Building Codes Assistance Project

New buildings, while they represent just over 1% of the total building stock in a given year, are important because they represent a unique chance to effect energy efficiency. Once a new building is constructed, it is very expensive and often impossible to achieve the energy efficiency that can be built in so economically at the time of construction. This is an opportunity that we cannot afford to lose. Hence, it is vital to make energy efficiency a fundamental part of the building design and construction process. Energy codes are an effective way to achieve this goal and build efficiency into all buildings.
Buildings fundamentally make an impact on people's lives and the health of the planet.

In the United States, buildings use one third of our total energy, two-thirds of our electricity, one-eighth of our water, and transform land that provides valuable ecological services. Atmospheric emissions from the use of energy lead to acid rain, ground-level ozone, smog, and global climate change. Because of these fundamental environmental issues, and in addition to the increasing cost of energy, it is vitally important to consider the adoption and implementation of energy efficient building codes as sound public policy in any rebuild effort.

Research shows that modern energy codes could save about 330 Trillion BTU by 2030, almost 2% of total current residential energy consumption. There would also be comparable savings in consumer energy bills, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.