Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) Assistance for the Adoption of the Latest and Zero Building Energy Codes

for Round 2 Full Applications will be accepted in Infrastructure Exchange under record/FOA number DE-RD2-0003056. Note that Modification 003 removes the requirement for Concept Paper submissions and the opportunity is now open for full applications. The Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) is issuing this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). Awards made under this FOA will be funded, in whole or in part, with funds appropriated by Section 50131 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, Assistance for Latest and Zero Building Energy Code Adoption. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) provides up to $1 billion for States and units of local government with the authority to adopt building energy codes to adopt and implement the latest building energy codes, zero energy building codes, or equivalent codes or standards. An energy code is one of several types of building codes that help contribute to the overall health, safety, efficiency, and long-term resilience of buildings. Energy codes can be adopted directly as a standalone code, such as the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which is commonly adopted by States and local governments. Moreover, energy codes are also fundamental components of certain more broadly adopted building codes, including the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC), which are referenced in the United States as “parental” codes. Energy codes are often described as a subset of these broader building codes, representing distinct chapters of the IBC and IRC alongside other commonly recognized provisions, such as those pertaining to structural, plumbing, or electrical requirements, and other basic aspects of building design and construction. Adoption and implementation of such codes supports the decarbonization of new and existing residential and commercial buildings. This opportunity assists eligible entities in further decarbonizing their buildings through the adoption of the latest national model building energy codes, zero energy codes, other codes that deliver equivalent or greater energy savings, including innovative approaches to decarbonize existing buildings through certain measurable and enforceable requirements. The IRA is unprecedented in its opportunity to support sustainable change at the State and local level with respect to advancing the energy efficiency of new, renovated, and existing buildings. DOE is particularly interested in supporting States and local governments in implementing local capacity building, multi-year investments in workforce and education, and long-term improvements in building energy codes through multi-cycle adoption and building performance standards (BPS). Building energy codes establish minimum levels of energy efficiency for new and existing residential and commercial buildings. Model energy codes, such as the 2021 IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019, are developed and updated through national consensus processes. States and local governments ultimately implement building energy codes, which are handled through various adoption, compliance, and enforcement processes and can vary widely across the United States. Many States have consistently received funding through their State Energy Plan to support the adoption of traditional building energy codes. In addition to this competitive funding opportunity announcement a formal funding announcement was published on September 19, 2023 for States pursuing pre-approved code packages.