Ryan Meres, RESNET Program Director, is a frequent contributor to The Builder’s Daily newsletter. In his latest article, “Energy Codes are Complicated: Time for a Simpler Approach?”, Ryan gives an overview of the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and how disparate energy code compliance is across the country. He also discusses how the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that homes financed by either agency must meet the 2021 IECC and that it will accept the 2024 IECC or future editions of the IECC when they are adopted. So how can builders get ahead of energy code changes at the state and local levels and capture incentives along the way? Ryan notes that for builders already using a HERS® Rater to demonstrate energy code compliance through the Simulated Building Performance or Energy Rating Index (ERI) compliance options, determining whether a home is eligible for ENERGY STAR or Zero Energy Ready Homes (ZERH )certification is fairly easy. Determination of eligibility for certification can be done by a HERS Rater using accredited energy modeling software—the same software used for energy code compliance. Lastly, Ryan covers how states like Texas have created an example of a state setting target scores for the future and giving builders and product manufacturers advanced notice of when they will need to meet higher levels of efficiency. Read the full article at https://www.thebuildersdaily.com/maximizing-incentives-and-value-for-energy-efficient-new-homes/ The Builder’s Daily is a data-driven media company dedicated to serving key stakeholder interests in real estate and construction’s value chain. Through daily insights and our solutions-focused program agenda, they cover single-family for-sale, for-rent, and multifamily market-rate and affordable development, finance, policy, and construction, all from the standpoint of serving to improve access to better decision-making. For more information, visit https://www.thebuildersdaily.com/
