Q3 2025 Codes, Standards and New Construction Newsletter

This quarter, the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) staff continued to champion the role of building codes and standards in helping to make homes and appliances more affordable for consumers. Montana and Idaho stakeholders were active this quarter as they considered moving to 2024 International Energy Code (IECC). Both states’ agencies have requested comments on this decision, and code collaboratives facilitated by NEEA staff have developed comments in response. There seems to be broad support for adopting IECC 2024, potentially with fewer amendments than in the past. Washington state’s code was delayed until 2026, and Oregon remains on track to complete its residential code in 2025.

At the federal level, the U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) requested feedback on the manufactured home standard approved in 2023. NEEA staff and other stakeholders are preparing comments to encourage DOE to implement this standard as soon as possible because it provides significant measurable consumer value.

New construction training continued throughout the summer. NEEA also kicked off a project with the Regional Technical Forum to support an update to the New Homes Standard Protocol that will bring it up to date with the latest code changes and explore ways to include prescriptive elements.