New efforts on behalf of the Energy Commission for this past year included: updating Energy Commission webpages and publications to meet accessibility requirements; updating and making all of the 2019 nonresidential certificate of compliance (NRCC) forms dynamic; updating and creating dynamic 2019 residential compliance forms for non-HERS projects; creating a hyperlinked version of the 2019 Energy Code and adding an index; updating and creating 2019 Energy Code resources and publications, including: 2019 changes summaries and infographics, 2019 cool roof brochures, and 2019 water heating efficiency guides and counter cards; and significantly expanding outreach bandwidth in response to an increased demand for 2019 Energy Code trainings for contractors/builders and colleges, including the: National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), All Weather Architectural Aluminum, American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), Nevada County Contractors Association, Valley Contractors Exchange, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), OJ Insulation, newly developed 3C-REN network in the central valley, and Diablo Valley College.
  • Throughout 2019, the Statewide Codes and Standards Compliance Improvement (CI) Subprogram, which is implemented by California’s investor owned utilities in collaboration with the California Energy Commission (CEC), continued to employ a systematic approach to enacting behavior change throughout the building and appliance efficiency supply chains. The three-pronged performance improvement approach addresses the essential elements of behavior change by providing 1) training to impart the
    knowledge and skills necessary to comply, 2) outreach to increase awareness and motivation, and 3) tools and resources to empower people to take the desired action. The work is delivered through the CI Subprogram’s Energy Code Ace platform and responds directly to key market actor’s unique workflow and needs.
  • In 2019, the CI Subprogram delivered more than 190 classes across eight modalities and dozens of roles. The Subprogram reached more than 3,600 students and achieved a 98 percent satisfaction rate and 18 percent knowledge swing, on average. While continuing to deliver training, the Subprogram facilitated updating the Energy Code Ace curriculum, online tools and resource library in preparation for the 2019 Energy Code which became effective January 1, 2020. The CI Subprogram’s target audience now includes the healthcare industry and the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) plan reviewers and inspectors. The CEC and CI Subprogram began developing tools and training for the healthcare building practitioners who must now comply with 2019 Energy Code requirements for hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
  • The CI Subprogram worked alongside the Energy Commission in developing a “TurboTax” style online interface that building industry practitioners are now using to document and verify compliance for nonresidential additions and alterations. This enhanced version of the CI Subprogram’s Forms Ace builds on the dynamic PDF compliance forms launched last year. The new interface guides permit applicants and the design community through important compliance decisions while completing the applicable forms, and enables collaboration between key decision makers in the construction process. Forms generated by the enhanced Forms Ace help expedite plan review by indicating project compliance.
  • The CI subprogram continued outreach efforts including targeted email messages, ads, articles in industry publications and participation in more than 65 Title 24, Part 6 and Title 20 (Appliance Standards) industry events in 2019, often alongside CEC staff. Additionally, the CI Subprogram fielded over 1,125 emails from industry professionals, responding through e-mail conversations and/or in-depth phone calls with multiple types of code practitioners.
  • The CI subprogram also continued supporting the development of Certified Energy Analysts (CEAs) through a new curriculum, mentoring program and exam proctoring while updating the CEA exam for the 2019 energy code requirements.

Last Reviewed: September 2022

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: Colorado is undergoing a residential code compliance study now as part of a DOE-funded grant that was awarded to NASEO. The field testing has been completed and we are awaiting the analysis from PNNL to begin training focused on any gaps identified in compliance. Previously, in 2016, Colorado completed a commercial code compliance study to assess compliance for 2009 IECC. The Department of Energy requested that Colorado conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis to determine energy saved by complying with the code, as well as energy not saved due to non-compliance. Colorado received feedback from code officials and plan examiners noting that the commercial code is complex and time intensive. As a result, Colorado developed a simple methodology that looks at how buildings use energy and identified the top 15 code requirements that focus on high impact energy uses. Colorado is now administering trainings to jurisdictions and code officials on how to use this top 15 compliance checklist for the most effective use of time and effort. Earlier, in 2013, Colorado completed a statewide evaluation of energy code compliance. It found a rate of more than 90% compliance for residential construction, noting that more work could be done with HVAC systems. It also found that compliance with commercial codes was only 28%. 
  • Utility Involvement: Xcel Energy provided $50,000 per calendar year in 2019 and 2020 to support code trainings within its electric and natural gas service territories. Xcel Energy also plans to conduct a study in 2019 to identify the potential for energy efficiency impacts associated with code trainings and potential product designs for future implementation. 
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Colorado Energy Code Compliance Collaborative is highly involved in building code compliance. The Collaborative's mission is to facilitate compliance with local energy codes and to coordinate energy code actions and policies throughout the state. The Collaborative was originally started and supported with funding from BCAP. Now, it is self-supporting and meets on a quarterly basis.
  • Training/Outreach: By statute, the Colorado Energy Office provides energy code education to builders, designers, engineers and architects. The CEO provides these services at no additional cost to local governments and stakeholders (including building code officials, plans examiners, inspectors, etc.) The CEO provides in-depth, in-person trainings across the state if jurisdictions request it as well as webinars taught by code experts on a variety of residential and commercial code topics. All of the online trainings are recorded and saved on our YouTube channel (and linked to from CEO's Code Adoption Toolkit) so that anyone can watch the webinars on demand. The Colorado Energy Office also provides technical assistance to local governments – again, at no additional cost – to help them adopt, implement, and enforce building energy codes.

Last Reviewed: May 2022

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: A proposal to conduct third party plan review and site studies has been approved by DEEP in its 2013-2015 C&LM draft decision. The Department of Construction Services and a committee that engages the Office of Construction Services, DEEP, the utility representatives, the Institute for Sustainable Energy and Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) is charged with the development and oversight of this effort. This process, once adopted, will be repeated annually through 2017 to determine additional training needs of local code officials, licensed inspectors, building designers and the trades, as well as the annual compliance rate for that year.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: In June 2022, the NMR group completed the C1902B Energy Conscious Blueprint Baseline and Code Compliance Study.  This study includes four primary components—baseline measurement, ECB NTG analysis, code compliance research, and midstream non-lighting NTG analysis. To establish new construction baselines and code compliance, this study conducted primary data collection for new buildings permitted, completed, or under construction from January 2019 through March 2020 (Link). In 2018, NMR Group completed a code compliance study of single-family homes in Connecticut that were built at the end of the 2009 IECC cycle, including an assessment of gross potential savings available from increasing compliance with both the 2009 IECC and the 2012 IECC-CT (Link). The study also compares homes to the amended version of the 2012 IECC. The 2012 IECC-CT results represent minimum compliance rates (a floor) and maximum potential savings (a ceiling) as the homes used for this assessment were built prior to the adoption of the 2012 IECC-CT (under the 2009 IECC). In November 2015, DNV-GL submitted its C19-C&I Connecticut New Construction Baseline and Code Compliance Study to the Energy Efficiency Board. Compliance with energy efficiency code requirements for commercial and industrial new construction buildings permitted between 2010 and 2013 was estimated at 75% of the population. NMR has completed its 2016/2017 process evaluation of the Residential New Construction program.  As part of that study, NMR will conduct a baseline study. In February 2022, NMR updated its residential study design. The R1968 is  a residential study which focuses on the residential new construction and baseline study (Link). Although these findings have not been reported to date, they will be provided in a separate report. Additionally, NEEP completed a residential energy code compliance study in 2019/2020.
  • Utility Involvement: Utilities are involved in strategic planning and coordination, and utility-sponsored training. Regulatory guidelines have been established requiring significant utility involvement in supporting building energy code compliance. The Connecticut General Statute (16-245m) requires the utilities to submit a three-year Conservation and Management Plan.  The plan describes the utilities efforts in building energy code compliance-which the Department approves. Once the Department approves the plan, the companies are required to abide to it.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: A committee that includes the Office of Construction Services, DEEP, the utility representatives, the Institute for Sustainable energy and Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) meets regularly to review progress on the Gap Analysis and the Strategic Compliance Plan. The State of Connecticut is cooperating with Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) to adopt and implement the 2009 IECC. NEEP has developed a set of resources and model policy to assist with implementation. NEEP is an active member of BCAP/OCEAN.
  • Training/Outreach: The Department of Construction Services’ Office of Education and Data Management consistently offers energy code trainings. Recently the utilities have assumed responsibility for DEEP’s previous role of sponsoring code compliance training and outreach activities (GPRO and BOC training).  Please see the recent activities focused on these efforts below. Certification Requirements: Connecticut also requires building code officials to be licensed, including training and exams related to the ICC building codes. The Office of Education and Data Management (OEDM) performs all credentialing responsibilities - including training, testing and records maintenance - for the Office of the State Building Inspector (OSBI) and the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM).  As such, OEDM is responsible for training and accrediting Building Code Enforcement and Fire Officials, as well as providing code-related instruction to individuals in the allied trade and design professions.
  • Certification Requirements: Connecticut also requires building code officials to be licensed, including training and exams related to the ICC building codes. The Office of Education and Data Management (OEDM) performs all credentialing responsibilities - including training, testing and records maintenance - for the Office of the State Building Inspector (OSBI) and the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM).  As such, OEDM is responsible for training and accrediting Building Code Enforcement and Fire Officials, as well as providing code-related instruction to individuals in the allied trade and design professions.

