After being pressured to scale back efficiency provisions in the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), code officials largely held the line on efficiency gains made in recent versions, according to Lauren Urbanek, Senior Energy Policy Advocate, Energy & Transportation program with the Natural Resources Defense Council.
“The building code was under attack at every step of this year-long process,” Urbanek writes. “There were many proposals that would have significantly weakened the code and allowed more opportunities for energy waste, but nearly all were defeated.”
Urbanek noted just one efficiency gain in the new commercial code—one that pertains to water flow in showers. It sets the maximum flow rate of showerheads in commercial buildings at 2.0 gallons per minute, the level that has been specified by the EPA Water Sense program since 2010.
The IECC is used as a model code by more than 40 states. It is updated every three years.
A home built to the 2012 code uses about half of the energy as a standard home constructed in 1975, according to Urbanek.
Related Stories
| Mar 14, 2013
World Green Building Council: Green buildings help mitigate real estate risk
Green buildings can offer benefits to a wide array of stakeholders throughout their life cycle, according to a report released by the World Green Building Council.
| Mar 14, 2013
Sustainability index aims to evaluate REITs on the greenness of their properties
FTSE Group, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, and the U.S. Green Building Council are working on a sustainability index that measures the portfolios of real estate investment trusts to provide transparency about LEED certification and Energy Star ratings.
| Mar 6, 2013
OSHA: Employers must post injury and illness summaries
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is reminding employers to post OSHA Form 300A, which lists a summary of the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred during 2012.
| Mar 6, 2013
Study provides guidance to states on linking utility efficiency programs with energy codes
As states increasingly look to utilities to play an active role in supporting building energy codes, a new report from a coalition of energy efficiency advocates, has been issued to provide guidance for how state regulatory commissions and energy offices can best develop and evaluate such efforts.
| Mar 6, 2013
Triple-pane windows, heat pumps part of New York’s plan to meet 2050 emissions goal
Renovations providing better insulation, triple-paned windows, heat pumps and other techniques that minimize heat loss and save on energy use for residential and commercial buildings are key to New York City’s goal of reducing its carbon emissions by 90% by 2050.
| Mar 6, 2013
EPA asks for feedback on Energy Star criteria on tubular daylighting devices and skylights
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has requested feedback from stakeholders about draft two of the Energy Star tubular daylighting devices (TDD) and revised skylight criteria.
| Mar 6, 2013
AAMA moves to streamline windows, doors certification extensions
The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) says it will update an interim procedural guide that will provide a documented, optional process to extend current, unexpired AAMA product certification.
| Feb 26, 2013
Tax incentive database for reflective roofs available
The Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA) and the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) created a database of current information on rebates and tax credits for installing reflective roofs.
| Feb 26, 2013
Southern Pine Inspection Bureau publishes new design values effective June 1
New design values for all sizes and grades of visually graded Southern Pine dimension lumber were published in the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau’s (SPIB) Supplement No.13 to the 2002 Standard Grading Rules for Southern Pine Lumber on Feb. 11.
| Feb 26, 2013
ANSI standard for interior doors open for second public ballot
WDMA I.S.6A-11, Industry Standard for Interior Architectural Wood Stile and Rail Doors and WDMA I.S.1A-11, Industry Standard for Interior Architectural Wood Flush Doors, are now open for their second ballot for recognition as American National Standards.
