Building Efficiency in the Southwest
Energy Codes | High Performance Homes | Green Building Initiatives

Beyond Code: Resources for State and Local Governments

As part of its mission to promote more energy efficient buildings in the Southwest, SWEEP is supporting local initiatives to develop and implement a range of strategies for promoting energy efficiency improvements in residential and commercial properties, including advanced building energy codes, green building incentives, and minimum energy efficiency standards for publicly funded projects.

While building energy codes set a floor on the energy efficiency of new buildings, it is possible to move well beyond minimum code requirements and reduce energy use in new buildings by 30% or more very cost effectively. SWEEP has developed the Going Beyond Code guide to help state and local governments design and implement successful efficiency programs for new commercial and residential buildings in the Southwest. The guide provides detailed descriptions and analysis of previously implemented programs, including lessons learned and best practices. The Guide addresses each of the primary areas that are typically addressed in beyond code or green building programs, including energy efficiency materials and resource conservation, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and site development and land use. The guide includes recommendations for developing and implementing beyond code programs as well as model energy codes.

The Guide provides detailed descriptions and analysis of previously implemented programs, including lessons learned and best practices. The Guide reviews national beyond code programs and standards, and assesses their applicability to state and local codes. States and localities can use the information on local programs, national codes and standards, and the model energy efficiency criteria for residential and commercial buildings to determine what which approach will work best for their jurisdiction, and develop and implement an effective beyond code program.

Information Resources

SWEEP Report: Going Beyond Code: A Guide to Creating Energy Efficient and Sustainable Buildings in the Southwest

• Executive Summary (185KB PDF)
• Full Report (5.6MB PDF)

Presentations

• SWEEP Beyond Code Guide (presentations prepared by the Britt/Makela Group)

• Residential Programs

• Commercial Programs

Municipal programs

• City of Aspen and Town of Carbondale, CO
• City of Boulder, CO
• Boulder County, CO
• City of Phoenix, AZ
• City of Scottsdale, AZ
• City of Steamboat Springs and Routt County, CO
• Pima County, AZ

Beyond Code and Green Building Program Resource Guides

• Aspen / Pitkin County, CO – Efficient Building Program Resource Guide
• Austin, TX – Sustainable Building Sourcebook
• Boulder, CO – Green Points Guidelines and Resources
• Carbondale, CO – Efficient Building Program Resource Guide
• Scottsdale, AZ – Green Home Buyer's Guide
• Summit County, CO – Summit Sustainable Building Resource Guide

Additional information resources

• Architecture 2030, Meeting the 2030 Challenge Through Building Codes
• Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP), Policy Action Tool
• Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE)
• International Code Council (ICC), Guide to Developing Green Building Programs and Ordinances
• ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Action Center
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Public Policy Database

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© 2002- Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
2260 Baseline Rd. Suite 212, Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 447-0078 fax: (303) 786-8054 info@swenergy.org
 

Last Updated: 03/05/2009