Consumer Engagement in Energy Codes

Consumers Union

Stacy Weisfeld, Campaign Organizer

Shannon Baker-Branstetter, Project Manager

What are energy codes?

• Energy performance baseline • Part of overall building code adopted by state and

local governments

Minimum standards for energy efficiency in new and renovated residential and commercial buildings.

Dan

Examples of Energy Code CriteriaWood-burning fireplaces must have

gasketed doors

A home with a forced-air furnace heating system must have a

programmable thermostat

The IECC requires builders to post an IECC certificate near the electrical distribution box.

International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

• National standard that Consumers Union references

• Updated every 3 years• 2012 is most current

Why Are Energy Codes Important?

• Reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions

• Save consumers $• Stimulate the economy and create green jobs• Ensure health and safety• Improve long term sustainability

Reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions

• 1/3 of total US greenhouse gas emissions from building sector

• 2012 IECC improves efficiency by 40% over 2003 code.

Save consumers $

• $800 more to build to 2009 code but payback with a 30 year mortgage is less than a year!

• Average household saves $200 a year in energy costs

• Average U.S. home spends $2,175 on utility costs per year over $180 per month!

Smart Investment

• Average cost of retrofitting homes is $4,800, compared to $800 to build it correctly from the start

•Costs up to 5-times more to repair energy leaks and inefficiencies after the fact

Arvind Balaraman

Help stimulate the economy and create green jobs

• Ease pressure on organizations that help families with their energy costs

• Alleviate demand to electrical grid and reduce need for new power plants

• Local businesses and labor to create efficient products and better insulate homes

Ensure health and safety

• Well built and more comfortable homes

• Consistent temperature in home

• Fewer drafts• More Americans can stay

cool in the summer and warm in the winter

Simon Howden

Resistance to Energy Codes

• Confidence in current practice, business-as-usual

• Lack of information on quantity of energy wasted

• Lack of enforcement• Unsure of costs/benefits

The Importance of Consumer Outreach

Why target consumers?

• Consumers can eliminate our biggest barrier – opposition from home builders.

• It’s hard to make policy changes without public support.• In communities where public support is high, energy

codes are easier to adopt.

• So… HOW to educate consumers?• THE FIRST STEP: Find out what motivates them.

BCAP & Consumers Union – conducted a survey to consumers

• PART 1: What messages resonate with consumers?1.Money saving?2.Environmental impacts?3.Quality construction?4.General benefits?5.Common arguments against energy codes?

Statement Prior to Survey

Energy codes are minimum requirements that builders must meet to ensure that homes

meet energy efficiency standards.

Consumers agreed with the following statements:

• Homebuilders should not make less efficient homes at the consumers’ expense (73%)

• Energy codes would help my energy bills be more affordable and predictable (71%)

• Energy codes help make homes more comfortable to live in (68%)

• Energy code standards will help to ensure quality home construction(70%)

Consumers agreed with the following statements:

• Energy codes should be enforced like other safety and quality standards of construction (75%)

• Homeowners should have a right to a home that meets national energy standards (82%)

• Energy code standards will help ensure that homeowner and taxpayer dollars are used wisely and efficiently as new building will be required to be built right the first time (74%)

• I would rather pay slightly more for a new home and have affordable, predictable operating costs and energy bills (79%)

Used Findings to Develop Resources for Consumers, Advocates and Professionals

1. Consumer Guide 2. Home Guide 3. Home Checklist4. Advocate Guide5. Consumer Handout6. Professional Handout7. Realtor Handout

Consumers Union Outreach

Consumers Union Outreach

Share Your Story Feature

How Partners Can Get Involved• Collaborate on information development• Collaborate on dissemination of materials

– events, meetings, newsletters, websites, listservs • Educate members and the community at large• How to reach new homeowners/communities

with new buildings – point of sale, lit drop in newly built communities,

city hall meetings?• Other?

Questions?

Contact information: Stacy Weisfeld, Campaign Organizersweisfeld@consumer.org, 202-462-6262Shannon Baker-Branstetter, Project Managerbakesh@consumer.org, 202-462-6262

Thanks to our partners at BCAP, Kelly Guhanick, Maureen Guttman and Maria Ellingson.