Expanding the Building and Construction Market for Plastics Through State Energy Efficiency Codes

A key market for plastics is energy-efficient products used in building and construction. State energy conservation building codes are a major driver in increasing the demand for such products as plastic insulating materials. These codes set minimum standards for energy efficiency in residential and commercial construction. They also help establish a “level playing field” to market building products statewide, regionally, and nationally. State and local jurisdictions often use national model energy codes as a starting point for their own codes. 

Two of the most widely used model codes for energy conservation are the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC®) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1-1999.

The IECC® is a comprehensive code that sets energy efficiency requirements for residential buildings by offering both prescriptive and performance-based approaches that rely on the use of plastic products such as insulation, housewrap and foam sheathing, sealants, vinyl windows and doors. The IECC® is referred to as a “model” code because it was developed through a public hearing process by national experts who received input from builders, code administrators, designers, product manufacturers and government representatives. It is regularly updated as technology, construction practices, and market-driven forces improve the way buildings use energy.

ASHRAE 90.1-1999 provides comparable energy efficiency requirements for commercial buildings. 

Presently, over 30 states have current IECC® or state equivalent standards for residential construction and an equal number of states have current ASHARAE 90.1 or state equivalent commercial energy efficiency requirements. As of August 2006, several states including Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Mississippi, Missouri, South Dakota, and Wyoming do not have mandatory statewide residential or commercial energy codes, and a number of others have outdated standards.

As part of our strategic objective to increase the appreciation and demand for the performance benefits of plastics in the building and construction market, ACC is a key member of a coalition promoting state and local adoption of energy efficiency codes. The Responsible Energy Codes Alliance (RECA) is a consortium of energy efficiency professionals, product and equipment manufacturers, and trade associations that work to adopt the highest energy efficiency building standards in all states and localities. RECA members lobby, present testimony and comment on proposals for state and local officials to adopt and implement the most recent IECC®.

spotlight

The polyurethane industry, working together through the American Chemistry Council's (ACC) Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) and the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA), has launched an enhanced product stewardship program to support further understanding of the benefits of spray polyurethane foam and its continued safe use and handling. A part of this outreach, a new Spray Polyurethane Foam Health and Safety website, www.spraypolyurethane.com, has been launched by CPI and SPFA that contains new materials, literature and posters to increase understanding of spray polyurethane foam (SPF) product stewardship information.

learn more...

Stay Informed