BUILDING CODES

& ENERGY EFFICIENCY:

IOWA
Updated February 1, 2010

B
uildings account for roughly 40 percent of the
total energy use in the United States and 70 per-
cent of our electricity use, representing a signifi-
cant opportunity for energy savings. Energy efficiency—
through the adoption and enforcement of strong building
energy codes – is the quickest, cheapest, and cleanest way
to reduce energy consumption and achieve a sustainable
and prosperous future. For most states, the first step has
been to adopt the U.S. model energy codes – the 2009
International Energy Conservation Code (2009 IECC)
and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007.

In February 2009, the American Recovery and Rein-

vestment Act (Recovery Act) – the federal stimulus leg-
islation appropriating funds for a variety of state initia-
tives – allocated $3.1 billion for the U.S. Department of
Energy’s State Energy Program (SEP) to assist states with
building energy efficiency projects. As one of the require-
ments to receive this funding, Gov. Chet Culver certified
to DOE1 that Iowa would implement energy standards of
equal or greater stringency than the latest national model
codes – the 2009 edition of the IECC and Standard 90.1-
2007. Having already received $20.3 million2 out of a
total $40.6 million in SEP funds, Iowa has advanced the
state’s best economic interest by adopting the 2009
IECC and Standard 90.1-2007 (by reference).
THE ECONOMIC & ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF
THE NATIONAL MODEL ENERGY CODES
The 2009 IECC3 substantially improves upon the state’s
current codes and makes it simpler to provide Iowa
households and businesses lower utility costs, increased
comfort, and better economic opportunity. A limited DOE
analysis4 of the changes from state's current residential
code to the 2009 IECC resulted in estimated energy
savings of 12-13 percent, or $245 to $276 a year for an
average new house at recent fuel prices. Another DOE
analysis5 of the changes from Iowa’s current commercial
code estimates energy savings of 5-6 percent from Stan-
dard 90.1-2007.
According to models created by the Building Codes As-
sistance Project, Iowa is poised to make substantial eco-
nomic and environmental gains in the next two decades
by embracing building energy efficiency:
By implementing the 2009 IECC and Standard 90.1-
2007 statewide beginning in 2010, Iowa businesses
and homeowners will save an estimated $30 million
annually by 2020 and an estimated $60 million annu-
ally by 2030 in energy costs (based on 2006 energy
prices).
Additionally, implementing the latest model codes will
help avoid roughly 8 trillion Btu of primary annual
energy use by 2030 and annual emissions of more
than 500,000 metric tons of CO2 by 2030.
OTHER BENEFITS OF THE 2009 IECC
The successful implementation of and compliance with
the national model codes also produces multiple eco-
nomic and environmental benefits and gains for the
building and utility industries:
New and renovated construction over 30 percent more
energy efficient than typical buildings not constructed
to meet national model energy standards
Expansion of the state economy by keeping local dol-
lars in Iowa
Simplified guidelines for builders and designers, cost-
effectiveness optimization, and uniformity throughout
the state
Improved indoor/outdoor air quality and reduced
greenhouse gas emissions from lower demand for elec-
tricity, natural gas, and heating oil
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Washington, DC 20036
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 IOWA: BEYOND THE MODEL ENERGY CODE
Loess Hills near Mondamin, Iowa (Credit—Bill Whittaker)
T
he Hawkeye State’s minimum mandatory energy
standards are codified in the Iowa State Energy
Code (661 IAC 303). In October 2009, the Iowa
Building Code Bureau approved the adoption of the 2009
IECC and Standard 90.1-2007 (by reference) without
amendment.6 The new statewide energy code became
effective on January 1, 2010 (although builders may still
use the 2006 IECC until April 1, 2010).7
Adoption, however, is only the first step. The state
must now implement its new code. As another condition
of accepting the Recovery Act SEP funds, states must
achieve compliance with these new standards in 90 per-
cent of new and renovated residential and commercial
building space by 2017.8
When states regularly update and enforce their energy
codes (as Iowa has in recent code cycles), they ensure
the consistency and continued enhancement of the bene-
fits of model building practice. Additionally, Iowa
should consider following the example of other states
that have proven to be leaders in energy efficiency by
continuing to develop and adopt innovative policies that
go beyond the national model codes.
THE 30% SOLUTION & STRENGTHENING CODES
In 2008, in coordination with the D.C. Green Building
Advisory Council (GBAC), the District of Columbia
adopted the 2008 D.C. Construction Codes.9 Based on
the “30% Solution”10 for residential buildings
(estimated to be more stringent than the 2009 IECC) and
** NOTES **
1 7
US DOE (http://www.energy.gov/media/3940CulverIowa.pdf)
2 8
US DOE (http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=186)
3 9
BCAP (http://bcap-energy.org/node/330)
4 10
US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/state_codes/reports/residential/
11
Residential_Iowa.pdf)
5 12
US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/state_codes/reports/commercial/
13
Commercial_Iowa.pdf)
6 14
BCAP (http://bcap-ocean.org/news/2009/october/22/iowa-adopts-2009-iecc-effective
-january-1)
ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 for nonresidential build-
ings, the new codes also contain several green amend-
ments, including cool roofs, on-site storm water reten-
tion, and low-flow residential and commercial plumbing
fixtures.
REMOVE CONTRADICTORY COMPLIANCE OPTIONS
Many states have adopted the 2009 International Resi-
dential Code (2009 IRC) along with the IECC. For vari-
ous reasons, however, many builders use the energy effi-
ciency standards (Chapter 11) of the IRC, which DOE
has stated is not equivalent to the IECC and does not
comply with Recovery Act requirements.11 States can
avoid contradictory compliance options by deleting
Chapter 11 of the IRC and replacing it with a refer-
ence to the 2009 IECC, as the 2010 Maryland Building
Performance Standards (MBPS) has done. The MBPS
also explicitly prohibit local amendments to the state
code that weaken the stringency of its energy efficiency
standards.12
UNIFORM VOLUNTARY “STRETCH CODE”
In 2009, Massachusetts approved Appendix 120AA as an
optional amendment to its mandatory statewide building
energy code.13 The appendix, which includes both resi-
dential and commercial code language, is designed to be
about 30 percent more stringent than the 2006 IECC and
ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004. This optional "stretch
code" was developed in response to the call for improved
local building energy efficiency. Towns and cities may
adopt the appendix as a uniform alternative to the base
energy efficiency requirements of the state code, easing
future transitions to strengthen the mandatory code.
MANDATORY GREEN BUILDING CODE
In January 2010, California adopted the nation’s first
mandatory green building standards, known as CAL-
Green.14 Effective in 2011, the new code will require all
new buildings to reduce indoor water use by 20 percent
and divert 50 percent of construction waste from land-
fills. CALGreen also mandates inspections of energy
systems for large nonresidential buildings and the use of
low-pollutant emitting interior finish materials such as
paints, carpet, vinyl flooring, and particle board.
For more information, please visit www.bcap-ocean.org
BCAP (http://bcap-ocean.org/state-country/iowa)
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Sec. 410 (2) (c)
IMT (http://www.green.dc.gov/green/lib/green/pdfs/Green_b-codes.pdf)
EECC (http://www.thirtypercentsolution.org)
US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/news/irc_iecc_arra.stm)
MD Codes Admin. (http://mdcodes.umbc.edu/dhcd2/mbps.html)
MA BBRS (http://bcap-energy.org/node/418)
CA BSC (http://bcap-ocean.org/news/2010/january/21/california-adopts-nations-first
-mandatory-green-building-standards)
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