BUILDING CODES
& ENERGY EFFICIENCY:
ARKANSAS
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 Ar-
kansas, the next step should be the adoption of the lat-
est U.S. model residential and commercial energy
codes – the 2009 International Energy Conservation
Code (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 con-
dition of accepting $39.4 million1 in SEP funding,
Gov. Mike Beebe certified to DOE2 that the state
would implement energy standards of equal or greater
stringency than the latest national model codes and
achieve 90 percent compliance in new and renovated
residential and commercial building space by 2017.
Arkansas must now start laying the groundwork to suc-
cessfully implement the building energy code plans
submitted to DOE. It is in the state’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 Arkan-
sas.
BUILDING INDUSTRY BENEFITS
The national model code, the 2009 IECC, offers
flexibility to Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas.
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
www.bcap-ocean.org
 A MODEL STATE ENERGY CODE FOR ARKANSAS
View from Petit Jean Mountain above the Arkansas River
(Credit – Ryan/Beyer/Getty Images)
A
rkansas’s current energy code for residential
and commercial construction – the 2004 Ar-
kansas Energy Code – is based on the 2003
IECC. It became effective October 1, 2004.3 This
code, however, does not achieve the energy savings
of the latest national model codes.
The 2009 IECC and Standard 90.1-2007 improve sub-
stantially upon the 2003 IECC and provide a simpler,
uniform path to benefit Arkansas households and
businesses through lower utility costs, increased com-
fort, and better economic opportunity.4
A limited DOE analysis of the changes from Arkan-
sas’s current residential code to the 2009 IECC re-
sulted in estimated energy savings of 14 to 15 per-
cent, or about $242 to $245 per year for an average
new house at recent fuel prices.5 Another DOE analy-
sis of the changes from the state’s current commercial
code to Standard 90.1-2007 estimates energy and cost
savings of 3 to 4 percent.6
EFFICIENCY AND PERFORMANCE
Despite its average population size (ranked 32nd in
2007), Arkansas has a high per capita energy con-
sumption (15th) and an energy-intensive economy,
ranking comparatively high in energy consumption per
real dollar of GDP (11th).7 This can leave the state
** NOTES **
1 6
US DOE (http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7607.htm)
2
US DOE (http://www.energy.gov/media/Beebe_Arkansas.pdf)
3 7
BCAP (http://bcap-ocean.org/state-country/arkansas)
4 8
BCAP (http://bcap-energy.org/node/330)
5 9
US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/publications/techassist/residential/
Residential_Arkansas.pdf)
vulnerable to future fluctuations in energy costs
and peak demand. By adopting national baseline
standards for building energy performance, Arkansas
can mitigate the impacts of price uncertainty and be-
come a more efficient state.
HOUSEHOLD PROSPERITY
In 2008, Arkansas ranked 47th in the nation in per
capita personal income,8 yet ranked 19th in per capita
energy expenditures.9 Energy expenses comprise an
economic drain on low-income communities. Low-
income households typically spend 17 percent of
their total annual income on energy, compared with
four percent for other households. According to some
estimates, more than four-fifths of energy expenses
leave low-income communities. Higher energy costs
deprive these communities of resources they need to
generate additional economic activity.
AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE
With energy prices projected to rise sharply over the
medium- and long-term, reducing Arkansas’s energy
demand will also enhance the state’s energy security
and stimulate its economy.
Energy codes also offer large-scale gains. BCAP esti-
mates that if Arkansas began implementing the 2009
IECC and Standard 90.1-2007 statewide in 2011
(making incremental steps toward 90 percent compli-
ance in 2017), it would realize substantial savings
over BCAP’s business-as-usual scenario:
By 2030, $187 million in annual energy cost savings
for households and businesses, or $1.6 billion from
2011-30.
By 2030, annual CO2 emissions reductions of 900,000
metric tons, or 8.6 million metric tons from 2011-30.
By 2030, residential sector source energy savings of 6
percent, representing annual savings of 7 trillion Btu.
By 2030, commercial sector source energy savings of
11 percent, representing annual savings of 10 trillion
Btu.
For more information, please visit www.bcap-ocean.org
US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/publications/techassist/commercial/
Commercial_Arkansas.pdf)
US EIA (http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/states/sep_sum/html/pdf/rank_use_gdp.pdf)
US BEA (http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/spi/2009/pdf/spi0309.pdf)
US EIA (http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/states/sep_sum/html/pdf/rank_pr.pdf)
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