New DOE Funding to Support Energy-Efficient Building Codes Throughout US

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) announced $90 million more in funding to help states and cities implement updated energy codes for commercial and residential buildings.

The funding will support 25 new projects nationwide to ensure buildings meet the latest energy efficiency standards. The aim is to lower energy bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The funding is part of the $225 million Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation (RECI) initiative established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by DOE’s Building Technologies Office.

This second installment of 25 selected projects builds on the initial $90 million in funding for 27 projects, announced in July 2023. Several glass-related companies have recently been awarded DOE funding, including AeroShield Materials, Luxwall and Vitro Architectural Glass and Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope®. The DOE is also encouraging the development of affordable secondary glazing systems.

DOE officials say the funding will help advance the implementation of DOE’s Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050: A National Blueprint for the Buildings Sector. The blueprint lays out a strategy to reduce building greenhouse gas emissions nationwide.

The selected projects include:

• The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy will establish a multistate coalition to develop and pilot advanced stretch energy codes nationwide in participating states and jurisdictions. A primary outcome will be the development of custom amendments to the model energy codes, such as the International Energy Conservation Code, for adoption by states and jurisdictions pursuing zero and near-zero energy and emissions goals.

• The California Energy Commission will establish and scale a network of credentialed California energy code experts to support local governments and the construction industry in reviewing compliance documentation and plans during the permit application and plan-review phase of construction.

• Karpman Consulting will streamline commercial energy code review by developing and implementing automated processes using a performance-based approach and building energy modeling software to demonstrate compliance.

• The New Buildings Institute will develop, pilot and support tailored energy codes and building policies in Hawaii, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Texas, Oklahoma and Illinois.

• The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance will establish a Southeastern collaborative focused on the region’s needs and opportunities and provide the tools, resources and technical assistance necessary to successfully adopt and implement new building energy codes and ordinances in the Southeast.

• The Utah Clean Energy Alliance will create and help implement low- and zero-emission voluntary stretch-code programs for municipalities across Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah.

• The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development will develop and deploy a workforce development program to increase code compliance by facilitating targeted, in-person training for code professionals, contractors and registered design professionals in Virginia.

Click here to see the full list of selected projects.