Performance-Based Energy Codes

Populus has provided code consulting and training to municipalities throughout the West.

Whether you want to reduce energy consumption by the residential sector or to meet regional climate action goals by limiting residential greenhouse gas emissions, Populus has the experience and expertise to assist.
Populus has experience designing residential energy efficiency codes and programs to assist municipalities in meeting their goals.

Not sure where to set targets for your performance-based energy code? Need help quantifying energy and carbon emission reductions?

Populus offers consulting, program design and residential case studies to help municipalities set above-code residential energy performance standards. We can perform residential case studies that are relevant to your goals, explain the specific energy features required to build homes to varying levels of efficiency, and analyze associated energy savings and greenhouse gas reductions.

Municipalities throughout the world are adopting green building codes that address issues ranging from indoor air quality to energy efficiency. While traditional building codes mandate strict compliance with a set of prescriptive requirements, the next generation of building codes is performance-based, giving design teams the flexibility to tailor their own paths to compliance. These codes not only put the power of choice back in the hands of architects and builders, they reward efficient design and open opportunities for innovation.

Don’t take our word for it.

Populus has provided code consulting and training to municipalities throughout the West. Our recent engagements include:

City of Boulder, Colorado: Populus provided energy code design services and residential energy analysis for the proposed SmartRegs rental housing energy efficiency ordinance prescriptive pathway.
Boulder County, Colorado: Populus performed residental energy modeling and analysis to aid in revisions to Boulder County’s BuildSmart energy code. In addition, Populus was engaged to teach its Energy Code Workshop to County staff and officials in various departments.
Blaine County and City of Hailey, Idaho: Populus was engaged to assist in the creation of a performance-based energy code. Populus provided outreach and education services by training local architects, builders and stakeholders regarding residential energy modeling and home performance. In addition, Populus presented to the Blaine County Commissioners and Hailey City Council regarding green building programs and the implementation of above-code energy programs.
Los Alamos County, New Mexico and Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities: Populus was engaged to train public officials and staff regarding residential energy analysis, the interaction of voluntary green building programs and mandatory above-code programs and the implementation of performance-based and prescriptive energy codes.
City and County of Denver, Colorado: Populus was engaged to teach its Energy Design Workshop in an event sponsored by the Governor’s Energy Office, the Environmental Protection Agency and the City and County of Denver. The workshop promoted the EPA's ENERGY STAR for New Homes program and gave participants real-world experience working with an energy rater to weigh the cost and benefit of various energy efficiency improvement measures.