BUILDING CODES

& ENERGY EFFICIENCY:

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Updated February 1, 2010

B
uildings account for roughly 40 percent of the
total energy use in the United States and 70 per-
cent of our electricity use, representing a signifi-
cant opportunity for energy savings. Energy efficiency—
through the adoption and enforcement of strong building
energy codes – is the quickest, cheapest, and cleanest way
to reduce energy consumption and achieve a sustainable
and prosperous future. For most states, the first step has
been to adopt the U.S. model 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) – the federal stimulus leg-
islation appropriating funds for a variety of state initia-
tives – allocated $3.1 billion for the U.S. Department of
Energy’s State Energy Program (SEP) to assist states with
building energy efficiency projects. As one of the require-
ments to receive this funding, Gov. John Lynch certified
to DOE1 that New Hampshire would implement 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 $12.9 mil-
lion2 out of a total $25.8 million in SEP funds, New
Hampshire has highlighted the state’s best economic in-
terest by adopting the 2009 IECC & Standard 90.1-2007.
THE ECONOMIC & ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF
THE NATIONAL MODEL ENERGY CODES
The 2009 IECC3 substantially improves upon the state’s
current codes and makes it simpler to provide New
Hampshire households and businesses lower utility costs,
increased comfort, and better economic opportunity. A
limited DOE analysis4 of the changes from states’ current
residential codes to the 2009 IECC resulted in esti-
mated energy savings ranging from 5-20 percent in
most states for an average new house at recent fuel
prices. Another DOE analysis5 of the changes from New
Hampshire’s current commercial code estimates energy
savings of 4-6 percent from Standard 90.1-2007.
According to models created by the Building Codes As-
sistance Project, New Hampshire is poised to make sub-
stantial economic and environmental gains in the next
two decades by embracing building energy efficiency:
By implementing the 2009 IECC and Standard 90.1-
2007 statewide beginning in 2010, New Hampshire
businesses and homeowners will save an estimated
$17 million annually by 2020 and an estimated $33
million annually by 2030 in energy costs (based on
2006 energy prices).
Additionally, implementing the latest model codes will
help avoid over 3 trillion Btu of primary annual
energy use by 2030 and annual emissions of more
than 200,000 metric tons of CO2 by 2030.
OTHER BENEFITS OF THE 2009 IECC
The successful implementation of and compliance with
the national model codes also produces multiple eco-
nomic and environmental benefits and gains for the
building and utility industries:
New and renovated construction over 30 percent more
energy efficient than typical buildings not constructed
to meet national model energy standards
Expansion of the state economy by keeping local dol-
lars in New Hampshire
Simplified guidelines for builders and designers, cost-
effectiveness optimization, and uniformity throughout
the state
Improved indoor/outdoor air quality and reduced
greenhouse gas emissions from lower demand for elec-
tricity, natural gas, and heating oil
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 NEW HAMPSHIRE: BEYOND THE MODEL ENERGY CODE

T
he Granite State’s minimum mandatory energy
standards are codified in the New Hampshire
Code for Energy Consumption in New Con-
struction. The current version of this code6 is based on
the 2006 IECC and became effective in August 2007. In
December 2009, the New Hampshire State Building
Code Review Board completed its process7 to incorpo-
rate the 2009 IECC and Standard 90.1-2007 by reference
in the latest edition of the state energy code. These new
standards will be effective on April 1, 2010.
Adoption, however, is only the first step. The state
must now implement its new code. As another condition
of accepting the Recovery Act SEP funds, states must
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH (Credit—John J. Henderson)
achieve compliance with these new standards in 90 per-
cent of new and renovated residential and commercial
building space by 2017.8 Chapter 11 of the IRC and replacing it with a refer-
ence to the 2009 IECC, as the 2010 Maryland Building
Additionally, New Hampshire should consider following Performance Standards (MBPS) has done. The MBPS
the example of other states that are proven leaders in en- also explicitly prohibit local amendments to the state
ergy efficiency by continuing to develop and adopt inno- code that weaken the stringency of its energy efficiency
vative policies that go beyond the national model codes. standards.12
AUTOMATIC ENERGY CODE STATUTE UPDATES UNIFORM VOLUNTARY “STRETCH CODE”
When states regularly update and enforce their energy In 2009, Massachusetts approved Appendix 120AA as an
codes they ensure the consistency and continued en- optional amendment to its mandatory statewide building
hancement of the benefits of model building practice. energy code.13 The appendix, which includes both resi-
The 2012 edition of the IECC is expected to be published dential and commercial code language, is designed to be
in January 2011. about 30 percent more stringent than the 2006 IECC and
The Green Communities Act of 2008 requires Massa- ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004. This optional "stretch
chusetts to adopt each new IECC edition within one code" was developed in response to the call for improved
year of its publication.9 local building energy efficiency. Towns and cities may
adopt the appendix as a uniform alternative to the base
In 1999, the Pennsylvania passed Uniform Construc- energy efficiency requirements of the state code, easing
tion Code of 1999 (amended in 2004), requiring the future transitions to strengthen the mandatory code.
state to adopt updated editions of the IECC by Decem-
ber 31 of their publication year.10 MANDATORY GREEN BUILDING CODE
In January 2010, California adopted the nation’s first
REMOVE CONTRADICTORY COMPLIANCE OPTIONS
mandatory green building standards, known as CAL-
Many states have adopted the 2009 International Resi- Green.14 Effective in 2011, the new code will require all
dential Code (2009 IRC) along with the IECC. For vari- new buildings to reduce indoor water use by 20 percent
ous reasons, however, many builders use the energy effi- and divert 50 percent of construction waste from land-
ciency standards (Chapter 11) of the IRC, which DOE fills. CALGreen also mandates inspections of energy
has stated is not equivalent to the IECC and does not systems for large nonresidential buildings and the use of
comply with Recovery Act requirements.11 States can low-pollutant emitting interior finish materials such as
avoid contradictory compliance options by deleting paints, carpet, vinyl flooring, and particle board.
** NOTES ** For more information, please visit www.bcap-ocean.org
1
US DOE (http://www.energy.gov/media/Lynch_New_Hampshire.pdf) adoption-2009-iecc-code-effective-april-1)
2 8
US DOE (http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7501.htm) American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Sec. 410 (2) (c)
3 9
BCAP (http://bcap-energy.org/node/330) (http://bcap-energy.org/files/MASS_GreenCommunitiesAct_S2768_0.pdf)
4 10
US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/state_codes/reports/ PA DLI (http://bcap-energy.org/files/PA_UCC_Act_1999.pdf)
11
IECC2009_Residential_Nationwide_Analysis.pdf) US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/news/irc_iecc_arra.stm)
5 12
US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/state_codes/reports/commercial/ MD Codes Admin. (http://mdcodes.umbc.edu/dhcd2/mbps.html)
13
Commercial_Vermont.pdf) MA BBRS (http://bcap-energy.org/node/418)
6 14
BCAP (http://bcap-ocean.org/state-country/new-hampshire) CA BSC (http://bcap-ocean.org/news/2010/january/21/california-adopts-nations-first
7
BCAP (http://bcap-ocean.org/news/2009/december/14/new-hampshire-finalizes- -mandatory-green-building-standards)

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