Building Codes Assistance Project

On September 9, North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley announced the state won a federal Department of Energy (DOE) grant to develop and implement an innovative energy-efficient state code for building construction and renovation that will save consumers up to $40 million annually on utility bills. The grant will be used to both develop a new set of requirements for building construction to make homes and offices more energy efficient and provide training and technical assistance to improve the compliance with building codes.

North Carolina is one of six states to win a grant to advance building codes from the DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The other states are California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nebraska and Washington.

The three-year, $499,190 grant will help the Tar Heel State implement a 21st century building code with common-sense requirements that will result in a 30 percent drop in annual energy consumption by setting out rules for use of more energy efficient materials, appliances and electrical equipment. The grant will also enable North Carolina to improve the training of code inspectors, increase compliance with the code among building designers, engineers and contractors, and establish an appropriate level of enforcement.

By adopting and enforcing an updated building code, North Carolina is projected to save more than $40 million annually in residential and commercial energy bills and to cut air polluting emissions from power generating plants by 236,000 tons of carbon dioxide, 481 tons of sulfur dioxide and 253 tons of nitrogen oxide.

Last June the state won a grant from the National Governor's Association to develop an innovative program to increase energy building code inspections to help cut utility costs. North Carolina was one of 12 states to receive the grants from the association's Center for Best Practices.

For more details, check out the DOE's press release as well as the press release from the Governor's Office.

For North Carolina code status information, please consult the BCAP North Carolina Code Status page.