Energy Code Compliance

Energy code compliance is an often overlooked issue for code officials and energy efficiency advocates. Energy codes are generally adopted through legislation or regulation, with most states adopting national standards with local modifications. Although 46 states have some building energy code, research indicates that compliance rates are often low. It is common for builders and designers to be unfamiliar with the energy code or to treat energy codes as unimportant. Similarly, code enforcement officials often have little knowledge of the energy aspects of the building code and, even if they know about code requirements, they usually have little time to enforce energy codes.

This paper addresses the variety of issues surrounding energy code compliance in an attempt to suggest methods for improving compliance and enforcement. It begins with a discussion of code adoption processes, with particular emphasis placed upon the effect of the adoption process on usability and understandability of the code in the building community. There is also a brief discussion of the common definitions of "compliance" and "enforcement" in both the building and code community as well as among researchers of the topic.

A review of code compliance studies performed by state or local jurisdictions, as well as by electric utilities, is also included. These studies are the basis for the subsequent discussion of the technical, financial, and procedural issues surrounding energy code adoption, compliance, and enforcement.

The paper concludes with recommendations for improving energy code compliance. Adopting simplified codes and better educating designers, builders, and homeowners about energy codes will help improve code compliance. Another critical step in improving compliance is coordinating with Home Energy Rating System (HERS), utility new construction, and creative finance programs. The development of better compliance and enforcement tools is essential to increase awareness and compliance. Finally, improved methods for analyzing compliance and enforcement and for understanding individual jurisdiction's problems more thoroughly are also strongly recommended.