Building energy codes are regulatory standards that establish minimum energy efficiency requirements for buildings. They bring tremendous benefits to the cities and countries that implement them. They change the energy footprint of all new buildings, which over time has a large impact on the total building stock.
Building energy codes can bring energy savings in the form of reduced energy imports and shortages, improved local air quality and climate change mitigation, while creating jobs and saving money. They are win-win strategies, but achieving these benefits requires closely coordinated strategies for code development, adoption and implementation, as well as evaluation and improvement.
