Building Codes Assistance Project

ASHRAE has published ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, the first U.S. code-intended commercial green building standard. Published January 22, the standard is intended to be adopted into local codes. It covers site sustainability, water-use efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality and the building’s impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources.

The Governor's Energy Office (GEO) is preparing to roll out numerous new opportunities for residents, businesses, local governments, non-profits and other organizations to save money and energy, spark job creation and increase energy independence thanks to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars.

Join over 700 of energy efficiency's most notable leaders, representing 40+ countries, at the Energy Efficiency Global Forum & Exposition (EE Global), being held May 10-12, 2010 at the Washington DC Convention Center. With over 80% of 2009 participants self-identifying as executives or managers, EE Global 2010 will provide access to decision makers and offer executive-level insight and dialogue. Focusing solely on energy efficiency from the perspective of all energy end-use sectors (buildings, industrial and transportation) and with coverage of all cross-cutting issues (finance, policy, technology, and market transformation), EE Global serves as an exchange of best practices and policies for global implementation of energy efficiency. Visit www.eeglobalforum.org for detailed information about this exciting event!

ASHRAE's proposed high-performance building standard and a stricter version of Standard 90.1 will be released next year. Together, they can help local and state governments looking to set building code requirements to reduce energy use. Proposed Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is being developed by ASHRAE in conjunction with the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). ASHRAE and IES also are working to strengthen the requirements in Standard 90.1.

The Washington State Building Code Council (SBCC) will be holding two public hearings regarding proposed changes to the 2009 Washington State Energy Code (WSEC). The first will be held in Renton on Tuesday, September 29 at 10:00 am PT (1:00 pm ET) in the Renton Holiday Inn, and the second will be held in Spokane on Monday, October 5 at 9:00 am PT (12:00 pm ET) in Spokane City Hall.

[Updated August 5, 2009]

On January 12, a bill (SB 79) was introduced in the Oregon State Legislature that provides for updates to the state building code to increase building energy efficiency to the level of the national model codes.  The bill also mandates the adoption of an optional alternative to the state building code which provides even more stringent energy-efficient construction standards and methods.

On February 13, a bill (HB 444) was introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly that would direct the Department of General Services (in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection) to develop and issue regulations that would require all new state facilities larger than 20,000 square feet or costing more than $1 million to achieve (among other environmental goals) and ENERGY STAR rating of 85 or higher.