ICC in a Pickle After Developers Argue City Voting Rights

huffpost.com, 3/30/21. Kim Havey had a problem. Minneapolis was generating more and more of its electricity from renewables, dropping climate-warming pollution from power to record lows. But emissions from natural gas, which is used to heat buildings and stovetops, were climbing ― overtaking power plants as the city’s top source of carbon pollution in 2017.  … Read more

MA Residents: Advocate for Net Zero Stretch Codes Now!

Built Environment Plus, 2/4/21. We are calling on the Massachusetts building community to advocate for a Net Zero Stretch Code within the Climate Roadmap Bill now in the Legislature.  We need you to call your Senator and Representatives where you live and work, and tell them that based on your building industry expertise that you support … Read more

The Barriers that Remain for Zero Energy Buildings

radiative cooling

Zero energy buildings on the rise but barriers remain Written by Christopher Perry, aceee.org, October 24, 2018 Zero energy building codes are making inroads in Oregon, California, British Columbia, and other places, but a new ACEEE white paper reveals that they still face barriers to nationwide success, including a “solar-only” mentality. From coast to coast, there’s considerable … Read more

The State of Technology: Outcome-Based Energy Codes and zEPI

Two emerging code developments to targeting improved building performance Matt Lockwood, ERS, for Zondits This month, our State of Technology series focuses on energy codes. Let’s talk about two innovations in development over the last decade in energy codes: outcome-based energy codes and zEPI. Both started as dreams of energy code wonks to address the … Read more

Hillary Clinton Proposes Energy Efficiency Plan

Hillary Clinton

Clinton rolls out energy efficiency plan The Hill, February 2, 2016. Image credit: fancycrave1 Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign Tuesday rolled out a plan to increase building energy efficiency standards as a way to cut emissions and save on energy costs. The plan, her campaign said Tuesday, looks to improve building codes, provide more information about buildings’ … Read more

The DOE Measures the Efficacy of Energy Codes

home energy bill energy codes ways to save energy

DO ENERGY CODES WORK? Builder Online, January 4, 2016. Image credit: Chris Potter Last year the U.S. Department of Energy ( DOE) announced that eight states would be part of a three-year Residential Energy Code Field Study. Once completed, the study will provide an unprecedented opportunity to develop new strategies for education, training, and outreach for … Read more