Building energy codes can significantly reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector by making new buildings more efficient. The Alliance to Save Energy advocates for legislation to set national energy savings targets for building codes. Their proposal would direct states to adopt updated national model building codes or equivalent standards to meet targets, and provide federal support and enforcement to improve state and local compliance. If states and localities fail to meet targets, the federal government would enforce code requirements directly. The proposal aims to fully utilize building energy codes as a cost-effective strategy to address national energy and climate change needs.

1. Building Energy Codes Prevent Climate Change House Staff Briefing June 22, 2009 Lowell Ungar Director of Policy Alliance to Save Energy

9. Codes Savings: inch by inch