Last reviewed: December 2022

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: Delaware has not conducted a study/evaluation of energy code compliance, but is working towards conducting the first study baseline study. DNREC is preparing an RFP in 2022 to acquire a consultant to conduct a residential and commercial code compliance field study.
  • Utility Involvement: Electric and gas utilities are engaged through the regulatory development process and in meetings of the Delaware Energy Codes Coalition.  
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Delaware Energy Codes Coalition meets quarterly to serve as a diverse stakeholder advisory group focused on code compliance.  Delaware also participates in the Building Codes Assistance Project.  Delaware Division of Climate Coastal, & Energy obtains technical assistance for the Delaware Energy Codes Coalition from the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP), Green Building United, and the Division's Technical Consultant.
  • Training/Outreach: Approximately $100,000 has been allocated for training in 2021. DNREC is providing training to the Delaware construction industry and local code enforcement officials to support the new statewide energy codes. The Division's Energy Section is providing free energy code training and resources for Delaware code enforcement officials and construction industry professionals to support the continued implementation of updated energy conservation codes. 
     
    The updated energy conservation codes, requiring the use of the 2018 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2016 statewide, went into effect December 11, 2020. In February, DNREC hosted two virtual training events covering the changes in the residential and commercial energy conservation codes and addressing questions from stakeholders. To continue to offer the most useful training and tools to help Delaware energy code stakeholders and continue a successful energy code transition, the Energy Section is surveying code enforcement officials and construction industry professionals to gather their input ahead of planned field training events this Fall. 
     
    Additional meetings with stakeholders, technical support, and training opportunities will occur in stages through the rest of the year. Additional energy code support can be found on our website (linked below), including information about the Delaware Energy Code Support Hotline, which was established to help energy code stakeholders resolve challenges or questions encountered while implementing the updated energy codes in the field. The website also hosts materials from the February training sessions.

Last Reviewed: June 2022

 

  • Strategic Compliance Plan: DC has completed a Comprehensive Energy Plan, called Clean Energy DC, which was published November 2, 2017. Clean Energy DC provides a detailed roadmap that outlines long-term targets and goals surrounding energy efficiency, generation, buildings, and transportation. The plan calls for all new construction to achieve net-zero energy beginning in 2026. The new Energy Code for the District has specific language on net-zero buildings and how to achieve those. This will allow for the DCSEU to work with contractors and builders to plan for future new construction development.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: In 2014, DCRA worked with the Institute of Market Transformation to conduct an analysis of the rate energy code compliance and to make recommendations on how to increase energy code compliance. The audit relied upon the City Energy Project Assessment Methodology for medium to large cities.  This methodology helps to provide an informal energy code compliance rate, and is not intended to be statistically valid.  A detailed code compliance study was conducted in 2016--IMT and Cadmus' audit found that DCRA set a new standard for commercial energy code enforcement, with a weighted code compliance rate of 99%.
  • Utility Involvement: Regulatory guidelines have been established requiring significant utility involvement in supporting building energy code compliance. DCSEU meets weekly with DCRA to discuss issues relating to the energy code, and regularly offers code compliance trainings. 
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Construction Codes Coordinating Board (CCCB), housed with DCRA and whose membership includes District government and private-industry experts, drafted the strategic changes. More than 100 individuals, including architects, engineers, contractors, property managers, real estate developers and government regulators, contributed their time, through Technical Advisory Group meetings, to ensure the most appropriate codes possible. Other active stakeholder groups include the Residential Code and Residential Energy Code Technical Advisory Group, the Commercial Energy and Green Code Technical Advisory Group, and the Green Building Advisory Council
  • Training/Outreach: In 2006 a sweeping piece of legislation called the Green Building Act was set in place to ensure green building compliance.  The Green Building Division at the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) is responsible for the interpretation and execution of this act.  DCRA works closely with sister agencies, such as the Department of Energy and the Environment, to make sure the Green Building act along with energy codes are updated on a regular basis.  Trainings are provided during each code cycle update to help provide guidance for project teams.  The Green Building Professional Seminar Series is an annual monthly seminar series organized by staff and presented by private side industry leaders. Several tools to help project teams identify compliance paths, organize code measures and communicate compliance are available to view on BuildGreenDC.org.
  • The Urban Sustainability Administration (USA) of DOEE offers grants to fund early design assistance for building projects committed to pursuing net-zero energy. Early integrated design is essential for buildings to achieve maximum energy efficiency, but it can be difficult to fund through existing project budgets. Net-zero energy buildings are cleaner, more comfortable, and more affordable to operate than traditional buildings. The Clean Energy DC plan calls for net-zero energy building codes by 2026. Because there are few net-zero energy projects in the District, having more projects pursue net-zero energy will grow the number of available case studies and build the capacity of the developers in advance of a statutory requirement. See details here

Last Reviewed: June 2022

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) completed a quantitative and economic analysis of the 7th Edition (2020) Florida Building Energy Code (FEC), which was submitted to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in May 2019. The 7th Edition (2020) FEC provides two performance compliance options – one IECC 2018 based and other ASHRAE 90.1-2016 based. The study concluded that "the 2020 FEC overall, for all practical purposes, may be considered equivalent to the original ASHRAE 90.1-2016." Additionally, in March 2021, the FSEC published a report called "Relative International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) Energy Impacts By Compliance Path" (Link
  • Utility Involvement: Regulatory guidelines have been established requiring significant utility involvement in supporting building energy code compliance. The Florida Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (FEECA), enacted in 1980, emphasizes reducing the growth rates of weather-sensitive peak demand, reducing, and controlling the growth rates of electricity consumption, and reducing the consumption of scarce resources, such as petroleum fuels. During the 2008 legislative session, the Legislature amended FEECA to place greater emphasis on the pursuit, through utility-sponsored incentives, of all cost-effective customer conservation and energy efficiency measures including demand-side renewable energy systems. Under FEECA, the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) must establish numeric conservation goals for each FEECA utility, at least every five years. 
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Energy Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) reviews any proposed energy code modifications and reports their findings to the Florida Building Commission, a 27-member board composed of industry professionals appointed by the governor. All FBC meetings are public and open. The various Florida Building Commission Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) meet as needed.  In 2018, the Energy TAC met nine times. The agendas and minutes to those meetings can be found here
  • Training/Outreach: On-site training and webinars have been performed by Building A Safer Florida (BASF), Building Official Association of Florida, private entities, and the Codes and Standards Office of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The Florida Building Commission's (FBC) has statewide training requirements. The Education Program Oversite Committee (POC) establishes curriculums and trains/certifies trainers. Additional energy code technical research is conducted on an ongoing basis for the FBC review. These reports provide the FBC with recommendations on best practices and technical evaluations for Florida-specific issues such as ventilation, air tightness testing. Links to this research are provided below:
  • Technical Research FY 2015-2016
    FSEC Building Efficiency Research Report Index

Last Reviewed: June 2022

 

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: No strategic compliance plan has been completed in recent years. The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) have, in partnership with the Home Builders Association of Georgia, developed a program for builders to rent duct blasters and blower doors for compliance, which was a result of a previously completed gap analysis. 
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: Georgia is one of eight states participating in the US DOE's Residential Energy Code Field Study. Through the project, DOE plans to establish a sufficient data set to represent statewide construction trends and detect significant changes in energy use from training, education and outreach activities. The first stage of the study is comprised of a baseline compliance study.
  • Utility Involvement: Utilities have been involved in training for energy codes in the state. They also coordinate with the state during the update process.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: NA
  • Training/Outreach: Southface Institute, in partnership with Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) and the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), has developed comprehensive trainings and resources to help building professionals comply with the latest codes.

Last Reviewed: December 2022

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: The Hawaii Energy Office completed an energy codes compliance study in 2018. The study was dependent on the number of respondents from the residential and commercial sectors.  A statistically representative sample was not available.
  • Utility Involvement: NA
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Hawaii Building Code Council was created by the State Legislature in 2007 to promulgate updated codes in accord with national three-year code cycles, and regularly convenes stakeholders to discuss relevant issues.
  • Training/Outreach: The Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO), working with various counties, has provided a number of training workshops for building construction, design and engineering professionals and building officials.  Over 500 were trained this year on the 2018 IECC and Hawaii Amendments.  Through its website, the HSEO also provides building code information and training materials provided at the workshops.  The HSEO is also an active participant in the multi-state Community College Energy Code Training Program, sponsored by the University of Illinois' Smart Energy Design Assistance Center.

Last Reviewed: July 2022

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: A residential energy code compliance study was conducted in Idaho in 2018, available here. 98% of homes observed in the study were in compliance. The study used the prescriptive method when evaluating compliance, reviewing whether each component within a house met a specific standard. The study was conducted by Idaho's Circuit Rider, who is funded through the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA).
  • Utility Involvement: Idaho does not have regulatory guidelines for utility involvement in building energy code development; however, several investor-owned utilities have supported building energy code compliance through their participation with the state in Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) activities and utility-sponsored training.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Idaho Energy Code Collaborative discusses code compliance, and most of the energy training provided by its members is now focused on increasing compliance throughout the state.
  • Training/Outreach: The Idaho Code Collaborative provides code and compliance training through a state Energy Circuit Rider. The Idaho Code Collaborative includes the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources, the state’s electric investor-owned utilities, and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. 

