Energy 2030 Report Calls for Stricter Energy Building Codes

by | Feb 12, 2013

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The Alliance Commission on National Energy Efficiency Policy  aims to double US energy productivity by 2030, and one of its many ways to achieve that goal is to create more stringent energy codes for buildings.

The Commission has created Energy 2030, a set of policy recommendations that urges policymakers at all levels of government – local, state, and federal – to take action in three key areas:

  1. Invest in energy productivity in all sectors of the economy.
  2. Modernize US infrastructure, buildings, transportation, and equipment.
  3. Educate consumers, business leaders and policy makers to encourage smarter energy use.

In terms of modernizing US infrastructure, the recently published “Energy 2030 Recommendations to Double US Energy Productivity by 2030” report says energy efficiency should be used as an emissions reduction strategy.

“EPA, state, and local air regulators should, to the extent possible, encourage energy efficiency as an emissions reduction strategy and, as appropriate, allow and credit efficiency measures as compliance options in their regulations and procedures,” states the report.

Additionally, the Energy 2030 report recommends to “steadily and aggressively increase the stringency of building energy codes.”

“The International Code Council and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, with DOE support, should build on recent 30 percent energy savings and steadily increase the energy efficiency of their model building energy codes and standards. The updates should continue to be cost-effective, stakeholder-driven, and fuel and technology neutral,” according to the report.

Chaired by US Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) and National Grid US President Tom King, the Alliance Commission on National Energy Efficiency Policy says if its suggestions are adopted, by 2030 the US could:

  • Add 1.3 million jobs;
  • Cut average household energy costs;
  • Save American businesses $169 billion a year;
  • Increase GDP by up to 2 percent;
  • Decrease energy imports by more than $100 billion a year;
  • and Reduce CO2 emissions by one-third.

The diverse Commission is made up of leaders from the power sector, environmental groups, the financial community, manufacturing, transportation and government. Work already has begun to turn the Commission’s recommendations into meaningful legislation.

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