In 2021 Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council voted in favor of adopting the 2018 International Energy Conservation Codes with very minimal PA-specific amendments. This means all new buildings and major renovations must be built to these new codes. For residential buildings, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s analysis shows this update from the 2015 code will save Pennsylvania homeowners an average of $112.71. For more on their analysis see the full report: Cost-effectiveness Analysis of 2018 IECC - Pennsylvania (PDF).
As more efficient buildings can put money in building owner pockets and increase their profits, a building can save money by reducing ongoing utility and operating costs when it's built to or better than energy code. When the owner or their tenant saves money on utility bills, they're also improving productivity and occupant health. These are marketing tools for prospective clients, or tenants, with outcomes that can improve more than just the bottom line of utility bills. Energy codes and standards set minimum efficiency requirements for new and renovated buildings, assuring reductions in energy use and emissions over the life of the building.
A major step to supporting efforts in ensuring PA's buildings are built to the new code is by supporting energy code trainings for our energy code professionals. Through the US Department of Energy's State Energy Program (SEP), DEP's Energy Program’s Office is supporting free or reduced-cost building energy codes in-person workshops and virtual trainings. For more information about what is available, visit our contractor PSD and their schedule of upcoming trainings OR schedule one for your organization: Pennsylvania Energy Codes - PSD.
If you are interested in reading more about the Pennsylvania building energy code, you may visit: