Codes and standards

Importantly, three broad categories of standards are relevant to the appraiser of green and high-performance buildings:

• Green building codes and ordinances
• Energy efficiency standards applying to buildings as a whole
• Energy efficiency standards applying to the equipment within buildings

Energy-oriented building codes and standards are becoming increasingly common at the federal, state, and local level.

• Overview of the U.S. Department of Energy's building codes program: status, tools, compliance, technical assistance
  • Rules and regulations for renewable energy (federal, state, utility, local) - a snapshot of government and utility rules, regulations and policies that promote renewables in the United States
• International Codes Council (ICC)
• Responsible Energy Codes Alliance (RECA)
• Efficacy of code compliance
• Green-building ordinances
• The Insurance Services Office produces a Building Code Effectiveness Rating Scale for cities based on quality and enforcement of building codes, and insurance premiums (and hence buildings’ cash flow) can be adversely impacted by sub-par ratings.

The U.S. Department of Energy maintains a searchable database of energy-related building codes by states (see maps). Interactive information, by state, can be accessed here.

Non-Residential Residential