Last Updated: July 2022

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: The State Energy Office (Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity) worked with BCAP to complete a gap analysis in 2010 and a strategic compliance plan in 2011.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: The State Energy Office received a federal grant in 2010 to conduct a compliance study to test DOE’s recommended methods for measuring building codes compliance rates. The study found a compliance rate of 86% for residential buildings based on the buildings sampled, but the rate was adjusted to 79% to reflect the lack of cooperation from a couple of jurisdictions. The compliance rate for commercial buildings was over 90% but a full statistically valid sample was not completed. Evaluation of codes compliance and energy savings attributable to the training and technical assistance programs has now been built into the annual Evaluation, Measurement, and Verification of the state’s Energy Efficiency Portfolio. In June of 2014, an Evaluation of Illinois Baseline Building Code Compliance was prepared for the State Energy Office by ADM Associates, Inc. The study found a compliance rate of 81.3% for new residential buildings based on the buildings sampled. ADM was unable to arrive at a statistically valid compliance rate for commercial buildings due to the unavailability of willing participants.
  • Utility Involvement: Illinois’ utilities are involved in the Illinois Commercial and Residential Building Energy Codes Enhancement Collaborative Program aimed at providing training, technical assistance, and rebates for third-party inspectors.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: A Stakeholder Advisory Committee is in the process of being formed by the Energy Codes Enhancement Program and (3) meetings are scheduled for the first quarter of 2017.
  • Training/Outreach: The Illinois Energy Office spends approximately $300,000+ annually for enforcement and training with close to 30 outreach/training events held. These programs also include blower door training, HVAC right-sizing training, and a code interpretation hotline. Other consultations involve a visit with a building department and their field inspection staff to discuss time-saving plan review or field inspection techniques.

Last Reviewed: September 2019

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: NA
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: NA
  • Utility Involvement: NA
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: NA
  • Training/Outreach: The Division of Fire and Building Safety of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) has conducted several classes for state and local code enforcement officials with respect to the use of ComCheck and some basic energy conservation code information. No trainings have been held in 2015.

Last Reviewed: July 2022

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: The DOE Residential Energy Code Pilot Study for Iowa was completed in June of 2011. The Iowa compliance rate was 64% in climate zone 6 and 70% in climate zone 5.
  • Utility Involvement: No regulatory guidelines have been established with regard to involving utilities in supporting building energy code compliance, though some IOUs volunteer to do residential builder training at the beginning of each year.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Building Codes Advisory Council is a Governor-appointed group that decides when and how the state building codes are adopted and if amendments are required. An Energy Codes Workgroup was invited to discuss the 2012 IECC and suggest amendments to allow advancement to this code. The Workgroup had thirty participants from all aspects of the construction of commercial and residential buildings.
  • Training/Outreach: The State Building Code Bureau will provide training programs for Contractors and Code Officials through special requests. 

Last Reviewed: July 2022

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: NA
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: The Kansas Corporation Commission’s (KCC) annual survey of local jurisdictions provides an initial baseline for assessing adoption and compliance.
  • Utility Involvement: NA
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: In 2013 the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) established the Kansas Codes Collaborative, a stakeholder group involving utilities, local codes officials, and others. The new Codes Collaborative builds on the work of the previous Energy Efficiency Building Codes Working Group, with more emphasis on development and implementation of the plan to assess code compliance in local jurisdictions.
  • Training/Outreach: The KCC partners with Johnson County Contractor Licensing program to offer subsidized energy codes training for local contractors and codes officials.

Last Reviewed: September 2019

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: Kentucky partnered with the Building Codes Assistance Project to complete a gap analysis and strategic compliance plan in 2011.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: Beginning in late 2014, the Kentucky Departments for Housing, Buildings and Construction and Department for Energy Development and Independence are partnering with the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, the US Department for Energy, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in the administration of a three-year, $900,000 three-phase initiative to (1) measure the baseline energy codes compliance rate across the Commonwealth following the latest US DOE/PNNL protocol, (2) implement a range of code improvement activities, and (3) measure the post- energy code compliance rate to determine if there was improvement. The study was completed in 2017.
  • Utility Involvement: NA
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The current codes compliance study and improvement initiative fostered the development of a Codes Collaborative that meets three times per year.
  • Training/Outreach: During code study, which funded outreach and training activities, the state embarked on: training workshop across the state; circuit rider who traveled around state, met with contractors on site, responded to calls, met with local code jurisdictions, code inspectors, etc., to answer questions and address concerns; series of mini-videos on key code topics on YouTube; web site with all code study information; and presentations at relevant industry-related conferences or events.

Last Updated: September 2019

 

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: NA
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: NA
  • Utility Involvement: NA
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: NA
  • Training/Outreach: Code training developed by Louisiana State University and the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance engaged home builder associations across the state in 2017 to highlight and encourage their focus on code compliance. 

Last Reviewed: September 2019

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: A New Construction Baseline Assessment was performed by Ridgeline Energy Analytics in 2020-21. The study used Home Energy Rating Scores (HERS) and RemRate software to assess compliance against the 2009 IECC code performance path and found that 67% of homes were energy code compliant. The compliance study followed the PNNL methodology to the best of its ability, however limitations due to COVID-19 prevented in-person stakeholder engagement and impromptu site visits.
  • Utility Involvement: Maine statute requires Efficiency Maine invovlement of  adoption, amendment, and maintenance of the state's energy code. Efficiency Maine participates in code development and offers training programs for Maine builders and contractors.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: Maine has a Technical Building Codes and Standards Board comprised of architects, engineers, builders, and energy efficiency experts. Additionally, Maine has an “advisory group,” managed by the Board, called the Technical Advisory Group (TAG), where energy efficiency advocate have provide cost-effectiveness analysis to support the adoption of building energy codes.
  • Training/Outreach: There is advanced energy code training available; the cost is subsidized for code officials. This advanced training is a collaborative effort between the Dept. of Economic and Community Development, the State Fire Marshall, and the Energy Office. The state Dept. of Economic and Community Development offers training at the basic certification level (free to those applying for initial certification), as well as advanced energy code training. Once certified, code enforcement officers need to obtain training annually to keep their certification current. The Maine Building Officials and Inspector Association, as well as several regional organizations, seek out training opportunities for their members, and partially support the cost of these opportunities. Efficiency Maine Trust and the Maine Office of State Fire Marshal have jointly launched a training initiative for code officials, trades, and professionals involved in new construction.  The first classes were a free one-hour webinar to introduce the energy provisions of Maine's updated building codes. Subsequent classes will provide more technical detail on updates to the codes and field training for best practices to achieve code compliance. 

Last reviewed: May 2022

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: Maryland, through a previous U.S. DOE award that concluded 3/31/2018, conducted a statewide effort to determine the efficacy of energy code training by measuring compliance before and after energy code training occurred.  DOE's Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL) has analyzed the data and the final report should be published soon. Compliance studies in 2013 and 2014 were completed in two of the state's largest counties - Howard and Montgomery - showing compliance rates above 90%.
  • Utility Involvement: NA
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: MEA established a Codes Compliance Work Group (CCWG) in 2012. The CCWG was put together last year and met three times to give input and direction to MEA’s efforts at increasing compliance with the code. The group is composed of MEA, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), local code officials, architects, builder’s trade groups and builders. There are about 20 members.
  • The Maryland Green Building Council has compliance as a subset of its agenda. The group meets about 10 or 11 times a year.
  • Training/Outreach: There are no current energy code and outreach training efforts underway.  However, Maryland, through a prior U.S. DOE award that concluded 3/31/2018, conducted a three-year statewide outreach and awareness-building effort with DOE assistance  effort to determine the efficacy of energy code training on code compliance.  The report on this effort is being finalized by DOE's Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL).  

Last reviewed: July 2022

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: The most recent energy code baseline study for residential covering 2019 new construction was published in April 2020. The report can be found here. The most recent commercial code compliance study was completed in 2016. The MA compliance study for residential used the MA-REC methodology, an alternative, more energy performance-based method for assessing energy code compliance than the PNNL checklist based protocol. The MA compliance study for commercial used both the DOE PNNL protocol (based on a checklist approach) and an alternative methodology, but it is more closely tied to the PNNL protocol. In statewide studies, results are reported for both the PNNL methodology (for comparison with other states) and the MA-REC methodology – which is used for tracking energy and greenhouse gas savings. 
  • The statewide Residential combined base code and stretch code compliance rate estimated in the 2020 study is 96%. The following is an excerpt from the study executive summary:

    Including program homes, the average overall code compliance for base code towns has increased from 86% to 94% since 2015. Despite the increase in stretch code stringency, the average for stretch code towns stayed relatively constant at 96% in 2015 and 98%in 2019.This reflects the limited changes in base code since 2015 and the larger changes in stretch code. The increase in code compliance is largely due to the increase in program penetration. Program homes have higher compliance rates than do non-program homes across all measures. Overall compliance also increased due to increased stretch code adoption since 2015.Stretch code towns have slightly higher average compliance rates than do base code towns. Non-program has remained constant since 2015 at 88% despite an increase in code stringency.

    The residential study methodology essentially uses the performance path using HERS ratings to assess compliance. 

  • Utility Involvement: The recently approved three-year energy efficiency plans for investor-owned utilities in Massachusetts have formalized utility sponsored programs that support both building energy code compliance and development through the Code Compliance Support Initiative and the Energy Code Technical Support Initiative.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: Utility program administrators, Code Compliance program vendors, DOER,  and consultants to the MA Energy Efficiency Advisory Council meet as needed. 
  • Training/Outreach: The Mass Save Energy Code Technical Support Initiative provides Massachusetts code officials, design professionals, builders, subcontractors, material and equipment suppliers and others, with valuable building energy code compliance training, technical support, and documentation tools. Local building cCode officials are required by the state to maintain continuing education hours including some specifically in the energy codes. In addition, DOER is working with ICC to publish an integrated code book containing the MA amended IECC2018, ASHRAE90.1-2016 and the stretch energy code amendments, which will be freely distributed to MA code officials and available from ICC for purchase by the design and construction community.

