Improving Energy Code Compliance

This report is the result of the CARD program pilot Commercial Energy Codes Support Program.

About the Webinar

Commercial energy codes specify design requirements to achieve a minimum level of energy efficiency in new buildings, additions, and renovations. This project provided tools and technical assistance to building design, construction, and code enforcement professionals to help improve compliance with the most commonly neglected and highest-impact energy code requirements. This targeted approach, ideally, provides significant energy impacts at a low cost. 

Researchers piloted two approaches to improve compliance of individual building projects. The first is to support design teams working on small to mid-sized buildings so that rework after submission of plans to the city can be minimized. The second is to provide technical assistance to city plan review staff. The two pilot programs engaged with 32 buildings, and 11 other buildings were reviewed for comparison purposes. 

CEE Senior Mechanical Engineer Russ Landry, P.E. will give an overview of this study, including scope, ideas behind the two pilot programs, and the energy impact findings of the two energy code pilot projects.