BUILDING CODES
& ENERGY EFFICIENCY:
COLORADO
B
uildings account for roughly 40 percent of the
total energy use in the United States and 70
percent of our electricity use, representing a
significant opportunity for energy savings. Energy effi-
ciency—through the adoption and enforcement of
strong building energy codes—is the quickest, cheap-
est and cleanest way to reduce energy consumption and
achieve a sustainable and prosperous future. For the
state of Colorado, the next step should be the adoption
of the U.S. model energy codes—the 2009 Interna-
tional Energy Conservation Code (2009 IECC) and
ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007.
In February 2009, the American Recovery and Rein-
vestment Act (Recovery Act) – the federal stimulus
legislation appropriating funds for a variety of state
initiatives – allocated $3.1 billion for the U.S. Depart-
ment of Energy’s State Energy Program (SEP) to assist
states with building energy efficiency efforts. As one
of the requirements to receive this funding, Gov. Bill
Ritter certified to DOE1 that Colorado would imple-
ment energy standards of equal or greater stringency
than the latest national model codes—the 2009 edition
of the IECC and Standard 90.1-2007.
Having already received $24.6 million2 in SEP funds,
Colorado is eligible to receive $49.2 million in total
grants upon demonstration of the successful implemen-
tation of its energy plans submitted to DOE. It is in
Colorado’s best economic interest to adopt the 2009
IECC and Standard 90.1-2007 statewide and begin
enjoying the benefits of an efficient building sector.
Updated January 11, 2010
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Consumers save money by reducing utility bills,
minimizing the negative impacts of fluctuations in
energy supply and cost, and by conserving available
energy resources. Retail and office buildings con-
structed to meet the requirements of the IECC can
be over 30 percent more energy efficient than
typical buildings not constructed to meet national
model energy standards.
Monetary savings derived from codes increase a
consumer's purchasing power, and help expand the
state’s economy by keeping local dollars in Colo-
rado.
BUILDING INDUSTRY BENEFITS
The national model code, the 2009 IECC, offers
flexibility to Colorado builders and design profes-
sionals, allowing them to optimize the cost-
effectiveness of energy efficient features in their
building products, and to satisfy a variety of con-
sumer preferences.
The 2009 IECC also simplifies guidelines for build-
ers, providing a uniform code across the state with
multiple options for compliance.
Uniformity throughout Colorado will enable local
jurisdictions to pool limited resources and combine
personnel to form county-wide, regional, and state-
wide enforcement and educational programs.
UTILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
Energy codes improve the energy efficiency per-
formance of new buildings and reduce demand on
power generators, therefore improving the air qual-
ity of local communities throughout Colorado.
Electricity use is a leading generator of air pollution.
Rising power demand increases emissions of sul-
fur dioxide, nitrous oxides and carbon dioxide. En-
ergy codes are a proven, cost-effective means for
addressing these and other environmental impacts.
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 A MODEL STATE ENERGY CODE FOR COLORADO

C
olorado’s current energy code requires juris-
dictions that have adopted building codes to
adopt the 2003 IECC or any successor edition.
Many local communities have adopted and enforced
their own progressive codes.3 This code, however,
does not achieve all of the energy savings potential
of the 2009 IECC applied statewide. The Colorado
Legislature has the authority to create a mandatory
statewide energy code.
The 2009 IECC improves substantially upon the
state’s codes and makes it simpler to provide Colorado
households and businesses lower utility costs, in-
creased comfort, and better economic opportunity.4 A Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction,
limited DOE analysis of the changes from the state's Colorado (Credit—David Jolley)
current residential code to the 2009 IECC resulted in
estimated energy savings of 13-14 percent, or $213 United States.7 Reducing local demand for electricity
to $266 a year for an average new house at recent fuel and natural gas would free up more of the state’s en-
prices.5 Another DOE analysis of the changes from the ergy resources for export, decrease costs for con-
state's current commercial code to Standard 90.1-2007 sumers, and increase profits for businesses.
estimates energy savings of about 4-5 percent.6
AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE
When states regularly update and enforce their energy
codes (in coordination with the three-year model code Energy prices are projected to rise sharply over the
update cycles), they ensure the consistency and contin- next decade. By using energy codes to increase the
ued enhancement of the benefits of model building significant potential energy supply improved build-
practice. By maintaining this commitment, Colorado ing energy efficiency produces, Colorado can enhance
can demonstrate leadership on energy efficiency its energy security by reducing energy demand within
issues by meeting national standards. its borders. Wise management of statewide energy
policy should include seizing the low-hanging fruit
STATE ENERGY SUPPLIES that is the energy savings improved building energy
Colorado has substantial conventional fossil fuel and codes offer. Among the opportunities:
renewable energy resources. It is a top natural gas- If Colorado began implementing the 2009 IECC and
producing state and has significant oil and coal re- Standard 90.1-2007 statewide in 2011, businesses
serves. Coal- and natural gas-fired power plants domi- and homeowners would save an estimated $103
nate electricity generation in Colorado. Coal-fired million annually by 2020 and an estimated $210
plants account for over seven-tenths of the state’s gen- million annually by 2030 in energy costs (assuming
eration and natural gas-fired plants account for close to 2006 energy prices).
one-fourth. About three-fourths of Colorado house-
holds use natural gas as their primary energy source Additionally, implementing the latest model codes
for home heating, one of the highest shares in the na- would help avoid about 33 trillion Btu of primary
tion. Colorado uses about one-fourth of its coal output annual energy use by 2030 and annual emissions of
and transports the remainder to markets throughout the more than 1.8 million metric tons of CO2 by 2030.
** NOTES ** For more information, please visit www.bcap-ocean.org
1
US DOE (http://www.energy.gov/media/3152RitterColorado.pdf) residential/Residential_Colorado.pdf)
2 6
US DOE (http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=211) US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/state_codes/reports/
3
BCAP (http://bcap-energy.org/node/65) commercial/Commercial_Colorado.pdf)
4 7
BCAP (http://bcap-energy.org/node/330) US EIA (http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=CO)
5
US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/state_codes/reports/

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