BUILDING CODES
& ENERGY EFFICIENCY:
WEST VIRGINIA
B
uildings account for almost 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. New con-
struction is the most cost-effective point in the life of a
building to establish minimum energy efficiency ele-
ments. Building energy codes serve as a logical start-
ing point for comprehensive modern policies to reduce
energy dependence and extend our natural resources.
For the state of West Virginia, this first step should be
the adoption of the U.S. model energy codes, the In-
ternational Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and
ASHRAE Standard 90.1.
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 as-
sist states with building energy efficiency efforts. As
one of the requirements to receive this funding, Gov.
Joe Manchin certified to DOE1 that the state would
implement energy standards of equal or greater strin-
gency than the latest national model codes—the 2009
edition of the IECC and Standard 90.1-2007.
Given this unprecedented opportunity to receive $32.7
million in federal SEP funding2 for building energy
efficiency, it is in the state’s best economic interest to
adopt the 2009 IECC and Standard 90.1-2007 state-
wide and begin enjoying the benefits of an efficient
building sector.
Updated August 17, 2009
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Consumers will save money well into the future by
reducing utility bills, minimizing the negative im-
pacts of fluctuations in energy supply and cost, and
conserving available energy resources. Retail and
office buildings constructed to meet the require-
ments of the IECC can be over 30 percent more
energy efficient than typical buildings not con-
structed to meet national model energy standards.
Monetary savings derived from codes increase a
consumer's purchasing power, and help expand
West Virginia’s economy by keeping local dollars
in the state.
BUILDING INDUSTRY BENEFITS
The national model code, the 2009 IECC, offers
flexibility to West Virginia builders and design pro-
fessionals, allowing them to optimize the cost-
effectiveness of energy efficient features in their
building products, and to satisfy the variety of con-
sumer preferences.
The 2009 IECC also simplifies guidelines for build-
ers, providing a uniform statewide code with multi-
ple options for compliance.
Uniformity throughout West Virginia will enable
local jurisdictions to pool limited resources and
combine personnel to form county-wide, regional,
and statewide enforcement and education programs.
UTILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
An energy code improves the energy efficiency per-
formance of all new buildings and reduces demand
on power generators, therefore improving the air
quality of local communities throughout the state.
Electricity use is one of the leading generators of air
pollution. Rising power demand increases emis-
sions of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides and carbon
dioxide. Energy codes have proven to be one of the
most cost-effective means for addressing these and
other environmental impacts.
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 A MODEL STATE ENERGY CODE FOR WEST VIRGINIA

W est Virginia currently observes outdated state-

wide energy codes3 for its residential and
commercial building sectors based on the
2003 IECC. With the passage of legislation this May4
directing the State Fire Commission to adopt the 2009
IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2007, West Virginia is poised
to become one of the first states to adopt the latest na-
tional model codes.
WHY UPDATE WEST VIRGINIA’S ENERGY CODE?
When states regularly update and enforce their energy
codes (often coordinated with the three-year model
code update cycles), residents enjoy the benefits of in- The New River Gorge Bridge in Fayetteville, West Virginia
creased comfort in their homes and savings in their Credit: (c) 2004 Craig Cunningham, West Virginia 24/7.
utility bills.
cent for other households. According to some esti-
With increased awareness of national energy security
mates, more than four-fifths of energy ex-
issues and projections of sharp energy cost increases,
penses leave low-income communities. This economic
state governments can demonstrate leadership by meet-
drain deprives these communities of resources they
ing national standards.
need to generate additional economic activity.
West Virginia’s current code is two cycles behind the
national model codes. We now have an opportunity to AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE
take steps that will establish minimum energy perform-
ance standards for new commercial and residential With the state’s prodigious mining economy, West Vir-
buildings as well as provide strategic options for better ginia is rich in energy resources. The potential energy
management of our energy supplies. supply available through improved building energy
efficiency, however, provides a significant untapped
ENERGY SUPPLIES
resource that can be made available through energy
West Virginia is the top coal-producing state east of the codes. With energy prices projected to rise exponen-
Mississippi River, accounting for more than one-tenth of tially over the next decade, West Virginia can reduce
U.S. total coal production and the state’s high electricity electricity demand within its borders and further en-
production. Combined with relatively low consumption hance its energy security. Wise management of the
in-state, West Virginia leads the nation in net interstate state’s energy resources indicates that the state should
electricity exports.5 Reducing local demand for electricity seize the low-hanging fruit that building energy codes
and natural gas would free up even more of the state’s offer. Among the opportunities:
energy resources for export to other states, decreasing
costs for consumers and increasing profits for businesses. If West Virginia updated its energy code to the 2009
HOUSEHOLD PROSPERITY IECC, businesses and homeowners would save an
estimated $17 million by 2020 and an estimated $33
In 2006, West Virginia ranked next to last in the nation million by 2030 in annual energy costs (assuming
in per capita income, yet ranked 15th in per capita 2006 energy prices).
energy expenditures.6 This has a significant impact in
terms of household finances. Energy expenses comprise Additionally, adopting the 2009 IECC statewide
an economic drain on low-income communities. Low- would help avoid 5.5 trillion Btu of primary annual
income households typically spend 17 percent of their energy use and annual emissions of 382,000 metric
total annual income on energy, compared with four per- tons of CO2 by 2030.
** NOTES ** For more information, please visit www.bcap-ocean.org
1 4
US Dept. of Energy (http://www.energy.gov/media/3154ManchinWestVirginia.pdf) BCAP (http://bcap-energy.org/node/373)
2 5
US Dept. of Energy (http://www.energy.gov/westvirginia.htm) US EIA (http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=WV)
3 6
BCAP (http://bcap-energy.org/node/98) US BEA (http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/spi/2007/spi0307.htm)

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