Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine November 2019

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and put money back into consumer's pockets. The Purpose of Building Energy Codes Energy codes and standards set minimum efficiency requirements for new and renovated buildings, assuring reductions in energy use and emissions over the life of the building. Energy codes are a subset of building codes, which establish baseline requirements and govern building construction. Code buildings are more comfortable and cost-effective to operate, assuring energy, economic and environmental benefits. The reduction in energy expenditures also correlates to a mitigated dependency on foreign oil, impacting national security. In light of these fundamental environmental issues, economic challenges, and uncertain energy costs, building energy codes are a key component of sound public policy. The Benefits of Building Energy Codes It is estimated that by 2035, 75% of the building stock in the U. S. will be new or renovated. 6 As a building's operation and environmental impact is largely determined by upfront decisions, energy codes present a unique opportunity to assure savings through efficient building design, technologies, and construction practices. Once a building

Why Building Energy Codes? Building energy codes represent a significant savings opportunity for U.S. home and business owners. Model energy codes 1 for residential and commercial buildings are projected to save (cumulative 2010-2040): • $126 billion energy cost savings • 841 MMT of avoided CO 2 emissions • 12.82 quads of primary energy These savings equate to the annual emissions of: 89 million homes 2 For perspective, the primary energy consumption of the entire U.S. commercial and residential sectors in 2015 was estimated at 38 quads. 3 According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. residential and commercial buildings account for approximately 40% of all energy consumed . 4 Building energy codes, which govern up to 80% of a building's energy load , 5 increase energy efficiency and yield significant savings for the U.S. economy. Efficient buildings reduce power demand, and have less of an environmental impact, • • • 177 million passenger vehicles 245 coal power plants