Last reviewed: May 2022 

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: A code compliance study was completed by DTE and Consumers in 2015 and 2016, following PNNL protocol.
  • Utility Involvement: There are several utilities that participate in the Michigan Energy Code Compliance Collaborative described below.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Michigan Energy Code Compliance Collaborative was established to identify gaps, issues and opportunities to enhance compliance.  The collaborative is comprised of builders, contractors, code officials, state agencies, energy raters, utilities, and energy advocates.  Total membership has grown to 38 individuals representing 32 organizations. The mission is to facilitate compliance with residential and commercial energy codes through a collaborative stakeholder effort.  The group identified and prioritized steps needed to improve compliance with energy codes. The collaborative members have developed several guidance documents, met with leadership of several local jurisdictions, and orgaized and held several workshops and trainings to train local code inspectors/enforcement officials on the technical aspects of the codes. In 2019 there were 5 meetings of this group (two of these meetings were split into separate residential and commercial sub-comittees). There has been 1 meeting in 2020 so far. 
  • Training/Outreach: In 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted planned activities for codes education. COVID-19 restrictions did not allow for in person meetings. Uncertainties in how the pandemic would affect tax revenue led to statewide budget freezes. With no funding to support trainings or resource development there was no action taken on code education in 2020.

Last Reviewed: July 2022

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: Minnesota completed a gap analysis in October 2014 with the Building Code Assistance Project.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: Completed in 2018, the Minnesota Center for Energy Environment conducted a commercial code compliance study. This study is funded by CARD, the State’s R&D program that is funded through utility assessments. The project's materials can be accessed here.
  •  In early 2018, the MN Department of Commerce commissioned two residential and commercial energy baseline and market characterization studies which were led by Slipstream. The commercial study's final webinar can be accessed here. The residential study's final webinar can be accessed here and the final report can be accessed here
  • Utility Involvement: Utilities were active participants in an ongoing commercial code compliance study led by the Minnesota Center for Energy & Environment and completed in 2018. Utilities have provided input and assistance in determining study design and identifying areas of the code where compliance issues may exist.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Minnesota Energy Code Compliance Collaborative is facilitated in large part by Fresh Energy.
  • Training/Outreach: Minnesota funded a pilot program, through the CARD program, to help develop training and outreach for building officials to meet the new codes. The commercial code compliance pilot study was completed in 2018. The project's materials can be accessed here.
  • 2050 Partners (in partnership with Slipstream, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, and LHB) is developing a Minnesota C&S Roadmap document that aims to:

  • -Provide the foundation for developing robust Minnesota Codes and Standards (C&S) support programs that contribute to delievering cost-effective energy savings, and
    -Recommend pathways for Minnesota utilities to participate in and claim savings from C&S activities.

  • This project is supported by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources through the CARD program. The report is expected to be completed in December 2020 and the project team is conducting a series of stakeholder engagement webinars in July and August 2020. https://www.mn-cs-roadmap.org/

Last reviewed: July 2022

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: NA
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: No formal compliance study has been done. However, in June 2011, BCAP and Southface produced an economic analysis for building energy code adoption in Mississippi. This study estimated baseline compliance based on DOE data for building energy code compliance in jurisdictions across the State. Based on recent estimates, a large percentage of the State’s population reside in jurisdictions that have adopted a residential building code. Based on the June 2011 Energy Codes Economic Analysis conducted by BCAP and Southface, as well as additional data collected by MDA, approximately 60% (1.75 million out of a total 2.9 million residents) of the state’s population reside in cities or counties with building codes equivalent to 2003 IBC or higher, and the average code standard for these local jurisdictions is 2006 ICC.
  • Utility Involvement: NA
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: An advisory group, the Mississippi Building Energy Code Collaborative, has been formed to meet on a quarterly basis for the implementation of both code training and enforcement (training schedule and compliance activities). The Collaborative is comprised of local and state code enforcement officials, builders, contractors, architects, engineers, energy managers, facility managers, and State government officials.
  • Training/Outreach: The MDA Energy and Natural Resources Division provides energy code training to educate codes officials, engineers, architects, and other interested parties statewide about the new ASHRAE 90.1-2010 mandatory energy building code for commercial and state-owned buildings. These codes training sessions complement the work of MDA by leveraging a network of officials to educate and implement the building energy code standard. 

Last Reviewed: September 2020

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: Missouri completed a compliance study of residential energy codes with the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. PNNL analysis is complete for all but the Manual J measure. Based on the data gathered during the study, the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance estimated the compliance rate to be 64.6%, using REMRate software for each measure and assigning weightings through sensitivity analysis. The Division of Energy will be developing a compliance plan to submit to DOE.
  • Utility Involvement: BOC training support is included in agreements in the Spire (GR-2017-0215 and 0216) and Liberty gas rate cases (GR-2018-0013), as well as the Ameren MEEIA 3 stipulation (EO-2018-0211). After a long stakeholder process which Division of Energy participated in, Ameren Missouri committed to funding a three year building codes circuit rider in their 2018 MEEIA filing. The circuit rider will start by identifying potential opportunities and resources for improving energy code compliance. Follow-up training opportunities will be held in various locations throughout the Ameren MO territory and are meant to be flexible, addressing the specific needs of stakeholders in that area.  DE will continue to pursue a building codes circuit rider in other investor-owned utility MEEIA filings. Link.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Division of Energy encourages Missouri's energy utilities to engage in building code compliance efforts in their stakeholder advisory group meetings and in the MEEIA Statewide Advisory Group. Utility stakeholder advisory groups meet separately at least quarterly.
  • Training/Outreach: The Division of Energy has developed a resource page dedicated to building codes compliance training with assistance from MEEA: Link.

Last Reviewed: May 2022

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: The most current study was finalized in April 2019. The study used the prescriptive method when evaluating compliance and estimated a 75% compliance rate. The report is a DOE document and data was collected by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and Cadmus Group. Study to be incuded with report submittal.
  • Utility Involvement: Although no utility commission guidelines have been established, utility providers in Montana support energy code compliance activities through participation in the Code Compliance Collaborative, sponsorship of training events, testifying at adoption hearings, and supporting agencies such as NEEA in their outreach efforts. 
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Montana Energy Code Collaborative is coordinated by Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) and National Center of Appropriate Technology (NCAT). Paricipating stakeholders include state government officials, code officials, county sustainability coordinators, university staff, and NGOs. The Collaborative meets every four months.
  • Training/Outreach: MEO conducts onsite energy code meetings twice a year with most code officials. MEO provides Residential and Commercial Energy Code summary booklets to all building department offices. In conjunction with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Residential Energy Code Summary booklets and energy component labels are delivered to all new houses in Montana. MEO conducts onsite trainings with building code departments and contractors utilizing a blower door and infrared camera. MEO also provides a 2 credit-hour energy code training sessions to real estate professionals and estimates that 40% of Montana real estate sales staff has attended a training session. Montana Department of Labor and Industry provides residential and commercial energy code trainings at their  annual conference. 

Last Reviewed: July 2022

 

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: In 2011, Nebraska worked with BCAP to publish a gap analysis and strategic compliance plan.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: In late 2017, the Energy Assistance Division of the Nebraska Energy Office, now the Department of Environment and Energy, completed residential construction data collection in accordance with protocol established by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program’s field requirements to document baseline practices. Key Item Analysis showed that:

1. All of the observations met or exceeded the Envelope Air Leakage requirement of the 2009 IECC and the average result of the 67 homes tested was 2.48 ACH50, which exceeds the requirement of the newly adopted 2018 IECC. 

2. The average High-Efficacy Lighting count in the 67 homes tested was 68.73%, which exceeds the requirement of the 2009 IECC, but will need improvement to meet the 90% requirement of the newly adopted 2018 IECC.  

3. Although most homes in Nebraska are constructed with 100% of the ducts located within the building envelope, those homes that were tested show that duct leakage and proper sealing applications should be a focus in Nebraska. 

4. The average Ceiling Insulation R-value in the 75 homes inspected was R-42.84, which exceeds the R-38 prescriptive requirement of the 2009 IECC, but will need to be adjusted to meet the requirements of the newly adopted 2018 IECC. 

5. Similar to the Ceiling Insulation discussed above, the average Wall Insulation U-factor in the 75 homes inspected was U-0.06, which doesn’t quite meet the U-0.057 prescriptive requirement of the 2009 IECC, but a large number of Nebraska jurisdictions and builders utilize RESCheck tradeoffs to allow them to utilize 2x4 wall construction. 

6. The average Basement Wall Insulation R-value in the 20 homes inspected was R-11.07, which slightly exceeds the R-10 prescriptive continuous insulation requirement of the 2009 IECC, but will need to be adjusted to meet the increased requirements of the newly adopted 2018 IECC.

Copies of the PNNL evaluation is available here

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy is currently working with the DOE Building Energy Codes Program, under the direction of the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT), to measure the impact of energy codes on commercial buildings and identify opportunities for savings through increased compliance.

  • Utility Involvement: The state’s three largest publicly-owned electric utilities – Lincoln Electric System, Nebraska Public Power District and Omaha Public Power District – have a long history of providing very strong support (financial and in-kind) for building energy code upgrades, training, and code compliance activities. In the most recent example, Omaha Public Power District provided $10,000 in support of the Great Plains Energy Codes Conference. In the past, all of the utilities have provided financing, conference facilities and other types of support.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Nebraska Energy Code Compliance Collaborative (NECCC) was created in March 2013 to support achievement of the goal of full compliance with building energy codes that meet or exceed the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. The Collaborative meets at least quarterly and continues to work at the committee level on issues of relevance such as training and funding sources. The NECCC was very active in providing information to the legislature which led to the adoption of the 2018 IACC.
  • Training/Outreach: State Statute 81-1620 requires the State Energy Office to establish a training program to provide initial technical assistance to local code officials and residential and commercial builders upon adoption and implementation of a new Nebraska Energy Code.  That program must include the training of local code officials in building technology and local enforcement procedures related to implementation of the Nebraska Energy Code and the development of training programs suitable for presentation by local governments, educational institutions, and other public or private entities. In conjunction with the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, the Dept. planned and participated in a codes training conference. Additionally, the Department sponsored five well-attended code training webinars that reached approximately 500 individuals.

