BCAP's 2012 Accomplishments

Collaboration

With decreasing resources to support energy code work nationally, we are embracing a model of achieving our goals through a National Energy Codes Collaborative, a group comprised of five regional energy efficiency organizations (MEEA, NEEA, NEEP, SEEA, and SWEEP), the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Energy Codes Program (BECP), the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and the newly formed South-Central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource (SPEER). BCAP and these eight organizations created this informal coalition to ensure better coordination and communication among advocacy by sharing technical resources, knowledge, and best practices.

Building Code Adoption

From January 2012 to January 2013, the number of states adopting the 2009 IECC for residential construction grew from 22 to 28. The number of states adopting the 2009 IECC or ASHRAE 90.1-2007 for commercial construction rose from just 30 to 33 during the same time period. BCAP staff will continue its efforts to add more 2009 code adoptions in 2013, while assisting several states that are considering adoption of the most recent 2012 codes.

Looking Ahead in 2013

BCAP will continue to build its new strategic direction by working with its partners to create practical solutions addressing barriers to energy code adoption and compliance. Some projects will expand and improve on past successes, while others will break new ground for BCAP. The 2013 initiatives include:

• The application of energy codes in existing buildings;

• Raising energy code compliance rates through outreach to design professionals, code officials, and consumers to shape our collective and holistic efforts towards building energy efficiency;

• Expanding collaborative and comprehensive partnerships with diverse stakeholders; and 

• Sharing these visions and resources with a wider audience through OCEAN and showing that energy codes improve building energy efficiency when stakeholders move forward together.