DOE Announces $400 Million in Funding for States and Territories to Improve Building Energy Efficiency through Energy Code Implementation

On September 19, 2023, DOE published program guidance and opened the application for $400 million in funding appropriated by IRA section 50131 for the adoption and implementation of building energy codes and zero energy codes that improve energy usage, increase efficiency, reduce utility bills, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and make buildings more climate resilient. This funding is made available via formula funding through the Administrative and Legal Requirements Document that provides federal guidance on adoption and implementation for two categories of building energy codes. $240 million of funds will be available for adopting and implementing the latest building energy code, the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for residential buildings and the ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2019 for commercial buildings or other codes with equivalent or greater energy savings. The other $160 million of funds will be available for adopting and implementing the zero energy provisions in the 2021 IECC or other codes with equivalent or greater energy savings.

A complementary competitive funding announcement will be released in the coming months that will provide direct support to states and local governments with code adoption authority.