New building energy codes will save Americans $138B over 3 decades

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

• The US Department of Energy announces energy-efficient new building codes to save consumers money and fight climate change.
• Bloomington, Indiana, launches its Bloomington Green Home Improvement Program.
• UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.

New US building energy codes

It’s not just adopting clean energy that’s essential to fight climate change – energy efficiency is also crucial.

US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm yesterday announced new building energy code determinations from the US Department of Energy that will save US homes and businesses $138 billion over a 30-year period in energy costs. That’s equivalent to $162 in annual savings per residential unit.

The projected savings include 9.4% for residential buildings and 4.7% for commercial buildings, compared to earlier model energy codes. That’s 900 million metric tons of avoided emissions, equivalent to annual emissions from nearly 200 million cars.

For example, residential building changes outlined in an energy savings analysis include such things as high-efficacy lighting; increasing wall, window, and ceiling insulation; and improving mechanical ventilation fan efficacy.

The DOE writes:

America’s 129 million…