State Energy Code Activity

Studies show adoption and enforcement of advanced energy codes to be the number one most effective tool for saving energy in buildings.  In the United States, building codes are developed and published through the International Code Council and adopted by individual states and localities. NAIMA works closely with states to update and upgrade their building energy codes to further the causes of energy efficiency and conservation.  The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and the Responsible Energy Codes Alliance are important allies in NAIMA’s outreach to states. For up-to-date information regarding the status of residential and commercial energy codes in individual states, please visit the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP). If you are a code advocate or official and want NAIMA’s support to upgrade codes in your state, please contact us.

Federal Energy Efficiency Activity State Energy Code Activity International Activity

Meet the Latest Energy Code Requirements

Make sure your home’s insulation package meets the latest energy code requirements in your location.  Select your state below to learn more about your local energy code requirements (not all 50 states are listed at the moment):

Disclaimer: Applicable to All Code Sheets Available through this Link

The information contained in these documents is derived from publicly available material created and published by the United States Department of Energy. NAIMA did not create or assemble this code information. NAIMA makes this information available to assist in evaluating local code compliance. The use of or reliance upon this information does not ensure or guarantee compliance with any energy code. The use of or reliance upon this information does not substitute for code compliance. The use of or reliance upon this information does not ensure or guarantee a specific level of energy savings or specific dollar savings on utility bills. Neither NAIMA nor any of its employees or contractors offer any warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the information in this document. Manufacturers of insulation products have specific recommendations for the installation of their products. Consult with the manufacturer of the insulation product you are using on specific installation instructions.

New NAECA Standard to Affect Residential Energy Code

Last updated January 4, 2005

On January 23, 2006, DOE's regulations under the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA) establish a new efficiency standard for certain heating and cooling systems. The greatest impact of the new requirements will be on residential sized central air conditioners and heat pumps, whose minimum efficiency ratings will go up to SEER 13 for cooling and HSPF 7.7 for heat pump heating. NAECA is primarily understood as a manufacturing standard mandating that any new equipment produced in or imported to the United States beginning on the effective date be at least as efficient as the minimums. While NAECA does not prohibit the sale or installation of "old" equipment, it does contain lesser understood requirements governing state building codes with respect to the efficiency of equipment, as described in the set of Frequently Asked Questions below.

It is important for stakeholders to understand the new limitations, and to prepare for the coming change. The US Department of Energy has developed its interpretation of the issue in two important ways, first with guidance to the states on relevant changes for them to consider to their codes (http://www.energycodes.gov/residential_ac_hp.stm) and second with a new version of REScheck software (v 3.7, release 1b) (http://www.energycodes.gov/rescheck) which incorporates the new NAECA requirements. In addition, the Building Codes Assistance Project is available to assist states with understanding these important changes.

For a complete FAQ on this issue, visit http://www.bcap-energy.org/newsletter_links/NAECA_FAQ.pdf