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 its electricity use, representing a sig-
nificant 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, prosperous future. For Colo-
rado, the next step should be the adoption of the latest
U.S. model residential and commercial energy codes –
the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code
(2009 IECC) and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007.
In February 2009, the American Recovery and Rein-
vestment Act (Recovery Act) – federal legislation ap-
propriating funds for a variety of state economic initia-
tives – allocated $3.1 billion for the U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE) State Energy Program (SEP) to assist
states with building energy efficiency efforts. As a
condition of accepting $49.2 million1 in SEP funding,
Gov. Bill Ritter certified to DOE2 that Colorado would
implement energy standards of equal or greater strin-
gency than the latest national model codes and achieve
90 percent compliance in new and renovated residen-
tial and commercial building space by 2017.
Colorado must now start laying the groundwork to suc-
cessfully implement the building energy code 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 the construction of a more
efficient building sector.
Updated September 14, 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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Washington, DC 20036
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 A MODEL STATE ENERGY CODE FOR COLORADO
Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction
(Credit—David Jolley)
A
s a home rule state,3 Colorado’s current code
statute4 requires jurisdictions that have
adopted a building code to adopt an energy
code that meets or exceeds the state minimum code,
the 2003 IECC. While this does not mandate energy
code adoption, most major jurisdictions have done so,
and many communities like Denver5 are developing
their own progressive codes. This code, however, does
not achieve the energy savings potential of the 2009
IECC applied statewide. The state legislature has the
authority to create a mandatory statewide energy code.
The 2009 IECC and Standard 90.1-2007 improve sub-
stantially upon the 2003 IECC and provide a simpler,
uniform path to benefit Colorado households and
businesses through lower utility costs, increased com-
fort, and better economic opportunity.6
Colorado can demonstrate leadership on energy effi-
ciency issues by regularly improving the state energy
code (in coordination with the three-year model code
update cycles), thereby ensuring the consistency and
ongoing enhancement of model building practice.
STATE ENERGY SUPPLIES
Coal- and natural gas-fired power plants dominate
electricity generation in Colorado, respectively gener-
ating roughly 70 percent and 25 percent of the state’s
power. About three-fourths of Colorado households
** NOTES **
1 6
US DOE (http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=211)
2 7
US DOE (http://www.energy.gov/media/3152RitterColorado.pdf)
3 8
BCAP (http://bcap-ocean.org/resource/energy-codes-home-rule-west)
4
BCAP (http://bcap-ocean.org/state-country/colorado)
5 9
BCAP (http://bcap-ocean.org/news/2010/may/06/denver-completes-2009-iecc-
amendments-city-council-ordinance-next)
use natural gas as their primary energy source for
home heating, one of the highest shares in the nation.7
Colorado has substantial fossil fuel and renewable en-
ergy resources, ranking as a top natural gas producer
along with significant oil and coal reserves. The state
consumes roughly 25 percent of its coal output and
transports the remainder to other U.S. electricity mar-
kets.7 Reducing local demand for electricity and
natural gas would free up more of the state’s energy
resources for export, decrease costs for consumers,
and increase profits for businesses.
AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE
With energy prices projected to rise sharply over the
medium- and long-term, reducing Colorado’s energy
demand will also enhance the state’s energy secu-
rity and stimulate its economy.
A limited DOE analysis of the changes from the
state's current residential code to the 2009 IECC re-
sulted in estimated energy savings of 13 to 14 per-
cent, or $213 to $266 a year for an average new
house at recent fuel prices.8 Another DOE analysis of
the changes from the state's current commercial code
to Standard 90.1-2007 estimates individual building
energy savings of about 4 to 5 percent.9
Energy codes also offer large-scale gains. BCAP esti-
mates that if Colorado began implementing the 2009
IECC and Standard 90.1-2007 statewide in 2011
(making incremental steps toward 90 percent compli-
ance in 2017), the state would realize substantial sav-
ings over BCAP’s business-as-usual scenario:
By 2030, $522 million in annual energy cost savings for
households and businesses, or $4.6 billion from 2011-30.
By 2030, annual CO2 emissions reductions of 2.4 million
metric tons, or 22 million from 2011-30.
By 2030, residential sector source energy savings of 9
percent, representing annual savings of 19 trillion Btu.
By 2030, commercial sector source energy savings of 14
percent, representing annual savings of 24 trillion Btu.
For more information, please visit www.bcap-ocean.org
BCAP (http://bcap-energy.org/node/330)
US EIA (http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=CO)
US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/state_codes/reports/
residential/Residential_Colorado.pdf)
US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/state_codes/reports/
commercial/Commercial_Colorado.pdf)
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Washington, DC 20036
www.bcap-ocean.org