Full Title: Building Decarbonization Code: An Overlay to Model Building Codes on the Path to Net-Zero
Author(s): Kim Cheslak, Sean Denniston, Jim Edelson, Mark Lyles, Diana Burk
Publisher(s): New Buildings Institute
Publication Date: August 26, 2021
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
The Building Decarbonization Code is a groundbreaking tool aiming to deliver carbon neutral performance. The Version 1.2 code language from NBI serves as a building decarbonization overlay to the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and is now compatible with ASHRAE 90.1. It is designed to help states and cities working to mitigate carbon resulting from energy use in the built environment, which accounts for 39% of U.S. emissions. It also offers market insight into rules that will determine how new buildings are designed and constructed in the future in order to curb the worst impacts of climate change.
The overlay is focused on codes for new construction with the potential of adding code language for existing buildings in a future version. While not an all-electric code, the language does prioritize efficient electric equipment and is designed to be flexible.