David Neiger and Laura Hutchings of Populus Sustainable Design Consulting recently returned from Idaho and New Mexico, where Populus provided training to various municipalities regarding performance-based energy codes.

Blaine County, Idaho

In Idaho, Populus hosted a hands-on Energy Design Workshop sponsored by the City of Hailey, Blaine County and the local AIA Chapter.  The Energy Design Workshop gave builders and architects the opportunity to work in small groups with local home energy raters to achieve varying levels of above-code home energy performance.  The Workshop began with a presentation by David Neiger, which included a behind-the-scenes look at how home energy modeling works to create a miles per gallon rating for a home.  Following David’s presentation, the architects and builders broke into smaller groups, each targeting a different level of above-code energy performance from a HERS 70 to a HERS 35.  Each group began with the same code-built model and were given a menu of energy efficiency upgrades with associated costs.  At the end of the exercise, each group shared lessons learned, energy upgrades chosen and the percentage cost increase associated with reaching each HERS score.

Following the Energy Code Workshop, Populus presented regarding performance-based energy codes to the Hailey City Council and Blaine County Board of County Commissioners.  After returning from Idaho, the Populus team voyaged to New Mexico where Populus trained staff and officials from Los Alamos County and the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities regarding green building programs and performance-based energy codes.

You can learn more about the training and services that Populus offers for municipalities and building industry professionals here.

Populus is a full service sustainable design consulting firm that focuses on high performance, net-zero and near-net-zero custom residential and multi-family projects.  Populus guides architects and builders through the requirements of mandatory green building codes and optional green home certification programs, providing HERS rating, LEED for Homes Green Rater services and LEED for Homes training.  Visit Populus at www.popboulder.com.

Interested in residential energy codes?  The Department of Energy features a map on its website, denoting the status of residential and commercial energy codes by state.

As you can see on the map, while many states have adopted the 2003 or 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (or the “IECC”), there are many states that still lack state-wide energy codes.  You can also see from that map that of all the states that have adopted the 2003 IECC or better, Colorado and Tennessee are the only two states where jurisdictions within the state have set above-code requirements for home energy performance.  In addition, Texas, which has state-wide implementation of the 2001 IECC, also has some jurisdictions that require more aggressive levels of home energy performance.

Keep an eye on the Department of Energy’s energy code map!  In the near future we’re sure to see more and more states adopting the 2009 IECC and many jurisdictions setting more progressive above-code standards for home energy performance.

Populus is a full service sustainable design consulting firm that focuses on high performance, net-zero and near-net-zero custom residential and multi-family projects.  Populus guides architects and builders through the requirements of mandatory green building codes and optional green home certification programs, providing HERS rating, LEED for Homes Green Rater services and LEED for Homes training.  Visit Populus at www.popboulder.com.