February 1st, 2021
by Michelle Britt

Energy fuels our lives — households, businesses and society in general. Yet, energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions can pose significant challenges to communities, homeowners and renters, and business owners. Americans currently spend more than $200 billion annually on energy bills.

The new Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction webpage has been launched to meet the broad needs of our membership, whether they are implementing the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or seeking advanced energy and carbon reduction codes and policies beyond the 2021 IECC. On the website, users will find resources for adoption, compliance and enforcement, a toolkit for advanced energy efficiency, and a searchable database of resources and model policies.

 

Compliance and enforcement

Compliance and enforcement can be challenging; although there is significant evidence of the value of energy code implementation, studies also show millions of dollars of untapped energy savings in states across the country. New compliance resources are provided on getting started — how to prioritize enforcement efforts, establish plans for compliance, and plan review and inspection tools. Based on a recent study of nationwide FAQs, resources are provided to address common technical challenges. Finally, strategies for impactful training and education are addressed. Search the resource and model policy database to find specific resources.

In states and jurisdictions with advanced carbon reduction goals, full implementation of the IECC is foundational to achieving energy savings and reductions on GHG emissions across the residential and commercial building stock.

 

Net-zero energy and decarbonization

The Code Council is in the final phases of the development of the Net Zero Energy and Decarbonization toolkit. This is a resource for states, tribes, local jurisdictions and other organizations interested in developing and implementing advanced energy efficiency and carbon reduction goals. The toolkit is the product of a two-and-a-half-year effort by leaders from across the U.S. to address the future of building energy use and carbon reduction. It will be complete in spring of 2021. New information and resources are posted as they become available.

We welcome your input and feedback on resources that we can include to support the goals of your community.

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