Results: Energy savings potential of full energy code compliance What is clear is that the study shows that large economic and environmental gains can be made through increasing residential energy code compliance. While these programs do increase the efficiency of buildings that participate, it is unclear what role these programs may play in promoting energy-efficient building practices that directly influence energy code compliance.
Of the samples collected through this study, 57 percent reported participating in at least one utility energy efficiency program, while 21 percent of sites reported participating in both an electricity and natural gas efficiency rebate program. Utah has two investor-owned utilities, Rocky Mountain Power (electric utility) and Dominion Energy (natural gas utility), both of which sponsor energy efficiency rebate programs. Note about Utility Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs: While not part of the PNNL methodology, this project also collected information about which home sites participated in utility-sponsored energy efficiency rebate programs. DOE’s Residential Energy Code Field Studies.) Data was collected and analyzed following the methodology developed by PNNL to achieve a statistically valid sample for residential energy code compliance assessments. The samples came from new residential construction sites in 35 cities across nine counties, which were identified by a random selection process and then confirmed by a local stakeholder group that the sample sites were representative of Utah’s climate zones, population, demographics and construction activity.
The study involves numerous partners including the Institute for Market Transformation, Resource Innovations (formerly Nexant), WC-3, Utah Office of Energy Development, Utah Clean Energy, Rocky Mountain Power, Dominion Energy, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).įield data for the study was collected from 127 Utah home samples between March 2020 and December 2020 (with significant delays due to COVID-19). Third, based on the data gathered in the field, the study estimated the energy, cost, and emissions savings potential if new homes in Utah achieve 100-percent compliance with Utah’s current residential energy code. In June of 2019, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a grant to launch a study designed to do three things: first, assess to what degree new residential construction in Utah meets the current energy code second, develop energy code training to address any compliance gaps identified in the study. Long story short, energy codes are an important part of Utah’s energy future! Energy-efficient construction supports home affordability by lowering utility bills for homeowners and renters, and provides a comfortable living environment, not to mention reducing emissions associated with every home’s energy use. The key to achieving this is in the International Energy Conservation Code, otherwise known as the “IECC” or simply the “energy code.” The energy code guides the level of energy efficiency in all new construction and major remodels.
Every new home built in Utah has the opportunity to lock in financial savings by preventing energy waste.