Residential and commercial buildings accounted for over 2,000 Million Metric Tons (MMT) of carbon equivalent emissions and 40% of the total energy consumed in the United States in 2016. New construction and major renovations in buildings have a long-term impact on emissions as many of the features incorporated at time of construction will impact energy consumption for decades.

In cities, the building sector is a major contributor to carbon emissions. Some jurisdictions may have climate policies and climate action plans that set targets and lay out an action plan for improvement on the path to zero carbon emissions. Other jurisdictions, like states and cities, may not have explicit climate goals, but they have an interest in improving building performance and reducing energy costs for their constituents.

Moving Energy Codes Forward: A Guide for Cities and States explains how energy codes can be a critical part of carbon reduction strategies and outlines steps to achieve significant code improvements. It links jurisdictions to leading design measures and new technologies which may be adopted as a stretch code, incorporated into incentive programs or policy initiatives, and eventually integrated in local and national code advancement efforts. It also offers guidance, resources and examples of advanced code adoption based on experiences in other communities.

Although local jurisdictions are unique in needs and specific implementation approaches, this guide provides a practical framework for implementing advanced codes and policies.