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LEARN. CONNECT. EXPERIENCE.

Achieving Energy Code Compliance“The New Hampshire Experience”

Meaghan Tanguay, GDS AssociatesScott Albert, GDS AssociatesLaura Richardson, NHOEP

February 8th, 2012

Topics To Be Covered• Energy code and national adoption• NH background and transition • NH’s Building Code Compliance Program• NH-specific barriers and strategies to

energy code compliance • Results and lessons learned

• US buildings account for 39% of total energy consumption (NH 50%)

• Buildings Impact:– People’s lives,– Economic well being,– US dependence on foreign oil,– National security, – Health of the planet and people

• Minimum Standards for the life of the building

• Baseline for ENERGY STAR standards

Why/What are Energy Codes?

(US EIA 2009)

National Adoption - Residential• About ½ the states have adopted the IECC

2009 Residential Code

National Adoption - Commercial• Half the states have adopted ASHRAE

90.1-2007

The Energy Code in NH “Culture and Climate”

• 1.3 Million people, 234 municipalities

• Official State Motto: Live Free or Die

(Strong Independent Base)

• Energy code compliance varies

greatly by NH region

• Half of NH towns have no code

official, and many are part-time

• Life-Safety codes take priority

• Responsible: State Fire Marshall or

local fire departments

NH Energy Code Compliance, Self Reported

Code Official Perceptions of Energy Code

Compliance• Over 1/3rd of code officials surveyed “don’t know” whether buildings

comply with current energy code requirementsEstimated Energy Code Compliance, Residential New Construction

< 25%25 to < 50%50 to < 75%>= 75%Don't Know

Estimated Energy Code Compliance, New Commercial Construction

< 25%25 to < 50%50 to < 75%>= 75%Don't Know

NH’s Energy Code Challenge• NH’s energy code history

– First adopted 1979 • NH’s assurance - “achieve 90%

compliance with the 2009 IECC by 2017”– New State Building Code adopted May 2009 and

became effective April 1st 2010– Condition for receiving $26M in ARRA-SEP

funding– Transition from the 2006 to 2009 IECC for

Residential and ASHRAE 90.1-2007 for Commercial

Why NH is a Proxy for the Country as a Whole? Some proactive communities who embrace codes Other communities believe energy code is

voluntary/optional or “opt-out” without consequences Regional political diversity within state parallels nation

as a whole Diverse barriers/challenges faced in NH are present

throughout the nation as a whole If energy code compliance goals can be reached in

NH… they can be reached anywhere!

Project Scope

1. Establish a baseline of existing compliance/enforcement2. Create a roadmap to achieve 90% compliance of the 2009 IECC by 20173. Promote the program throughout the State4. Train building professionals in all areas for energy code compliance

and promote above-code performance5. Develop a Public Awareness Campaign for homeowners, landlords,

commercial property owners, real estate appraisers, and others…6. Update and Gather Building Code Resources at

www.nhenergycode.com7. Develop recommended enforcement/compliance & public policy options8. Establish a review process to monitor/track compliance under 2009

IECC9. Submit reports to the OEP and DOE on the metrics of the project

Target Market Actors Code Officials, Legislative Bodies (state agencies) Utilities, The State Fire Marshal, Traditional Building Professionals (builders/contractors), Architects, Engineers, Designers, Commercial Buildings Owners, Operators, Managers, Energy Raters, Equipment Supply House, Real Estate Professionals, Lenders, Appraisers, Homeowners, and the General Public

A Well Functioning Energy Code Climate

“Points-Along-the-Way” to 90% compliance with the 2009 IECC by 2017

Policy makers support the code, Officials enforce the code, Professionals build to code, Real estate professionals, lenders and

appraisers value building to code, and Consumers expect and demand the code at

minimum and understand the value of building to “beyond code” levels

A B C

Widely Recognized Barriers to Energy Code Compliance

1. Lack of funding,2. Limited outreach and education,3. Lack of appropriate training, tools and

resources,4. Limited policy initiatives,5. Lack of compliance evaluations and

verification, and6. Lack of energy code enforcement.

