I. Title of the Best Practice

II. Overview of the Best Practice

A. General Description
The United States has had energy efficiency building codes and equipment/appliance standards since the mid-1970s. Although both establish maximum levels of allowable energy use, they are implemented in different ways.

Appliance standards (which include commercial lighting and equipment as well as appliances) are implemented by the federal government and prohibit the sale or import of covered items that do not meet required efficiency levels. The Department of Energy determines the test procedures to be used to ensure compliance. These test procedures are also used to report the product's energy efficiency level on consumer labels that manufacturers must place on the products.

Energy standards for buildings are initially developed on a voluntary, consensus basis by professional organizations. These standards are now written in code-enforceable language to facilitate their adoption as legal codes by states or localities. The federal government participates in the code development process, including provision of extensive analysis of proposed provisions; must adopt codes for its own buildings that are at least as stringent as the professional standard; and must certify whether new versions of the professional standards are more energy efficient than the prevailing version. States must either certify that they have reviewed new code versions, or that they have adopted them.

B. Special Characteristics of the Best Practice
For both the appliance standards and building codes, the standards development processes have been recently re-focused on identifying cost-effective opportunities for additional energy savings. In both cases the development process is open to participation from all perspectives and subject to extensive public comment.

Appliance standards currently in place include: refrigerators, freezers, room and central air conditioners, heat pumps, water heaters, furnaces, dishwashers, clothes washers, clothes dryers, direct heating equipment, kitchen ranges and ovens, pool heaters, fluorescent lamp ballasts. New or upgraded standards are under development for other appliances, such as room air conditioners, ballasts, clothes washers, water heaters, and residential central air conditioners.

States consider adoption of new building codes after DOE has determined that the new version is more efficient than the prevailing version. Updated versions of both residential and commercial building energy codes are continuously being revised, with a new model residential energy code having just been adopted.
Codes are adapted to state and local circumstances in two ways. First, the codes themselves specify different levels of insulation and other building features for different climates. Second, adopting states may change code provisions to suit the building practices, materials, and other features of the local economy. Indeed, state experience with alternative code levels or options provide experience for future consideration in model code development.

Building code enforcement is usually through site visits during construction.

C. Reasons for Inclusion as a Best Practice
Has resulted in actual savings. Cumulative dollar and energy savings through the year 1997 for the appliance standards program are US$13.3 billion and 2.0 quadrillion Btus, corresponding to 37.3 MMTCE avoided.

Provides flexible implementation options. Both residential and commercial building codes allow builders to tradeoff among code provisions, provided they maintain at least the same level of energy efficiency as the code requires. For example, if a builder finds that a required R-30 roof is not compatible with the building design, the builder may lower the roof insulation, while increasing the efficiency of the furnace. In the case of appliance standards, manufacturers may chose any technologies that meet the required performance.

Builds on past successes through on-going updating of required efficiency levels. Residential building energy codes are usually updated every three years. Commercial building codes are upgraded every five to ten years, with less significant amendments added throughout the code cycle. Appliance standards are updated as new technologies emerge.

Based on an inclusive, transparent process. Although appliance standards are set directly by the federal government, and building code development is organized by professional groups, both processes include extensive involvement by all parties, including external review and public comment.

III. Categorizing the Best Practice

1. Classification(s) (Indicate main classification(s) only.)
( X ) Regulatory Approach (Policy approaches-- regulations, incentives, etc.)
( ) Practical Action (Action undertaken independently by a social actor)
( ) Social Network Mechanism (Cooperative structure)

2. Social Actor(s) Involved (Indicate main social actor(s) only.)
( ) Citizens
( X ) Central government
( X ) State government
( X ) Local government
( ) Not-for-profits
( X ) Business

3. Sector(s) (Indicate main sector(s) only.)
( X ) Energy
( X ) Household
( X ) Transportation
( ) Industrial Enterprises
( ) Other (Non-Industrial) -- Businesses (such as financial, insurance institutions)
( ) Agriculture/ Land Use/ Forestry (e.g., wood products laboratories, land planning, etc)
( ) Other (Please specify)

4. Target Greenhouse Gas(es)
( ) CO2
( ) CH4
( ) N2O
( ) HFC
( ) PFC
( ) SF6
( ) Other No specific greenhouse gas is targeted, as the program focuses on energy-efficiency improvements. Savings in greenhouse gases are, however, a significant by-product of the program.

IV. List of References

http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/codes_standards/index.htm

V. Please indicate a person to contact for more information about this Best Practice.

Contact Person:	Carl E. Adams
Title:	Office of Building Systems, EE-43
Organization:	U.S. Department of Energy
Email:	carl.adams@hg.doe.gov
Tel:	202-586-9127
Fax:	202-586-4617
Address:	1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585 USA