BUILDING CODES
& ENERGY EFFICIENCY:
TEXAS
B
uildings account for almost 40 percent of the
total energy use in the United States and 70
percent of our electricity use, representing a
significant opportunity for energy savings. New con-
struction is the most cost-effective point in the life of
a building to establish minimum energy efficiency
elements. Building energy codes serve as a logical
starting point for comprehensive modern policies to
reduce energy dependence and extend our natural
resources. For the state of Texas, this first step should
be the adoption of the U.S. model energy codes, the
International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
and ASHRAE Standard 90.1.
In February 2009, the American Recovery and Re-
investment Act (Recovery Act) – the federal stimu-
lus appropriating funds for a variety of state initia-
tives – allocated $3.1 billion for the U.S. Department
of Energy’s State Energy Program (SEP) to assist
states with building energy efficiency efforts. As one
of the requirements to receive this funding, Gov.
Rick Perry certified to DOE that the state would im-
plement energy standards of equal or greater strin-
gency than the latest national model codes—the 2009
edition of the IECC and Standard 90.1-2007.
Having already received $109.4 million in federal
SEP funding, the state is eligible to receive an addi-
tional $109.4 million in grants upon demonstration of
the successful implementation of its energy plans
submitted to DOE. To ensure the state’s best eco-
nomic interests, to adopt the 2009 IECC and Stan-
dard 90.1-2007 statewide and begin enjoying the
benefits of an efficient building sector.
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Consumers will save money well into the future by
reducing utility bills, minimizing the negative im-
pacts of fluctuations in energy supply and cost, and
conserving available energy resources. Retail and
office buildings constructed to meet the require-
ments of the IECC can be 30-40 percent more en-
ergy efficient than typical buildings not constructed
to meet national model energy standards.
Updated August 17, 2009
Monetary savings derived from codes increase a con-
sumer's purchasing power, and help expand the
Texas economy by keeping local dollars in the state!
BUILDING INDUSTRY BENEFITS
The national model code, the 2009 IECC, offers
flexibility to Texas builders and design profession-
als, allowing them to optimize the cost-
effectiveness of energy efficient features in their
building products, and to satisfy a variety of con-
sumer preferences.
The 2009 IECC also simplifies guidelines for build-
ers, providing a uniform statewide code with multi-
ple options for compliance.
Uniformity throughout Texas will enable local juris-
dictions to pool limited resources and combine per-
sonnel to form county-wide, regional and statewide
enforcement and educational programs.
UTILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
An energy code improves the energy efficiency per-
formance of all new buildings and reduces demand
on power generators, therefore improving the air
quality of local communities and throughout the
state.
Electricity use is one of the leading generators of air
pollution. Rising power demand increases emis-
sions of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides and carbon
dioxide. Energy codes have proven to be one of the
most cost-effective means for addressing these and
other environmental impacts.
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Washington, DC 20036
www.bcap-energy.org
 A MODEL STATE ENERGY CODE FOR TEXAS
T
exas currently observes outdated statewide en-
ergy codes for its residential and commercial
building sectors based on the 2000 IECC and its
2001 supplemental edition.
WHY UPDATE THE TEXAS ENERGY CODE?
When states regularly update and enforce their energy
codes (often coordinated with the three-year model
code update cycles), residents enjoy the benefits of
increased comfort in their homes and savings in
their utility bills.
With increased awareness of national energy security
issues and projections of sharp energy cost increases,
state governments can demonstrate leadership by
meeting national standards.
Texas has not updated its energy codes since 2001.
We now have an opportunity to take steps that will
establish minimum energy performance standards for
new commercial and residential buildings as well as
provide strategic options for better management of our
energy supplies.
ENERGY SUPPLIES
Due to its large population and an energy-intensive
economy, Texas leads the nation in energy consump-
tion, accounting for more than one-tenth of total U.S.
energy use. It also tops the list in consumption of coal,
natural gas, petroleum, and retail electricity (U.S. En-
Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas
ergy Information Administration). Reducing local
electricity and natural gas demand would free up
more of the state’s energy resources for export to
other states, decreasing costs for Texas consumers
and increasing profits for businesses.
HOUSEHOLD PROSPERITY
In 2006, Texas ranked 25th in the nation in per capita
personal income, yet ranked 4th in per capita energy
expenditures (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis).
This has a significant impact in terms of household
finances. Energy expenses comprise an economic
drain on low-income communities. Low-income
households typically spend 17 percent of their total
annual income on energy, compared with four per-
cent for other households. According to some esti-
mates, more than four-fifths of energy expenses leave
low-income communities, and therefore do not circu-
late and generate additional economic activity inside
those communities.
AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE
Texas is the leading crude oil, natural gas, and elec-
tricity producer in the nation. The potential energy
supply available through building energy effi-
ciency, however, provides a significant untapped re-
source that can be made available through more strin-
gent energy codes. With energy prices projected to
rise exponentially over the next decade, Texas can
reduce electricity demand within its borders and fur-
ther enhance its energy security. Wise management of
the state’s energy resources indicates that the state
should seize the low-hanging fruit that building en-
ergy codes offer. Among the opportunities:
Assuming a common practice equivalent to the 2000
IECC with its 2001 supplement, if Texas updated its
codes to the 2009 IECC, homeowners and businesses
would save an estimated $866 million by 2020 and
an estimated $1.68 billion by 2030 in energy costs
(assuming 2006 energy prices).
Additionally, adopting the 2009 IECC statewide in
Texas would help avoid 224.1 trillion Btu of primary
annual energy use and annual emissions of 16.3 mil-
lion metric tons of CO2 by 2030.
For more information, please visit www.bcap-energy.org.
1850 M St. NW Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
www.bcap-energy.org