The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a request for information (RFI) to collect feedback from stakeholders to inform the implementation of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $225 million in funding for improved building codes. This funding will help state agencies and partners improve the energy efficiency of America’s building stock through code upgrades that will ensure more efficient and resilient buildings. Reducing emissions from residential and commercial buildings is crucial to the DOE’s strategy for achieving President Biden’s goal of a 100 percent clean electrical grid by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“Slashing building emissions is an absolute ‘must-do’ on the path to beating the climate crisis” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “We’re seeking public feedback on how to optimize every step of the building code adoption process, from education to implementation, to lower energy bills and create cleaner and healthier communities for every American.”
Modern building energy codes are critical to lowering energy bills for homes and businesses, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing long-term resilience, and collectively ensuring the health, safety, and long-term efficiency of buildings. Components of the program design include code education and training, compliance research, planning to support code implementation, addressing needs in rural vs. urban areas, and other efforts to significantly support state and local code implementation. Research suggests that modern building energy codes, combined with innovative approaches, such as stretch codes, building performance standards, and adjacent policies supporting advanced energy and climate goals, can yield upwards of $138 billion in energy cost savings and 900 million metric tons of avoided CO2 emissions.
Section 40511 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides additional funding to build on a long history of the U.S. DOE Building Energy Codes Program providing research and analysis, direct technical assistance, and competitive funding opportunities to support the development, adoption, and implementation of building energy codes at the national, state, and local level. Building energy codes work in concert with other code provisions like fire, mechanical, and plumbing and establish minimum acceptable energy efficiency standards for residential and commercial buildings.
This funding will also support increased compliance with energy codes in the form of workforce development in advanced technologies, construction practices, and sustained building science. Building energy code compliance and enforcement are critical to ensuring that the energy-efficiency, cost savings, health, and resilience benefits associated with updated codes reach consumers. Findings from a series of pilot residential energy code compliance field studies demonstrated that potential lost savings from non-compliance was high ($18 million annually) and that targeted education and training programs are effective at improving compliance rates and thereby reducing energy, costs, and emissions.
Thoughtful and informed public responses to this RFI will help the DOE design programs to achieve the goals and priorities established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The DOE especially encourages states, partnerships, alliances, and associations to respond, as specified under the Act, although all public responses will be heard and considered.
The deadline to submit your response to this RFI is May 20, 2022, at 5 p.m. EDT. Download the RFI to see the full list of questions and instructions on how to submit your response.
