Author: Building Codes Assistance Project and United Technologies Research Center
Building energy codes and standards are essential tools to ensuring that new buildings meet minimum levels of performance with respect to energy consumption. But there is evidence that buildings – both existing and new – are not achieving the code-mandated energy performance when they are built or renovated due to lack of full compliance with code requirements. Many factors contribute to this shortfall, and this report identifies those that are relevant to existing commercial buildings based on analysis of practices in the greater Philadelphia region. This report identifies the underlying causes of slippage, and identifies ways in which the code application and enforcement processes can be improved to ensure that existing buildings reach their energy savings potential when intervention opportunities arise.