NH Energy Code Barriers • Challenges with Regional Culture & Attitudes

Throughout State NH: Don’t Tell me What

to Do!

Builder/Contractor: Look… It’s Always Been Done This Way Okay –

Deal with it…

Builder/Contractor:Come On – That’s Not

Necessary…

Builder: They won’t pay

for that price adder!

Homeowner/Builder/Realtor: Would rather have the granite countertops…

Builder/Contractor/Code Official:We’re too busy building to go

to “trainings”… Appraiser: I can’t value it if they aren’t willing to pay

for it…

NHBCC Strategiesfor Energy Code Compliance

Einstein’s Definition of Insanity, "Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”

1. An Active Stakeholder Panel, A Must2. Build Partnerships/Leverage Resources 3. Expand Training, “Beyond Traditional”4. Public Service Announcement, A Necessity5. A Dedicated E-Code Website, Resources6. Communicate A Plan (Roadmap) to

Statewide Energy Code Compliance

1- An Active Stakeholder Panel• Policy and Administration Stakeholders,• Energy Code Compliance Verification,• Implementation Stakeholders, • Critical NH Stakeholders

Lessons Learned: An ActiveStakeholder Panel – A Must Cross section of state communities, Creates buy-in & functional framework Maintain meeting efficiency, minimize negative attention Meet quarterly or more frequently for timely feedback

Barrier: Regional Culture and Attitudes

2- Build Partnerships• Educational & Outreach->CU• NH Field Guide & “Ask-the-Expert” Blog->HBRANH• Real Estate Curriculum, Guidance, Checklists->NEEP, IMT • Increased # Workshops->NH Core Utilities• In-Field Training Curriculum->NEEP, Local NH Businesses• On-Line Videos and Training->NH Community College

Lessons Learned: Leverage ResourcesHarry Truman, “It is amazing what you can get accomplished when

you don’t care who gets the credit” Bolster partnerships, Use what is out there! Check egos & corporate identity at the door Results otherwise unattainable with limited funding

Barrier: Need for Education and Outreach Resources and Limited Program Funding

3- Targeted Training• 32 workshops, over 1,500 Prof.14 cities/towns• Target: real estate professionals • Target: technical, in-field, for code officials

Lessons Learned: Expand Trainings “Beyond” Traditional Reach “non-traditional” market actors Incentivize by obtaining specific CEUs! Customize message/curriculum for each market group Advanced, in-field training becomes increasingly

important

Barrier: Paucity of Targeted and Technical Trainings

4 - Public Awareness Campaign • Promotional Material• Public Service Announcement

Lessons Learned: PSAs, A Necessity Plant the seed (“grass roots/viral”), PSAs are Free air-time! Highlight energy code benefits, Memorable and edgy, Not overwhelming Include an action item, Lead to a dedicated website Unifies stakeholders through easily understandable,

targeted outreach messages

Barrier: Lack of Awareness/Understanding of Energy Code Benefits and Support for Energy Code Compliance

5 - NH Energy Code Website www.nhenergycode.com

Multiple Barriers…

Lessons Learned: A Dedicated Website with Resources Well designed, Easily

Navigable, Central local Resources accessibleLinks to established

organizationsHighlights important

resources and tools

6 - Compliance Roadmap• NH-specific, roadmap to achieve 90%

compliance with the 2009 IECC by 2017

Lessons Learned: Having/CommunicatingAn Actionable Plan Close coordination with state stakeholders Easy to follow, Actionable plan Informs future decisions on how and

where to allocate funding Update to recognize new and evolving

challenges and opportunities

Impacts All State Barrier

Re-Cap

• What is a minimum standard if it is not followed anyway?

• A comprehensive compliance program is a challenge, often with unique barriers

• Fact: There are well established strategies that can be replicated and implemented to benefit states around the country

Contact Information

Meaghan Tanguay, GDS Associates

Meaghan.Tanguay@GDSAssociates.com(603) 656-0336

Scott Albert, GDS AssociatesScott.Albert@GDSAssociates.com

(603) 656-0336Laura Richardson, NH OEPLaura.Richardson@nh.gov

(603) 271-6092

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