Energy Codes

Workshopping the Buzz Around Energy Codes

The MEEA Building Codes & Policy team hosted the workshop, "To Infinity and Beyond: Workshopping the Buzz about Energy Codes” at the 2024 Midwest Energy Solutions Conference. In the planning of this workshop, it was important that the expanding list of benefits that come with advancing energy codes – occupant health, grid impacts, carbon reduction and utility bill savings, to name a few, were a focus of the conversation. It was also important to discuss the challenges faced by states and jurisdictions when adopting energy codes. This includes accessing technical assistance resources, gaining utility program support, engaging with rural as well as urban communities and tracking compliance and enforcement.

HUD and USDA Solicit Comments on More Efficient Energy Codes

Comments are due July 17, 2023 on a preliminary determination by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to adopt the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE 90.1–2019 as minimum energy efficiency requirements. Docket FR–6271–N–01 is the first step to increasing the minimum energy efficiency requirements for HUD- and USDA-funded housing.

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New Construction in Oak Park Will Now Be All-Electric

On June 20, 2023, the Village Board of Oak Park, Illinois voted in favor of an all-electric new construction ordinance as part of their building code. This makes Oak Park the first municipality in Illinois - and the Midwest - to pass an electrification ordinance. Electrification was one of the steps identified as necessary to achieve community-wide net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as set forth by the Village in Climate Ready Oak Park. This follows the adoption of a benchmarking ordinance approved in February 2023.

13th Annual Midwest Building Energy Codes Conference Recap

MEEA’s 13th Annual Midwest Building Energy Codes Conference took place earlier this month, running from Tuesday, November 8 through Thursday, November 10, 2022. The virtual conference had no shortage of lively discussion and useful information presented. 

 

Pre-Conference Day