On behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP), the agency's Building Technologies Office (BTO) is now promoting DOE’s intent to make $1 billion in funding available to states and local governments for improved building codes that reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency, via an Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)-funded technical assistance program for the adoption of building energy codes.
SCEP has this month published a Notice of Intent (NOI) indicating the work that DOE is doing to distribute these funds to state and local governments, paving the way for cleaner, more efficient building stock across the country.
According to a press release, the funding awards will support states and local jurisdictions in adopting, implementing, and enforcing the latest model, zero energy codes, or equivalent codes and standards. DOE expects the initiative will improve new construction and retrofits while transitioning new and existing building stock to more efficient, decarbonized buildings.
2 types of Building Code Technical Assistance
Per the announcement, this technical assistance opportunity, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), will make two types of Building Code Technical Assistance available:
- $330 million will be available to adopt the latest building energy code, the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for residential buildings and the ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1–2019 for commercial buildings, or other codes and standards that achieve equivalent or greater energy savings.
- $670 million will be used to adopt a building energy code that meets or exceeds the zero energy provisions in the 2021 IECC code, or other codes and standards with equivalent or greater energy savings.
SCEP has also published a Request for Information (RFI) to inform the development of the program’s Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). Interested stakeholders should submit their responses to the RFI to [email protected] no later than April 26, 2023, at 5 p.m. ET.
DOE will also host a public informational webinar about the IRA Funded Building Energy Code Improvements on April 18, 2023. Information on how to register for the webinar can be found here.
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