BUILDING CODES
& ENERGY EFFICIENCY:
NORTH DAKOTA
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 North Dakota, the next step should be the
adoption of 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
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. John
Hoeven certified to DOE1 that North Dakota 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.
Having already received $12.3 million2 in federal SEP
funding, North Dakota is eligible to receive an addi-
tional $12.3 million in grants upon demonstration of
the successful implementation of its energy plans sub-
mitted to DOE. It is in North Dakota’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 December 2, 2009
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 North
Dakota.
BUILDING INDUSTRY BENEFITS
The national model code, the 2009 IECC, offers
flexibility to North Dakota builders and design pro-
fessionals, 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 North Dakota will enable
local jurisdictions to pool limited resources and
combine personnel to form county-wide, regional,
and statewide enforcement and educational pro-
grams.
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 North Dakota.
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 NORTH DAKOTA

N
orth Dakota is currently one of only seven
states with no mandatory statewide energy
code3 for residential and commercial con-
struction. In May 2009, the state legislature passed a
law removing the state’s voluntary energy standards
and placed them under the purview of the North Da-
kota State Building Code. The state Building Code Ad-
visory Committee, in cooperation with the North Da-
kota Department of Commerce, now has the authority
to make recommendations for future editions of the
State Building Code that could include energy stan-
dards. The committee is scheduled to meet in spring
2010 to begin the process of adopting new codes.
Sunflowers in Traill County, SD (Credit—Creative Commons)
WHY ADOPT A STATEWIDE ENERGY CODE? expenditures per person7 under a very energy-intensive
Citizens of states that adopt and enforce the 2009 economy, ranking 4th in energy consumption per real
IECC statewide enjoy the benefits of lower utility bills, dollar of GDP.8 This can leave the state vulnerable
decreased energy demand, and lower air pollution than to future fluctuations in energy costs and peak de-
states with outdated, voluntary, or non-existent codes. mand. By adopting national baseline standards for
North Dakota should take advantage of the momen- building energy performance, North Dakota can
tous opportunity for federal financial assistance to mitigate the impacts of price uncertainty and be-
implement a mandatory statewide energy code. come one of the more efficient states in the nation.
A limited DOE analysis4 of the changes from the AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE
state's current building practice to the 2009 IECC re-
Energy prices are projected to rise sharply over the
sulted in estimated energy savings of 12 percent, or
next decade. By using energy codes to increase the
about $273 to $413 a year for an average new house
significant potential energy supply improved build-
at recent fuel prices.
ing energy efficiency produces, North Dakota can en-
When states regularly update and enforce their energy hance its energy security by reducing energy demand
codes in coordination with the three-year model code within its borders. Wise management of statewide en-
update cycles, they ensure the consistency and contin- ergy policy should include seizing the low-hanging
ued enhancement of the benefits of model building fruit that is the energy savings improved building en-
practice. By maintaining this commitment, North Da- ergy codes offer. Among the opportunities:
kota can achieve status on par with most other
If North Dakota updated its energy code to the 2009
state on energy efficiency issues by meeting national
IECC and required adoption and enforcement by all
standards.
local jurisdictions, businesses and homeowners
ENERGY RESOURCES AND EFFICIENCY would save an estimated $19 million annually by
2020 and an estimated $36 million annually by
North Dakota has considerable fossil fuel reserves, as
2030 in energy costs (assuming 2006 energy prices).
in-state coal production provides nearly all of its elec-
tricity generation.5 Due partly to high heating demand Additionally, adopting and implementing the 2009
in winter, North Dakota’s per capita energy con- IECC statewide would help avoid roughly six tril-
sumption is among the highest in the nation (ranked lion Btu of primary annual energy use by 2030
4th in 2007), despite its low population size (48th in and annual emissions of roughly 380,000 metric
2007).6 North Dakota also bears the 4th-highest energy tons of CO2 by 2030.
** NOTES ** For more information, please visit www.bcap-ocean.org
1 5
US DOE (http://www.energy.gov/media/4262HoevenNorthDakota.pdf) US EIA (http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=SD)
2 6
US DOE (http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=225) US EIA (http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/states/sep_sum/html/pdf/rank_use.pdf)
3 7
BCAP (http://bcap-energy.org/node/94) US EIA (http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/states/sep_sum/html/pdf/rank_pr.pdf)
4 8
US EIA (http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/state_codes/reports/residential/ US EIA (http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/states/sep_sum/html/pdf/rank_use_gdp.pdf)
Residential_North_Dakota.pdf)

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