BUILDING CODES

& ENERGY EFFICIENCY:

INDIANA
Updated February 24, 2009

B
uildings account for almost 40 percent of the
total energy use in the United States and 70
percent of our electricity use, representing a
significant opportunity for energy savings. New con-
struction is the most cost-effective point in the life of a
building to establish minimum energy efficiency ele-
ments. Building energy codes serve as a logical start-
ing point for comprehensive modern policies to reduce
energy dependence and extend our natural resources.
For the state of Indiana, this first step should be the
adoption of the U.S. model energy codes, the Interna-
tional Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and
ASHRAE Standard 90.1.
In February 2009, the American Recovery and Rein- Monetary savings derived from codes increase con-
vestment Act (ARRA) – the federal stimulus legisla- sumer purchasing power, ultimately helping to ex-
tion appropriating funds for a variety of state initia- pand the Indiana economy.
tives – allocated $3.1 billion for the U.S. Department
of Energy’s State Energy Program (SEP) to assist BUILDING COMMUNITY BENEFITS
states with building energy efficiency efforts. As one
The national model code, the 2009 IECC, offers flexi-
of the requirements to receive these SEP grants, state
bility to Indiana builders and design professionals,
governors must certify to DOE that their state (or
allowing them to optimize the cost-effectiveness of
applicable units of local government that authorize
energy efficient features in their building products,
building codes) will implement energy codes of equal
and to satisfy the variety of consumer preferences.
or greater stringency than the latest national model
codes (currently, the 2009 edition of the IECC and A uniform building energy code across the state’s 92
Standard 90.1-2007). counties and provides consistency for the construc-
tion sector and enables local jurisdictions to pool
Given this unprecedented opportunity to receive fed-
limited resources and combine personnel to form re-
eral aid for building energy efficiency, it is in the
state’s best economic interests to adopt the 2009 gional enforcement and educational programs.
IECC and Standard 90.1-2007 statewide and to be- UTILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
gin enjoying the benefits of an efficient building sec-
tor. An energy code improves the energy performance of
ECONOMIC BENEFITS all new buildings and reduces demand on power gen-
erators, therefore improving the air quality of local
Indiana consumers will save money well into the communities throughout the state.
future by reducing utility bills, minimizing the nega-
tive impacts of fluctuations in energy supply and Electricity use is one of the leading generators of air
cost, and conserving available energy resources. pollution. Rising power demand increases emissions
Retail and office buildings constructed to meet the of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides and carbon dioxide.
requirements of the IECC can be 30-40 percent Energy codes have proven to be one of the most cost
more energy efficient than typical buildings not -effective means for addressing air pollution and
constructed to meet any national model standards. other environmental impacts.
1850 M St. NW Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
www.bcap-energy.org
 A MODEL STATE ENERGY CODE FOR INDIANA
I
ndiana has outdated energy codes for its resi-
dential and commercial building sectors based
on the 1992 Model Energy Code and Standard
90.1-1989, respectively.
WHY UPDATE THE INDIANA ENERGY CODE?
When states regularly update and enforce their en-
ergy codes (often coordinated with the three-year
model code update cycles), residents enjoy the
benefits of increased comfort in their homes and
savings in their utility bills.
With increased awareness of national energy secu-
rity issues and projections of sharp energy cost in-
creases, state government can demonstrate leader-
ship by meeting national standards.
Indiana has not updated its energy codes since
1992. We now have an opportunity to take steps
that will establish minimum energy performance
standards for new commercial and residential
buildings and, in the process, provide strategic op-
tions for better management of our energy sup-
plies.
BENEFITS OF ADOPTING THE 2009 IECC:
THE NATIONAL MODEL ENERGY CODE
During new construction is the most cost-effective
time to install good insulation, quality windows
and doors, and other energy efficient measures. By
mandating the provisions of the current model en-
A construction project on the campus of
Indiana University in Bloomington.
ergy code in new buildings, Indiana homeowners
and businesses will take advantage of the products
and techniques of modern building practice.
The 2009 IECC contains completely new require-
ments for duct design and installation that will cre-
ate jobs for an entire specialization within the
HVAC industry.
Assuming a common practice equivalent to the
1992 MEC and ASHRAE 90.1-1989, if Indiana
updated its code to the 2009 IECC, it would save
an estimated $185 million by 2020 and an esti-
mated $357 million by 2030 in energy costs
(assuming 2006 energy prices).
Additionally, adopting the 2009 IECC statewide in
Indiana would help avoid 42 trillion Btu of pri-
mary annual energy use and annual emissions of
2.8 million metric tons of CO2 by 2030.
The energy efficiency savings achievable from the
2009 IECC and accrued through 2030 are suffi-
cient to pay for tuition for two-year college de-
grees from Ivy Tech Community College for al-
most 63,000 state residents, or nearly 3,000 per
year during that time period.
For more information please consult the
Building Codes Assistance Project website at
www.bcap-energy.org.
1850 M St. NW Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
www.bcap-energy.org