Building Codes Assistance Project

An important advantage that energy efficient homes offer to builders is a higher rate of customer satisfaction. Lower air infiltration rates, as well as lower utility bills and higher potential resale values lead to customers with comfortable homes and less time consuming and expensive callbacks for builders. Energy efficient construction is increasingly recognized as a standard for good construction.

Energy codes often offer prescriptive and performance based approaches, for flexibility and ease of compliance. This also allows builders and designers to optimize the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency features in their products, and to cater to a variety of tastes.

Adoption of the national model codes in a state or local jurisdiction confers additional advantages - access to a network of training opportunities and implementation materials developed to support the code nationwide. The Department of Energy and others make training and compliance tools available at no charge to help the construction industry utilize the codes more effectively. Examples include the DOE-developed website and software REScheck^TM system for residential buildings and COMcheck EZ^TM system for commercial buildings. These tools are sophisticated but simple to use.

Additionally, when an energy code is adopted statewide, it results in lower barriers to builders marketing themselves across the state, and even regionally or nationally. The consistency in standards opens up the market, providing incentives for manufacturers to offer and develop more building products, which can also lead to lower supply prices for builders. Additionally, the demand created for new services relevant to the new code that can expand or open up new markets for builders. A uniform code also enables localities to pool limited resources and combine personnel to form county wide or regional enforcement programs.