At least half of the 50 states have energy codes that are out of date, according to a survey conducted by the Alliance to Save Energy. In their "report card" on energy codes, the Alliance assigned "Fs" to ten states, "Ds" to five states, "Cs" to eight states, "Bs" to 12 states and "As" to 17 states. Ohio, Oregon, Montana and Minnesota are among the states at the top of the class. As a whole, the U.S. receives a grade of "C," which leaves considerable room for improvement. State-by-state grades appear on the map below.
With over a million housing starts each year, strong energy codes capture an enormous energy-efficiency potential. Strong energy codes help consumers save energy that would be nearly impossible to capture later. It costs far less to build energy-saving features into a new home than retrofit an existing one.
Over the last year, at least 10 states have adopted residential codes that meet the requirements of the 1992 Model Energy Code (MEC). By upgrading their codes, these ten states have saved $26 million per year and cut annual air pollution emissions by 197,000 tons.
The survey compared existing state energy codes with the 1992 version of the MEC, a widely accepted model standard published by the Council of American Building Officials. "Fs" fell to states with no energy codes at all, while "As" were granted to states whose codes meet or exceed the 1992 MEC. States were also evaluated on whether the code was mandatory and if it applied statewide. Washington state and New York barely missed the top grade, because their codes are weaker for homes heated with natural gas than for homes heated electrically. The Alliance determined that their codes for natural gas homes fell short of the 1992 MEC.
The Alliance operates the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) together with the Natural Resources Defense Council and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. BCAP works directly with states to adopt and implement improved energy codes for residential and commercial buildings. More information is available from the Alliance.
This map was prepared in late 1995. For the current status, contact the Alliance to Save Energy.
