Globally, 32% of total final energy consumption is attributed to the building sector. To reduce energy consumption, energy codes set minimum energy efficiency standards for the building sector. With effective implementation, building energy codes can support energy cost savings and complementary benefits associated with electricity reliability, air quality improvement, greenhouse gas emission reduction, increased comfort, and economic and social development. This policy brief seeks to support building code policymakers and implementers in designing effective building code programs.

Key design elements and good practices, drawn from global experience and lessons, can support effective building code development and implementation, tailored to meet country-specific goals. Use model building codes to inform interlinked national and subnational building code efforts. These policy designs and good practices include:

1. Use model building codes to inform interlinked national and subnational building code efforts

2. Engage stakeholders throughout the process to secure support for adoption and implementation

3. Conduct robust analysis to assess costs and benefits, inform code design, and provide a foundation for policy evaluation

4. Develop a comprehensive and long term building code strategy, increasing in stringency over time

5. Build strong compliance infrastructure to ensure effective building code enforcement

6. Educate building sector stakeholders and code officials on the importance of building energy codes to increase support for compliance and recognize strong performance

7. Rigorously evaluate energy codes to understand strengths and weaknesses and support improved policy design and implementation over time

8. Provide ongoing capacity building, training and resources to sector stakeholders to build support for code compliance and ensure effective design and implementation

9. Capture benefits of interlinked policies through designing a strong policy framework