Finalized Building Energy Codes Would Reduce Carbon Pollution by 200 Million Tons and Save U.S. Consumers and Businesses $40 Billion Annually by 2030

Media Contacts

Environment America

Washington, D.C. – Today, the International Codes Council released the final version of updated energy codes for homes and businesses. The widespread adoption of this updated code by local and state governments, which are 30 percent more effective than the 2006 code, would save American homes and businesses $40 billion annually in energy costs by 2030, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. The energy saved by the updated codes would reduce carbon pollution by 200 million tons by 2030 – as much pollution as 39 million passenger cars or 47 coal plants emit each year.  

“The officials who have supported these dramatic improvements to the energy efficiency of our nation’s buildings deserve tremendous credit for giving local and state governments an important tool to meet our nation’s energy, environmental, and economic challenges,” said Rob Sargent, Energy Program Director for Environment America, a federation of state environmental organizations that has advocated for strong building energy codes at the local and state level around the country. They will save Americans billions of dollars and keep energy money in our local economies while avoiding the pollution that comes from burning fossil fuels.”

The International Codes Council is comprised of state and local building code officials from around the country, who meet every three years to consider updates to the International Energy Conservation Code.  Last October, they voted overwhelmingly, to approve the stronger codes, which were finalized by the IECC yesterday.  

“If your roof was leaking water, you’d fix it,” said Emily Fischer, Clean Energy Associate at Environment America.  “Similarly, it doesn’t make sense to construct new buildings that leak energy, particularly when many builders across the country are already constructing homes that meet and even exceed the new codes approved today. The newly approved codes seal up those energy leaks, put cash back in people’s pockets, and could prevent millions of tons of pollution.” 

The Energy Efficient Codes Coalition – an alliance of government, business, manufacturing, low-income housing, and environmental groups including Environment America – developed and advocated for the new package of code updates. Upgrades to the building code that will lead to these efficiency gains include standards for better insulation, tighter heating and cooling ducts, more efficient lighting, and better air sealing. Attempts by the homebuilders’ lobby to roll back efficiency provisions from the 2009 code were defeated, and the new code reflects the growing movement toward a more energy efficient future. 

Even considering the marginal increase in construction costs for more efficient buildings, these measures will save homeowners money by reducing monthly utility bills. The net savings translate into an extra $500 for the average homeowner each year. These codes represent a golden opportunity to lower energy costs for consumers, while reducing our overall energy use and emissions of harmful pollutants. However, while the national model energy codes are now 30 percent stronger, those energy savings are not yet guaranteed for homeowners. States, counties, and cities will now consider adoption of the new codes.

“State and local governments have been given a very useful tool for locking in energy savings in new and substantially renovated buildings”, said Environment America’s Fischer.  “We look forward to working with them to get these codes adopted.”

For more information about the opportunities and benefits of high performance, energy efficient buildings, you can read our report ‘Building Better: How High-Efficiency Buildings Will Save Money and Reduce Global Warming’.