Last Reviewed: September 2020

 

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: A survey on energy code compliance rates was conducted in 2010 and revised. The Governor’s Office of Energy (GOE) is a supporting partner of a grant awarded by DOE to NASEO and SWEEP which establishes baseline energy code compliance rates in residential buildings. These efforts will include public education and outreach. The study follows DOEs proven methodology. The study will allow the GOE to provide specialized training for industry and building officials in partnership with NASEO and SWEEP.
  • Utility Involvement: No regulatory guidelines have been established with regard to involving utilities in supporting building energy code compliance.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: GOE partnered with BCAP to develop the Nevada Code Collaborative, which first met in April 2012, and has also named seven Code Ambassadors. GOE continues to work with non-profits, local building departments and consultants to provide training on the 2018 IECC to building code officials and the building industry. The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) continues to facilitate the collaborative.
  • Training/Outreach: The GOE will provide funding for trainings on the 2021 IECC with Electric Vehicle ready appendices in both Northern Nevada and Southern Nevada. The trainings will educate contractors, vendors and building code officials. 

    GOE is also partners on the University of Illinois Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) Community College Energy Code Training program which will provide energy code curriculum to Community College Instructors.

Last Reviewed: May 2022

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: NA
  • Utility Involvement: As part of the states Energy Efficiency Resource Plan, the NH Public Utilities Commission approved a three-year EE plan through which the  state's four electric distribution utilities fund code trainings. The funding is derived from the Systems Benefit Charge.  
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The NH Building Energy Code Compliance Collaborative was established as part of the NH Energy Code Challenge, which is a stakeholder group of diverse professionals and individuals from a broad range of industries. This group ceased meeting in 2016. The NH Code Collaborative formed to pick up the work of the original Collaborative in 2019 and the NHCC has been meeting quarterly. The NHCC is focused on a three part strategy to: support adoption of new modern energy codes; supporting effective code compliance; and increase market demand.
  • Training/Outreach: In conjunction with New Hampshire's utility-administered suite of energy efficiency programs, one residential and one commercial energy code trainings were held in 2020.  There were some smaller/shorter workshops presented directly to certain contractors and to the southern chapter (largest) of NH Home Builders and Remodelers Associationan Energy Code presentation at a monthly meeting of the NH Building Officials Association.

Last Reviewed: July 2022

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: NJ has an Evaluation Plan which was last made public in May 2017. The BPU’s Office of Clean Energy, in conjunction with the independent evaluator, Rutgers Center for Green Buildings, continually updates an Evaluation Plan in order to track previous evaluation activities, provide an indicator regarding planned, future evaluations and solicit input from stakeholders on what future evaluations are needed. In addition to highlighting current priorities, the Evaluation Plan is an important record of regular and cyclical evaluation work, such as cost-benefit analyses and baseline studies, which are used towards more effective policy making.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: A baseline study of the multifamily sector in New Jersey was completed in April 2019, available here. A Code Compliance Study is currently underway to assess the code compliance of New Jersey's building stock across market segments. The study is being completed in collaboration with the Rutgers Center for Green Building.
  • Utility Involvement: The Clean Energy Act requires the NJ Board of Public Utilities to develop “quantitative performance indicators” (QPI) via public rulemaking that establishes targets and takes into account each utility’s “support (for) the development and implementation of building code changes…”  The Board established interim QPIs in May 2019 as well as establishing an Advisory Group which will meet to help inform future QPIs. Additionally, utilities may participate on the NJDCA mechanical/energy subcode committee and support the enactment of energy codes as a cost-effective means to reduce energy usage.  They can participate on the advisory board but participation is not mandated.    
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Uniform Construction Code Act establishes a Uniform Construction Code Advisory Board. And under the Uniform Construction Code Advisory Board, there is a mechanical/energy subcode committee which includes code officials, engineers and other stakeholders. This board meets three to four times per year.  
  • Training/Outreach: The Department of Community Affairs offers spring and fall semesters of training each year.  Licensed code officials are required to complete continuing education to maintain their licensed. Visit the NJ Department of Community Affairs for more info regarding NJDCA Continuing Education Seminars.  There are 50+ different Code Official training courses offered, some of which are energy subcode specific.

Last reviewed: May 2022

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: New Mexico completed a gap analysis and a strategic compliance plan in 2011 in partnership with the Building Codes Assistance Project. The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) is conducting a field study in 2022 to evaluate the actual building practices in New Mexico and to determine the actual compliance with building codes.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: No studies have been made to evaluate code compliance.
  • Utility Involvement: No regulatory guidelines have been established with regard to involving utilities in supporting building energy code compliance. NM’s largest investor-owned utility has provided building code training as part of its energy efficiency programming.  Utilities conducted workshops on the energy code as part of the Efficient Use of Energy Act which support energy efficiency.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: Technical Advisory Committees with different skill sets meet once a month to resolve issues of complaince.  These groups report to the Construction Industries Division which enforces the energy code.
  • Training/Outreach: New Mexico is actively engaged in providing and supporting training programs and outreach and continues to work with home builder organizations to provide information, training and technical assistance as needed.  New Mexico will start developing training workshop information for the 2018 International Energy Conservtion Code

Last Reviewed: June 2022

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: NYS performed a Gap Analysis and strategic compliance plan, or Action Plan.  The draft report was prepared April 2016, describing both Gap Analysis findings as well as an Action Plan for proposed measures to improve Energy Code compliance and enforcement. Gap Analysis findings included in-depth interviews with approximately 150 design, construction and enforcement professionals, as well as building owners and representatives from state and local government.  Gap Analysis also include a survey of approximately 450 NYS code enforcement officials and review of statewide compliance assessments and market intervention strategies designed to improve compliance and enforcement performed to date.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: New York State’s most recent statewide energy code compliance studies took place in 2015/2016 and 2019/2020. New York State conducted its first Delphi Panel in 2015 (report published February 2016) with a group of experts in new and existing residential and commercial sector design, construction and enforcement, to gather information on the frequency and quality of specific building practices employed in the State. Through the iterative process of collecting opinions and building consensus between experts, NYSERDA analyzed building practices and code compliance to estimate a baseline energy code compliance level for the State. A second Delphi Panel was conducted in 3 phases between October 2019 and January 2020, to measure compliance with the 2016 New York State Energy Conservation Construction Code. During that time, a longitudinal study of in-depth interviews with three municipalities (urban, suburban and rural) was also conducted to supplement Delphi Panel findings. Reports for these studies will be published in 2020.  An additional Delphi Panel was conducted in 2022, with reported results expected Q3, and another is planned for 2023. Additional longitudinal studies are planned through 2023, to measure progress.
  • Utility Involvement: NYSERDA administers utility rate payer dollars to support building energy code compliance and enforcement. On January 21, 2016, the New York State Public Service Commission issued an order authorizing the Clean Energy Fund Framework. NYSERDA will administer a multi-million dollar investment in supporting building energy code compliance and enforcement through 2025. In 2019, NYSERDA supported and trained over 3,300 professionals at 119 events throughout the state. NYSERDA also published the Performance Path Enforcement Manual for enforcement professionals in October 2018, the New York State Energy Code Manual for Design Professionals in June 2019, and the Energy Code Enforcement Manual for Code Enforcement Officials in June 2019. Resources available here.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: NYSERDA staff, DOS, and contractors conduct regular meetings with the code enforcement, design and construction communities to inform policy and program decisions, including training themes and approaches. In 2019, New York State performed a 90-day public comment period as part of the 2020 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State rulemaking proceedings, giving New Yorkers an opportunity to contribute to the state’s code adoption process.  Stakeholder working group meetings were performed in 2018 to inform NYStretch Energy Code-2020. Market research was conducted in 2019, into 2020 to inform how the state can better support compliance, including through adoption of supplemental methods of energy code enforcement.  
  • Training/Outreach: NYSERDA supports ongoing classroom and web-based training and resources to support better compliance with and enforcement of the Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State and NYStretch Energy Code. Free and low-cost energy code training is designed for code enforcement officials, design professionals, building trade professionals and others involved in building design, construction and enforcement.

Last Reviewed: July 2022

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: A 2017 U.S. Department of Energy-sponsored North Carolina Residential Energy Code Field Study indicated that over $1.5 million in potential annual savings to North Carolina homeowners that could result from increased code compliance. (Source) Research teams visited 249 homes across the state during various stages of construction. However, the field study protocol was based upon a single site visit, which makes it impossible to know whether a particular home complies with the energy code as not enough information can be gathered in a single visit.
  • Utility Involvement: NA
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: NA
  • Training/Outreach: The Engineering Division of the NC Department of Insurance regularly conducts code trainings and they have energy conservation code training modules available on their website.

Last Reviewed: July 2021

 

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: NA
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: NA
  • Utility Involvement: NA
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: NA
  • Training/Outreach: A series of seven trainings on the 2009 IECC were held across the state in January of 2015 for contractors, code officials, and aspiring code officials.

