Building Codes Assistance Project

On June 26, the United States House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES) by a 219-212 margin.  Among the issues under the purview of this comprehensive energy and climate policy bill, ACES would significantly change American building energy efficiency policy by mandating a new national building energy code and providing for federal enforcement in state and local jurisdictions that cannot or will not comply.

Among the provisions, H.R. 2454 calls for the first national code to achieve 30% energy savings above the baseline code (2006 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2004), with the subsequent code to achieve 50% energy savings. States would be required to achieve compliance or demonstrate significant progress towards compliance in 90% of new and renovated building space within seven years of the bill's enactment.

For further details, view the BCAP ACES Summary.

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For more information, consult the following resources:

• HR 2454: Bill Home | Text (beginning page 200)
• House Energy and Commerce Committee press release
• Alliance to Save Energy bill analysis