Newsletter

Drumroll, Please: Results of the 2018 IECC Are In…

Posted on by Kamaria Greenfield
Code stringency graph
by Maureen Guttman, AIA The votes have been counted and while some folks will be happy with the results, others are very disappointed.  No, we’re not talking about the presidential election, but about the Online Governmental Consensus Vote that will determine the content of the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The bad news is that it appears that there will not be even a modest jump in the level of efficiency for the next energy code. Most of the proposals that woul...
Read More

How these 22 cities could shape the future of solar photovoltaics

Posted on by Kamaria Greenfield
state score criteria diagram
by Kamaria Greenfield, BCAP The year 2030 is a meaningful one across the world of energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Architecture 2030 challenge aims to have all new buildings, developments, and major renovations be carbon neutral by this date. As a result of the Paris climate agreement, many countries have made pledges to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions on this same timeframe. And last month, the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative announced their own 2030 targe...
Read More

Where Are They Now? Kansas

Posted on by Kamaria Greenfield
by Charlotte Volpe, BCAP In 2010, BCAP created a list of Places to Watch that were making strides in enacting energy efficient building codes. Now, we are going back to these nine jurisdictions to track their progress and see what other innovations they’ve added six years later. We will be looking for other places to watch in the future as cities lead the way with sustainability plans and energy saving goals.   In 2010, BCAP identified the State of Kansas as a place to watch in terms ...
Read More

Where Are They Now? New Hampshire

Posted on by Kamaria Greenfield
Houses with tree
by Charlotte Volpe and Kamaria Greenfield, BCAP In 2010, BCAP created a list of Places to Watch that were making strides in enacting energy efficient building codes. Now, we are going back to these nine jurisdictions to track their progress and see what other innovations they’ve added six years later. We will be looking for other places to watch in the future as cities lead the way with sustainability plans and energy saving goals.   In 2010, BCAP identified New Hampshire as one its P...
Read More

Trainers Wanted for National Solar PV Education Project

Posted on by admin
Solar panel trainers
by Maria Ellingson The Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) and the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) are seeking five licensed design professionals (architects and/or engineers) to serve as solar photovoltaic (PV) trainers. This project will utilize a peer-to-peer approach to deliver education and resource access to designers in 18 training workshops across the country. Funding for this project is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative’s Solar Training and Educati...
Read More

Where Are They Now? Santa Fe, NM

Posted on by Kamaria Greenfield
tree sunset view
by Charlotte Volpe, BCAP In 2010, BCAP created a list of Places to Watch that were making strides in enacting energy efficient building codes. Now, we are going back to these nine jurisdictions to track their progress and see what other innovations they’ve added six years later. We will be looking for other places to watch in the future as cities lead the way with sustainability plans and energy saving goals.   BCAP identified Santa Fe as a place to watch due to their residential gree...
Read More

Your Vote is Needed – and Now It’s Easier Than Ever

Posted on by Kamaria Greenfield
Vote online to preserve energy efficiency provisions in the forthcoming 2018 codes. Every three years, hundreds of building industry members from states across the nation convene to develop the next U.S. model building energy code via a consensus process held by the International Code Council. The process, which includes code officials, architects, engineers, product manufacturers, builders and energy efficiency advocates, is designed to ensure that modern-day technology and building practices a...
Read More

Wins and Shortfalls for Energy Codes

Posted on by Kamaria Greenfield
On April 20th, the Senate passed a bipartisan S. 2012, which sponsors hope will become the first broad energy bill in almost a decade. In addition to electric grid modernization, the Energy Policy Modernization Act supports energy efficiency in buildings. It directs the Secretary of Energy to “encourage and support the adoption of building energy codes…that meet or exceed the model building energy codes, or achieve equivalent or greater savings, and support full compliance with the s...
Read More

Comprehensive State Energy Plans: A Brief Comparison

Posted on by Kamaria Greenfield
A majority of states have developed comprehensive energy plans that provide recommendations for increasing efficiencies across numerous sectors. As buildings account for around 40% of national energy consumption, one aspect of these state plans should be building energy codes. This article will provide a brief overview of how several recently published state plans are addressing building concerns. Maine (February 2015) Because of the high demand for home heating oil in the state, one of Maine&...
Read More

New Report Compares Cost-Effectiveness Methodologies As Congress Considers Requirements For Energy Code Updates

Posted on by Kamaria Greenfield
A significant proposal before Congress would require proposed energy code changes to be evaluated for their cost-effectiveness prior to inclusion in a code. The proposal before Congress designates simple payback as the principal basis for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of proposed energy code changes, but two other methods for determining cost-effectiveness are Life Cycle Cost (LCC) and Mortgage Cash-Flow (MCF). When assessing efficiency measures, it is important to include energy and cash sa...
Read More