While Q3 2024 was slow for federal standards, it was busy for codes. After two prolific quarters, the U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) slowed the number of dockets for standards, but this lull is not expected to last. More than 10 final rules are expected before the end of the year, and U.S. DOE staff are working hard to get those rules ready for publication.
On the other hand, code activities ramped up after the completion of energy codes for Oregon, Washington, and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Both Washington and the International Code Council (ICC) started their next round of code updates. The process, which takes two to three years, often means a busy time for NEEA staff because it involves formation of Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) and development of code proposals for consideration.
NEEA participated in three proposals for code funding through the Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation (RECI) section of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The U.S. DOE announced in September 2024 that all three proposals were accepted and has started the contracting process for these projects. Two of the projects are focused on code support for rural communities; the third project supports a broad range of code activities in the region.
NEEA’s training and education activities remained steady for Q3 2024 with in-person and on-demand trainings available in each state. Details are provided later in this newsletter. Finally, NMR Group was selected to develop the next Market Progress Evaluation Report for commercial and residential codes. The evaluation is expected to be completed in late 2025.
