Business | DOE | Apr 03, 2023

DOE to Make $1 Billion Available for Improved Energy Codes

On behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP), the Building Technologies Office (BTO) is excited to promote DOE’s intent to make $1 billion in funding available to states and local governments for improved building codes that reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency through the IRA Funded Technical Assistance for the Adoption of Building Energy Codes.

SCEP published a Notice of Intent (NOI) indicating the work that DOE is doing to distribute these funds to state and local governments, paving the way for a cleaner, more efficient building stock across the country. The awards will support states and local jurisdictions in adopting, implementing, and enforcing the latest model, zero energy codes, or equivalent codes and standards. This will improve new construction and retrofits while transitioning new and existing building stock to more efficient, decarbonized buildings for all.

This technical assistance opportunity, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), will make two types of Building Code Technical Assistance available:

$330 million will be available to adopt the latest building energy code, the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for residential buildings and the ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1–2019 for commercial buildings, or other codes and standards that achieve equivalent or greater energy savings.
$670 million will be used to adopt a building energy code that meets or exceeds the zero energy provisions in the 2021 IECC code, or other codes and standards with equivalent or greater energy savings.

SCEP has also published a Request for Information (RFI) to inform the development of the program’s Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). Interested stakeholders should submit their responses to the RFI to IRACodes@hq.doe.gov no later than April 26, 2023, at 5 p.m. ET.

DOE will also host a public informational webinar about the IRA Funded Building Energy Code Improvements on April 18, 2023. Information on how to register can be found here.

Have other questions? Please reach out to IRACodes@hq.doe.gov or visit the IRA Funded Technical Assistance for Building Energy Codes program website here.