Last Reviewed: June 2022

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) completed an Ohio Gap Analysis report in 2010. An update was published in 2014.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: No statewide compliance study has been done, although AEP Ohio completed a compliance study for their service territory.
  • Utility Involvement: American Electric Power Ohio and Columbia Gas provide funding for training as part of the Ohio Energy Codes Ambassador Program. Utility support is voluntary: the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio does not require utility investment in code compliance efforts.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: NA
  • Training/Outreach: The Board does regularly sponsor energy code trainings that are available to code officials and builders.  Currently, the Board has contracted with ICC to provide free in-person training around the state on the 2018 IECC Residential Energy Code Essentials.

Last Updated: July 2022 

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: BCAP worked with Oklahoma stakeholders in 2012 to develop its Gap Analysis and Strategic Compliance Plan.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: There have been no studies or evaluations of energy code compliance in Oklahoma. 
  • Utility Involvement: NA
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: NA
  • Training/Outreach: Beginning in 2015, OUBCC provides free training to licensed building inspectors. These are one- or two-day training classes that utilize nationally recognized code certified trainers to teach the classes.

Last Reviewed: May 2022

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: 
    • Commercial: On October 16, 2019 Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) completed the Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies (Report #E19-392) for 2019 Oregon New Commercial Construction. The report indicates that “The final study group consisted of 46 buildings, representing 28% of the overall floor area of potential building stock that could be surveyed” and “using the overall subcategory view (items such as HVAC efficiency, building heat loss rate, lighting power density, etc.) we found that 90% of all the subcategory items complied” and “mechanical system efficiency complied in well over 90% of the cases.”
    • Residential: In August of 2020, PNNL (through TRC Companies and NEEA) completed the Oregon Residential Energy Code Field Study. The report indicates that “the project team visited 162 homes at various stages of construction, resulting in a data set based on observations made directly in the field” and that the “analysis of the collected field data indicates average regulated energy use intensity (EUI) of 23.92 kBtu/ft2-yr statewide compared to 23.86 kBtu/ft2-yr for homes exactly meeting minimum prescriptive energy code requirements.” The difference of 0.06 EUI equates to a 0.0025% difference from code baseline. 
  • Utility Involvement: Utility programs are encouraged by regulators via guidance to market transformation efforts to assist with quality assurance in new home programs. Oregon has a statewide building code, and the state provides training to and certification of building officials and enforcement where officials fail to enforce code. Utilities provide incentives for above code compliance and training of contractors and building owners (BPA utilities; IOUs through the Energy Trust of Oregon). Through NEEA, utilities directly support market transformation, training, and compliance with energy codes. Utility program implementers participate in code proposal development. Oregon's compliance rates are such that direct utility program intervention in jurisdictional quality control is not a need. However, NEEA, which is utility-funded, sponsors energy code training, development, compliance studies, and planning, in coordination with state agencies and other stakeholders. Energy savings from NEEA energy code programs are distributed/credited to the funding utilities. The Oregon PUC allows energy savings from code and code compliance to be included in utility IRP energy efficiency savings. The major investor-owned utility programs (gas and electric) are operated by the Energy Trust of Oregon, and the IOUs also support NEEA. The PUC and governing board oversight verify that programs support code compliance and work toward advancing codes.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: NEEA operates a regional code collaborative, with regularly scheduled meetings and cooperative deliverables to help align/compare codes in the region. Oregon also works closely with the Pacific Coast Collaborative (PCC) on codes and standards opportunities. Also, the Construction Industry Energy Board (CIEB) is a Governor-appointed board in Oregon that includes stakeholders from other building code boards (Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Residential, Structures, and the Oregon Department of Energy). The function of the CIEB is to facilitate state building code compliance related to energy efficiency, evaluate building code standards, and advise and provide recommendations to the state agency responsible for code administration (Department of Consumer and Business Services, Building Codes Division). Finally, Executive Order from 2017 (EO 17-20) established Built Environment Efficiency Working Group (BWEEG) a workgroup that is providing additional input to pertinent stakeholders.
  • Training/Outreach: ODOE operates a codes hotline for commercial and residential code compliance and provides a series of industry trainings each year. BCD provides the primary outreach and training for all building officials. In order to maintain their certification to work in Oregon, building officials must complete code change training courses. In April of 2021, BCD provided mandatory code update training for code officials via recorded webinars due to COVID-19. https://www.oregon.gov/bcd/inspector-training/Pages/code-change-reg.aspx. Since these are hosted on the BCD webpage, they are available for anyone to view, not just building officials. The Division has staff dedicated to answering email and phone inquiries from building officials and the public regarding the energy codes. They answer approximately 1,000 calls annually from these stakeholders. Statewide Interpretation Requests are issued via the Division should there be a code question, allowing for consistent code application in every jurisdiction. For the remainder of the market (contractors, builders, engineers, architects, etc.), the Oregon Home Builders Association conducts outreach and training to homebuilders the Oregon Department of Energy provides training and a code hotline to builders, designers, industry and other stakeholders. OHBA and ODOE programs are supported by NEEA. Additionally, utility programs also support training and outreach for "beyond code" construction. BCD has been coordinating between all the parties listed to share the residential and commercial energy code update trainings.

Last reviewed: July 2022

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: The Building Codes Assistance Project completed a gap analysis in 2012. The Pennsylvania Energy Code Collaborative (PECC) met to further define best practices and recommendations and produced a compliance plan. In 2015, the Northeastern Energy Efficiency Partnership started facilitating the PECC and came up with a vision and goals for 2015 - 2020. The PECC group is currently working on tasks that support the vision and goals that include a state-specific plan with practical near- and long-term actions.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: Performance Systems Development (PSD) was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to implement a residential energy code compliance study in Pennsylvania as a part of the eight-state Residential Energy Code Field Study. This study was performed in 2014-2015 with a follow-up evaluation in 2017. The report on this study is available here. This project received financial and in-kind support from PECO and PPL electric utilities.
  • Utility Involvement: The electric distribution companies require code compliance for any of their Act 129 (financial incentive) programs. Additionally, under Act 129, EDCs will only get credit for codes initiatives if they are supporting projects that go above and beyond code standards because the standards are viewed as the baseline, regardless if they are currently being met.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Pennsylvania Energy Code Collaborative meets four times per year. The Pennsylvania Climate Change Advisory Committee meets at least six times per year.
  • Training/Outreach: The Pennsylvania Code Construction Academy provided trainings on residential and commercial 2015 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 - 2010. Additionally, they provided webinars and circuit rider trainings. These trainings are new, since PA adopted the 2019 I-Code in October 2018.  The intended audience is residential energy plan reviewers and inspectors, but is appropriate for builders, design professionals, and other industry professionals. Additionally, duct and envelope testing training is made available as well as specialized circuit rider trainings.

Last reviewed: June 2022

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: The baseline code compliance studies noted below included a comprehensive survey of all stakeholders in the building and code industry, with an emphasis on code officials. This survey offered a host of recommendations for strategic planning and subsequent improvement in code compliance and better building. These findings were integrated into the strategic planning for the Code Compliance Enhancement Initiative (CCEI) – only one piece of Rhode Island’s long-term plan on the advancement of codes. An online permitting system is being rolled out to streamline the process and increase accessibility of building data.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: Various evaluation studies related to building code compliance have been conducted by National Grid. The 2011 residential code compliance baseline study, the 2012 C&I code compliance baseline study, the 2013 CCEI savings and attribution logic evaluation study, the 2016 C&I code compliance study, the 2017 residential baseline study of single-family new construction, the 2017 energy impacts of commercial building code compliance, and the 2017 code compliance enhancement initiative attribution and savings study are the most recent studies. New studies on Residential Code Compliance and Commercial and Industrial New Construction Baselines are currently underway as of June 2022.
  • Utility Involvement: Regulatory guidelines have been established enabling significant utility involvement in supporting building energy code compliance. Under the 3-year Energy Efficiency Plan filed with parties including the RI Division of Public Utilities and Carriers and RI Office of Energy Resources, and approved by the Energy Efficiency & Resource Management Council (EERMC), there is a multi-year commitment to the Code Compliance Enhancement Initiative. National Grid works and coordinates with the RI Building Code Commission to provide trainings and support aimed at improving code compliance with the energy code in the RI CCEI. National Grid is also actively involved in strategic planning and coordination with the RI Building Code Commission, OER, and other partners. National Grid is able to claim savings associated with the codes initiative as approved by the RI PUC and there are active discussions between National Grid and RI stakeholders about ways to enhance their involvement in the code development and compliance process for 2020 and beyond.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: Since 2011, the RI Building Code Commission, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP), and National Grid have been working collaboratively on code advocacy, stretch code, and code compliance strategies. This collaborative approach led to the formalization of the Code Compliance Enhancement Initiative and will continue to monitor and oversee the implementation of the Initiative across the State in the coming years. Other active participants include the lead training vendor, the Green Buildings Advisory Committee, and the Energy Efficiency & Resource Management Council.
  • Training/Outreach: National Grid has provided code compliance support since 2013. The CCEI aims to increase the ability and desire of the code enforcement system, design community (architects and engineers) and the construction community (contractors, builders and construction managers) to meet the locally mandated building energy code. National Grid works closely with the Rhode Island Building Code Commission to develop and deliver this initiative and has partnered with a number of stakeholders such as the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships and the Energy Efficiency and Resource Management Council (EERMC). Efforts include classroom trainings, webinars, focus groups and on site demonstrations, as well as the development of an array of compliance documentation tools.

