WASHINGTON, DC – With energy saving measures winning support from over 60% of ICC members, the soon-to-be-published 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) will be significantly more efficient than its 2006 counterpart, according to an analysis conducted by the respected research firm, ICF International. The analysis estimates that homes built to the 2009 IECC standards will save an average of 12.2% under the simple "prescriptive" method and could save 14.7% or more using the more complicated "performance-based" method.

The ICF Analysis is available at www.thirtypercentsolution.org/savings

"We commend ICC's Government Membership – comprised of America's building code, energy and other officials – for its leadership in achieving the largest hike in energy efficiency in over a decade," said EECC Director William Fay. "While they didn't reach the 30% improvement sought by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National Association of State Energy Officials, many governors and our broad-based Energy Efficient Codes Coalition (EECC), it's heartening that a growing majority in the ICC have shown they know the vital role that reducing wasted energy in homes and commercial buildings has on sound national energy policy."

Elements of the Soon-to-be-Published 2009 Model Energy Code The 2009 IECC, which is expected to be published next week, will have several significant new provisions to boost energy efficiency, including:

• Increased insulation in basements, floors and walls;
• Improved window efficiency;
• Reductions in wasted energy from leaky heating & cooling ducts;
• Reductions in tradeoffs that fail to capture energy savings from efficient heating & cooling equipment;
• High-efficiency lighting; and
• Improved air sealing within the building envelope.

As a result of these new requirements, homeowners will enjoy a more comfortable living environment, as well as reduced energy costs. Utilities should benefit as well, because the effects of improved energy efficiency reduce demand for electricity, natural gas and heating oil could stabilize prices and delay the need for new power plant construction. Energy-intensive businesses will also benefit as reduced demand eases upward pressure on energy prices.

What's Next

'The 30% Solution' – EECC's comprehensive set of IECC amendments – fell just a few votes shy of the two-thirds needed for adoption when the ICC adopted the 2009 IECC last fall. "Soon after the vote, EECC agreed the success of our united, comprehensive approach is worth continuing and building upon," Fay added. "We have already begun work on a comprehensive proposal that will capture the remainder of our initial 30% goal for the IECC Supplement, which will be acted upon by the ICC in May 2010."

New Home Energy Efficiency Key to Sound National Energy Policy

"Buildings are the last great frontier of wasted energy," Fay added, noting that America's homes and commercial buildings are the nation's leading energy users and the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions. He continued, "Because these buildings last for generations and are expensive to retrofit, any successful national energy policy must include robust improvements in energy efficiency for new homes and commercial buildings. That's where the IECC comes in. If fully implemented, it will make sure homes are built to be more energy efficient in the first place."


Information provided by EECC
The Energy Efficient Codes Coalition is a unique, broad-based alliance of longstanding energy efficiency advocates – from government, national energy efficiency groups, regional energy efficiency alliances, environmental groups, utilities, affordable housing advocates, architecture, academia/think tanks, energy consumers and businesses, and labor.

Together, the coalition developed "The 30% Solution," a comprehensive code change proposal to boost energy efficiency in the 2009 model energy code by 30% over the current IECC, using fully achievable and affordable "state-of-the-shelf" technologies. The coalition also opposes proposals that either weaken energy efficiency or include industry- or product-specific special exemptions. For more information, please see www.thirtypercentsolution.org.