Last year the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that eight states would be part of a three-year Residential Energy Code Field Study. Once completed, the study will provide an unprecedented opportunity to develop new strategies for education, training, and outreach for improving the energy efficiency of single-family homes, as well as a measurement of the impact those activities have on residential energy use.
Last month, DOE presented the initial field data findings from six of the eight participating states. While previous studies showed low compliance with energy codes in many states and jurisdictions throughout the U.S., the DOE field study data shows that most homes are performing at or better than code, on average, and that homeowners are finding significant cost savings. For instance, DOE estimated a one-year energy cost savings potential of $427,428 in North Carolina based on data gathered in the state’s field study.
Additional Findings:
Overall, the initial DOE Residential Energy Code Field Study findings demonstrate the success of energy codes as an effective policy tool for driving energy efficiency. It also demonstrates the diligence of builders and local building officials in ensuring compliance with the energy codes adopted in their states.
A few additional takeaways for builders are:
Excerpts from this article were taken from builderonline.com
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