Last Reviewed: June 2022

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: South Carolina has completed a gap analysis, analyzing the current code implementation efforts in the state and making recommendations for achieving 90% compliance with the model energy code. The state also participates in BCAP’s Compliance Planning Assistance Program and completed a compliance plan in November 2011, providing a five-year roadmap for energy code implementation in the state.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: NA
  • Utility Involvement: NA
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: NA
  • Training/Outreach: The South Carolina Energy Office (SCEO) sponsors training for code compliance. During the past year SCEO supported training on proper duct installation and repair through the South Carolina Association of Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors (SCAHACC), as well as training in code compliance at the SC Homebuilders Association annual meeting. In addition, the office collaborated with SCAHACC, the SC Homebuilders Association and the SC Sustainability Institute to develop and offer Duct and Envelope Tightness verifier training. Based on materials developed by SouthFace, the South Carolina program includes the option of in-person or online training, followed by mandatory field practice and testing for successful certification.

Last Reviewed: September 2019

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: South Dakota completed a gap analysis in collaboration with the Building Codes Assistance Project, published in January 2011.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: NA
  • Utility Involvement: NA
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: NA
  • Training/Outreach: NA

Last Reviewed: June 2022

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan:  The Tennessee (TDEC) Office of Energy Programs, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, and the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy) are currently engaged in a residential energy code compliance baseline field study. The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) and its partner, Southface, are leading the initiative, which is funded by a U.S. Department of Energy award to SEEA.  This study will focus on a sample of single-family homes in the two climate zones in Tennessee and will identify the residential building energy code sections for which the State may wish to consider conducting additional education, outreach, and/or training.  The kickoff meeting was held in March 2017, and the study is expected to be completed in FY2018.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: Under state regulations, the State Fire Marshal’s Office is granted authority to audit local exempt jurisdictions every three years, in order to check that they are enforcing codes correctly. The State Fire Marshal’s Office audits exempt jurisdictions to verify code compliance and inspector certifications. This is an ongoing task and not a comprehensive audit of all jurisdictions at the same time. Approximately 90 jurisdictions are audited each year.

    Additionally, the State of Tennessee — through OEP, C&I, and the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy — participated in a residential energy code compliance baseline field study funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and conducted by the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) and Southface. This study focused on a sample of single-family homes in Tennessee’s two climate zones and will identify the residential building energy code sections for which the State may wish to consider conducting additional education, outreach, and/or training. Data was collected from 15 counties spread out across Tennessee, with Davidson County having the highest number of homes tested (27 homes) and Sevier County having the fewest number of homes tested (2 homes). More than 2,300 different data points were collected across the 138 different homes used in the study. The study was conducted in 2018 and a preliminary draft report was issued in February 2019. The final project report was published in April 2021. The report and its findings can be found at this link: https://www.energycodes.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Tennessee_Residential_Field_Study.pdf

  • Utility Involvement: The State Fire Marshal’s Office has not established utility commission regulatory guidelines. The Tennessee Public Utility Commissioner (formerly Tennessee Regulatory Authority) does not regulate the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the federally-owned corporation that provides electricity to approximately 99.7% of the electricity service territory in Tennessee.)

  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: Over the course of 2019, the State Fire Marshal’s Office held several stakeholder meetings to seek input on the proposed adoption of the 2018 IRC. Additionally, the State Fire Marshal’s Office has met with the Southeastern Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) several times over the past several years to discuss building energy codes and enforcement. SEEA has offered to provide assistance and advice for adopting new codes and to influence energy code stakeholders. There is no established timetable for meetings. They are convened on an as-needed basis.
  • Training/Outreach: 
    • In addition to adoption and enforcement of building energy codes, C&I provides training and continuing professional education courses to codes inspectors across the state through the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy (TFSCEA). In 2013, TDEC OEP provided $195,000 in grant funding to C&I to develop a 2012 IECC training program for inspectors. OEP also provided C&I the opportunity to participate in 2012 IECC “train-the-trainer” courses administered by Southface Energy Institute. The grant funding allowed C&I to purchase equipment and gain the knowledge necessary to provide training to codes inspectors across the state.

      Following the grant period in 2013, C&I offered several free training opportunities to codes inspectors in all regions of the state. Classes were hosted at the TFSCEA campus in Bell Buckle as well as offered in jurisdictions throughout Tennessee. Stephen Snow, TFSCEA Codes Enforcement Program Director, noted that the training program was extremely successful in its initial outreach. He indicated that requests for the training slowed for some years once jurisdictions decided to adopt or not adopt the 2012 codes. However, he also stated that the State requirement for jurisdictions to adopt an edition of the IECC that is always within seven years of the latest printed edition has spurred jurisdictions to once again explore which viable edition they will adopt. 

      For example, the town of Cookeville requested in early 2016 that TFSCEA come and provide training to approximately 40 of its local contractors for the sole purpose of learning IECC requirements. In February 2016, the East TN Building Officials Association asked TFSCEA to hold IECC training for approximately 130 inspectors and building officials in their region to help their inspectors understand and implement IECC testing requirements. As interest in IECC adoption and enforcement increases, TFSCEA will create more IECC courses throughout the state to move out of “introductory” training and into more “topic-specific” training.

      TFSCEA and the State Fire Marshal’s Office have also been exploring implementation of a comprehensive program to incorporate “distance learning,” which will change the way all Academy training, including IECC courses, will be offered. This online training will reach more individuals and small groups of officials within jurisdictions whose strict budgets have traditionally precluded travel to the TFSCEA campus. While more jurisdictions have adopted the 2012 IECC through the support of Academy IECC training, new inspectors joining these departments will be more easily trained in the use of the code through online course delivery. All students will still have access to the resources the Academy can provide to support their training. TFSCEA and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are optimistic about the benefit this new medium will bring to inspectors and will have a variety of online presentation methods and testing options to ensure that students of TFSCEA distance learning are properly equipped to enforce the most current and viable editions of the IECC. Although TFSCEA has begun to offer several of its courses through this “distance learning” medium, the Academy does not currently offer IECC training through an online portal.

Last Reviewed: May 2022

 

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: The South-Central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource (SPEER) collaborated with the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) to conduct a baseline study. The study did not attempt to measure compliance rates, nor was it released to the public. The main goal was to determine a starting point for Texas to evaluate compliance, to determine what could be documented and to identify next steps: http://energycodesocean.org/resource/texas-gap-analysis-report.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: Texas is one of eight states selected to participate in US DOE's Residential Energy Code Field Study. Through the project, DOE plans to establish a sufficient data set to represent statewide construction trends and detect significant changes in energy use from training, education and outreach activities. The first stage of the study included field data collection that suggested a high overall compliance rate. Phase II, in which SPEER will conduct intensive Education and Outreach Program, is ongoing. The final report should be available soon. SPEER has recently began a data project looking at compliance paths and building trends in Texas. The first report from the project will be available soon.
  • Utility Involvement: Regulatory guidelines have been established enabling significant utility involvement in supporting building energy code compliance. SPEER is working with EUMMOT to use the data collected in the compliance study to develop new utility programs that will provide incentives to increase residential energy efficiency in new homes and improve compliance with energy codes.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Texas Energy Code Compliance Collaborative meets quarterly and is run by SPEER in collaboration with SECO.
  • Training/Outreach: SPEER has developed a statewide Energy Code Ambassador Program and these professionals have advanced training in the energy codes and provide peer-to-peer assistance to code officials and builders in their local areas, which is being expanded in 2014. SECO also provides several training programs around the state and has established an online training center, the Texas Energy Code Training Center. Approximately $300,000 were provided for close to 100 SECO trainings held between February and July 2016. SPEER regularly conducts webinars and in-person trainings with average yearly attendance well over 2000 people.

Last Reviewed: September 2020

 

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: Between 2010 and 2011, Utah was chosen to evaluate residential buildings against the 2006 IECC and commercial buildings against the 2009 IECC (https://www.energycodes.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Compliance%20Pilot%20Studies%20Final%20Report.pdf). Utah's pilot study was performed in two phases. The focus of Phase 1 was for the state and 10 local jurisdictions to gain experience conducting an evaluation of this type, and derive an initial assessment of energy code compliance. Concurrently with Phase 1 of their study, Utah developed a Utah Energy Code Compliance Roadmap to illustrate the best path forward for increasing energy code compliance in the state. For the Phase 2 study, 42 new residential buildings were evaluated across 22 jurisdictions, based on a random sample of homes generated by the State Sample Generator. To save time, each code inspector attempted to complete a 4-way inspection ,which looks at rough framing, rough plumbing, rough heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC), and rough electrical.
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: In June of 2019, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a grant to launch a study designed to do three things: first, assess to what degree new residential construction in Utah meets the current energy code; second, develop energy code training to address any compliance gaps identified in the study. Third, based on the data gathered in the field, the study estimated the energy, cost, and emissions savings potential if new homes in Utah achieve 100-percent compliance with Utah’s current residential energy code. The study involves numerous partners including the Institute for Market Transformation, Resource Innovations, WC-3, Utah Office of Energy Development, Utah Clean Energy, Rocky Mountain Power, Dominion Energy, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). A link to the study can be found here: https://www.iccsafe.org/building-safety-journal/bsj-technical/results-are-in-on-utah-energy-code-study/

    https://utahenergycode.com/utahs-residential-energy-code-field-study-shows-a-big-opportunity-for-cost-savings-and-emissions-reductions/

  • Utility Involvement: The utility demand-side management programs support building energy code compliance by offering incentives on energy code compliant equipment (where code applies). Since the Public Service Commission has approved those offerings there are indirect regulatory guidelines that enable the utilities to support energy code compliance. The utilities both provide cost-match funds for energy code training.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: Utah established the Uniform Building Code Commission to review and provide recommendations to the state legislature in the adoption of building codes. As part of its process, the Uniform Building Code Commission holds public hearings to gather public input on energy code adoption decisions. The UBCC meets on a monthly basis and through its Education Committee, supports a variety of associations throughout the state focused on training and improving compliance.
  • Training/Outreach: The Governor's Office of Energy Development has partnered with Rocky Mountain Power and Dominion Energy to establish a three-year contract to provide energy code compliance training (the Building Talks program). The annual budget for the program has been increased to roughly $160,000 annually. Building Talks now includes dedicated training for code officials to improve enforcement and field training for builders to improve installation. Training materials are provided to builders, code officials, and trades in the form of compliance pathways, short guides to the residential and commercial energy codes, and a dedicated website (in process).

