NEW: NEEP Releases Model Progressive Building Energy Codes Policy
The Northeast region can reduce energy consumption by 7 percent and reduce carbon emissions by 12 percent by implementing a model building energy code policy to govern new building construction and major renovations.The policy, recently released by NEEP, offers recommendations to adopt progressively more efficient building energy codes, improve the rate at which buildings and dwellings comply with the code and measure the actual energy performance of buildings and dwellings. It provides guidance to states in creating and adopting building policies that will lead to large-scale energy and carbon emissions savings across the Northeast.
Learn more by downloading the Model Policy Paper, Fact Sheet and Press Release
The goal of the Northeast Regional Building Energy Codes Project is to achieve significant energy savings in new construction, remodeling and renovations through up-to-date building energy codes in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states that meet or exceed national model energy code requirements, and to attain a high level of energy code compliance (75 percent or better) through comprehensive training in code enforcement.
Core Performance Guide Code for the Northeast States Building Energy Codes Project
The Northeast States Building Energy Codes Project aims to achieve significant energy savings in new construction,
remodeling and renovations through up-to-date building energy codes that meet or exceed national model energy
code requirements. The project also strives to attain a high level of energy code compliance (75 percent or better)
in Northeast states. NEEP has embarked on a project to translate the New Buildings
Institute Core Performance Guide into code-enforceable language. Read more about the project here.
Status of Building Energy Codes in Northeast States (PDF, 27KB)
NEEP works with the U.S. Department of Energy, state agencies, utilities, energy efficiency program administrators and other stakeholders to achieve the project goals.
The Northeast Building Energy Codes Project plays an active role in facilitating the adoption and implementation of progressive energy codes in the Northeast states through a strategy that:
- Promotes the development, adoption and implementation of progressive building energy codes designed for clear and consistent interpretation and implementation.
- Provides training and technical support in implementation and enforcement so that the marketplace understands the code requirements and how to fully comply with them.
- Facilitates access to technical and training resources to help states effectively develop, implement and comply with building energy codes.
- Links building energy codes with programs that promote technologies and best practices beyond code requirements as part of an overall strategy to transform the market for energy efficient design and construction.
NEEP recommends changes to ICC codes hearings policy CP-28
During a “Town Hall” forum held in New Orleans on March 22, NEEP Building Energy Codes Project Manager Don Vigneau participated in a dialogue initiated by the International Code Council (ICC) Board of Directors to explain and answer questions from ICC members regarding changes to the Council’s policy for codes hearings (CP-28), that was proposed by the Board in February. An informational presentation has been posted by the ICC and available at:
http://www.iccsafe.org/cs/codes/pdf/Plan_Reforming_ICC_Public_Hearing_Process.pdf
At issue is the effects the Board’s actions will have on meetings, hearings procedures, voting, and the length of time required for final proposal approvals. NEEP submitted additional information at the meeting to re-open deliberation by the Board on these decisions, in the hope of resolving several complications which can be foreseen from continuing in this direction, as brought out in NEEP’s comments. These comments center on creating a shorter, fairer hearings process, and a better process for referenced standards management. NEEP’s submittal to the Board can be viewed here (PDF 4KB) .
For more information on the ICC code development process changes, see: www.iccsafe.org/cs/codes/schedule_advisory.html. Questions and comments on these issues may be directed to the ICC through: webmaster@iccsafe.org. For a full listing of ICC contacts see: http://www.iccsafe.org/help/contact.html Or, for more information, contact NEEP’s Don Vigneau at: dvigneau@neep.org.
For more information about NEEP's Building Energy Codes Project, please contact Codes Project Managers Don Vigneau (860-498-0055) and Isaac Elnecave (781-860-9177, ext. 23).
