Pushing for compliance with building energy codes.
CEE researches how to increase compliance with energy codes to help buildings use energy most efficiently. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, energy codes govern up to 80% of a building’s energy load and are an important part of regulating energy use.
Areas of building energy code are growing in complexity.
We have found that properly designed utility programs help ensure that the energy-saving benefits of energy code compliance are more fully realized in a way that is cost-effective for all parties.
Research into action.
Meaningful progress depends on compliance. Findings from CEE's 2015 CARD-funded code compliance research pilot prompted Minnesota utilities Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy to jointly hire CEE to run a two-year Community Code Support Program pilot that focused on code compliance and concluded in 2023.
In late 2023, CEE launched the Minnesota Advanced Energy Codes Partnership. The partnership is sponsored by the State's departments of Labor and Industry and Commerce, with financial and technical support from the U.S. Department of Energy, the participation of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Sustainable Building Research, and a broad-based Advisory Council including Tribal Nations and unions.
Related Research Projects
Energy Code Reports & Tools