Last Reviewed: June 2022 

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: A gap analysis and energy code compliance plan was completed for Vermont and is available on the Vermont Department of Public Service website
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: The Public Service Department (PSD) measures compliance with RBES and CBES in  Market Assessments, which were last completed in 2019 and 2017 respectively. The technical compliance rate for residential was 66% and for commercial was 90%.  Both are available at the following link. The PSD is currently in the process of updating both of these Market Assessments and hope to complete them by the summer of 2022.
  • Utility Involvement: Efficiency Vermont and Burlington Electric Dept. are required through their Order of Appointment to assist with providing Energy Code support (information and training).  The high level of participation in their new contruction programs, contributes significantly to the state's overall energy code compliance rate.  EVT also hosts the Energy Code Assistance Center, which distributes information on energy codes and answers builders, architects, and other contractors questions on how to meet energy code requirements. As the state's Energy Efficiency Utilities they fulfill this role in lieu of the Distributed utilities. They also provide assistance for filling out the certificates. After the state updates the energy codes they hold numerous trainings for builders, architects, and realtors on the new requirements as well as blower door certification/training.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Department of Public Service will be hiring a contractor in the upcoming fiscal year to assist with convening an advisory group.
  • Training/Outreach: Efficiency Vermont includes funding for energy code activities in their non-resource acquisition budget. Efficiency Vermont provides trainings to builders, town officials (including zoning administrators and code officials), architects, design and construction professionals, and market partners (real estate professionals, mortgage lenders, appraisers, attorneys) on energy codes requirements. This training provides a basis for improving the overall level of code compliance, understanding, and construction practice.

Last reviewed: August 2020

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: NA
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies:  A field study for code compliance for detached single-family homes was conducted and concluded in 2018. Results are still considered preliminary as of June 2019 while PNNL works to complete the final statewide report. Compliance rates varied depending on the measure.  Compliance with requirements for fenestration (98.6% compliance) and crawl wall R-values (100%) were high; a majority of homes (78%) tested below 5 air-changes per hour (ACH50) for envelope leakage and a majority met the high efficacy lighting requirements (80.9%), while compliance with duct leakage requirements were relatively low (over 63% of duct systems tested did not meet the code requirement of 6 CFM per 100 square feet of conditioned floor area for systems not 100% in conditioned space). Compliance was determined through both prescriptive (e.g. observation of U-factors and SHGC for fenestration and R-values insulation) as well as performance testing (duct and envelope leakage testing).
  • Utility Involvement: NA
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: Virginia does not have a formal stakeholder group on code compliance. However, the state does regularly convene stakeholders including the Virginia Building Code Officials Association Energy Committee, Viridiant (formerly EarthCraft Virginia), Virginia Energy Efficiency Council, Sierra Club, Home Builders Association of Virginia, Apartment Owners and Builders Association and others.
  • Training/Outreach: The existing state certification is required for all local governmental code enforcement personnel and independent third-party inspection agents, who must obtain certification to ensure consistent and technically accurate code interpretation and application. The program consists of two separate components, training and examination, with training delivered by the Jack A. Proctor Virginia Building Code Academy (JPVBA) and examinations administered by various nationally-recognized code testing organizations (ICC, NCPCCI).
  • Ongoing education and training efforts include coordination between DHCD, Viridiant, and Virginia Building and Code Officials Association (VBCOA) for code officials and design professionals on how to meet the new residential energy codes, and code officials and HVAC trade professionals on duct leakage testing requirements and protocols.

Last reviewed: June 2022

  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: A residential code compliance study was completed by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) in 2013. This report describes the compliance of residential new construction in Washington State with respect to the revised state energy code: 2009 Washington State Energy Code (WSEC). The study team assessed compliance using two different approaches: 1) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) Checklist Method and, 2) Significant Item Method. The Checklist Method analyzed how well the studied homes complied with each of the 61 code identified process and efficiency requirements, while the Significant Item Method analyzed compliance based on measures that were considered to have only the most significant impact on energy use. The completed study of residential energy code compliance in Washington demonstrates compliance rates at 96 percent and 97 percent for the Checklist and Significant Items Methods respectively. In addition, the study team assessed the energy impacts of code compliance by using a building simulation model to compare the relative energy use of "as-built" homes to the energy use of homes built to meet the prescriptive code. A commercial code compliance study was completed in 2008 by NEEA and was based on the code enforced in 2001, which was based on ASHRAE 90.1-1999. At the time, compliance was measured at 94%. NEEA 

    contracted Ecotope, Inc to estimate the energy savings of the 2018 Washington State Energy Code residential provisions (WSEC-R) compared to the 2015 and 2006 WSEC-R codes, as well as the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The 2018 WSEC-R code was developed by Washington State Building Code Council and has been adopted statewide for construction permitted as of February 1, 2021. Findings from the study show that adoption of the 2018 WSEC-R energy code represents a substantial advancement in new building energy efficiency. Results show continued improvement in WSEC code performance, demonstrated by decreased energy usage and increased savings relative to comparison codes. For the 2018 WSEC-R this analysis estimates a 22% savings from WSEC 2015 and a 45% savings from WSEC 2006. https://neea.org/resources/2018-washington-residential-code-energy-savings-analysis 

  • Utility Involvement: The regions utilities provide funding to NEEA, which provides the greatest funding for code development and implementation in the region. In May, 2017, NEEA adopted an additional funding path for Commercial Codes Enhancement, providing an additional $1 million to support early development of methods or measures with a focus on code adoption in the next 3-6 years. This is an innovative approach to the development of the next commercial building efficiency standards. Washington has a mandatory conservation standard that requires the state’s electric utilities to pursue “all cost effective conservation”. This requires utilities to support cost effective new construction beyond code as well as existing building retrofit activities. The Energy Independence Act specifically recognizes that utilities may take credit energy savings attributed to codes, third party programs and utility hook-up standards.
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: Washington State works collaboratively with other NW state in the development and implementation of energy codes. The Northwest Energy Code Group organized through NEEA brings state energy office, code enforcement trainers, and utility staff together to identify code enforcement issues, share training strategies and to develop new code language. This group has contributed to the national code development and enforcement success. Resources developed by these states are available through the energycodes.gov web site. The NW Energy Code Group and participating members have developed many code change proposals that have been adopted by into the model codes, including the IECC, ASHRAE 90.1, 189.1 and ASHRAE 62.2.
  • Training/Outreach: Washington State and NW regional collaborators have provided code training for more than 25 years. Code trainings are taken to the participants as requested by the states building departments, utilities and builder organizations. This includes classroom training on all aspects of the code. It also includes field training with emphasis on completing air leakage testing certification required by the WA code. WSU also provides a detailed web site with numerous training aids, a builders’ field guide and supplemental information to assist in code compliance. Evergreen Technology Consulting (ETC) provides training for the commercial sections of the state energy code.  Evergreen Technology Consulting (ETC) also provides a detailed web site with numerous training aids, compliance forms and supplemental information to assist in code compliance: https://wseccompliancedocuments.com

Last reviewed: June 2022 

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: West Virginia's compliance plan was published in 2011 and is available on BCAP's website. 
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: The Appalachian Residential Consortium for Energy Efficiency (ARCEE) is currently conducting a field study measuring residential energy code compliance rates in the state. More information is available here.
  • Utility Involvement: NA
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: The W.Va. Fire Commission Legislative, Code and Regulatory Committee includes representatives from the state’s residential construction industry, code officials, home inspectors and the state energy office. Legislative changes during the 2020 session will more formally establish stakeholder groups and three-member independent dispute resolution panels with certified subject matter experts who will in essence offer a mediator role as a voluntary step before moving complaints in the trades to the W.Va. Fire Commission.
  • Training/Outreach: Using State Energy Program funds, the WV Office of Energy is working with the Homebuilders Association of West Virginia Foundation and Energy Efficient West Virginia to provide training on the 2009 IECC and beyond. 

Last Reviewed: September 2020

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: NA
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: WI received funding from the U.S. DOE to implement a pilot study of compliance in commercial buildings. The 2011 study found that new commercial buildings were typically over 90% in compliance with the current commercial building code (at that time the 2006 IECC with WI amendments as addressed under SPS 363).
  • Utility Involvement: NA
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: NA
  • Training/Outreach:  DSPS provides annual updates to code officials throughout the state as well as a UW-Extension session to architects, engineers and designers.  Eleven sessions covering residential and commercial construction. All licensed Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) and WI Commercial Building Inspectors are required to obtain continuing education credits in order to renew their license. Each late winter/early spring, the four inspector associations put on trainings, but it is not mandatory. The Department of Safety & Professional Services offers various training courses throughout the year, which are also not mandatory. Some courses are available online, while others are addressed by organizations such as WI Focus on Energy, Energy Center of WI, WI Builders Association and others.

Last Reviewed: September 2019

 

  • Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: NA
  • Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: NA
  • Utility Involvement: NA
  • Stakeholder Advisory Group: Wyoming Conference of Building Officials (WBCO)
  • Training/Outreach: The Wyoming State Energy Office has ongoing seminars available.

Last Reviewed: September 2019