Last month, President Biden signed into law the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure framework, formally known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684). The deal is “a big deal” not only because it’s an increasingly rare bipartisan agreement, but because it represents a significant step toward meeting U.S. climate targets, which include a 50-52% reduction in greenhouse gases (GHGs) from 2005 levels by 2030 and a carbon-free power sector by 2035.

Those goals simply are not attainable without addressing the climate impact of our nation’s buildings, which accounted for nearly one-third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and 75% of its electricity consumption in 2019. Thankfully, the infrastructure bill includes a critical provision providing $225 million in grants over five years to state and local governments to adopt updated building energy codes and to train the workforce. This funding will help tap the full potential of energy efficiency to decarbonize the building sector while reducing energy costs for consumers and businesses alike.

Building energy codes are developed at the national level but are adopted by states, which can choose to keep them intact or amend the code to meet local needs. Codes include minimum efficiency requirements for the building envelope and its mechanical systems including heat, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, hot water, power and lighting systems, and further requirements for commercial buildings such as refrigeration. Newer codes also have provisions that recognize the increasing penetration of rooftop solar and electric vehicles. What’s more, modern building energy codes include both prescriptive paths and more optional performance-based pathways to meet the efficiency requirements developed through many rounds of stakeholder engagement and input from experts.

Keep reading on ase.org

• 
•