US DOE Opens Second Round of Funding for Building Energy Codes

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has started the application process for the second cohort of the Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation Program funding, offering $90 million to local governments, state agencies and relevant organizations.

The grant is provided by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the  Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has appropriated $225 million for the update of building energy codes. The first instalment, which also amounted to $90 million, went to 27 projects across 26 states, as announced by the DOE July 12, 2023.

The latest round funds the crafting and implementation of codes, as well as the provision of relevant training and other forms of technical assistance, the DOE said in a news release.

Applicants must submit concept papers on the DOE’s EERE Funding Opportunity Exchange online platform by April 5, 2024, and have until June 6, 2024, to complete the full application process.

The latest DOE assessment on the potential impact of building energy codes said $8.41 billion in costs could be saved cumulatively by the residential and commercial sectors annually in 2030. From 2010 to 2040 cost savings could hit $182.1 billion yearly, the November 2023 report said, adding 840 million metric tons of carbon dioxide could be reduced over the 30 years.

“Accelerating modern energy code adoption is a key component of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to lower energy costs for working families, make communities more resilient to climate change-fueled extreme weather events, and achieve the nation’s ambitious clean energy and climate goals”, the department said.

“Building codes, and in particular building energy codes, have a significant impact on building resilience and occupant safety, helping increase the amount of time people can shelter in place during and following extreme weather and power outages, including extreme heat and cold events that are increasing in severity and frequency as a result of climate change”, the DOE explained. “Energy codes improve grid reliability, shelter-in-place capabilities, reduce mortality, and reduce property damage (e.g., frozen pipes, mold, etc.) during extended period of power outages”.

Applicants for the Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation Program funding must partner with a state or tribal government agency. “DOE will prioritize teams that include strategic partnerships, such as with local building code agencies, codes and standards developers, or associations of builders and design and construction professionals”, the DOE said. “Projects must support an updated building code that increases energy efficiency”.

Other selection criteria include established need, long-term sustainability and the capacity to support equity and environmental justice.

“This funding opportunity advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which set the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of Federal climate, clean energy, and other covered investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution”, the DOE said.

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