In 2009, New Hampshire pledged that by 2017, they would achieve 90% compliance with the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The state received $26M in ARRA funds, $600,000 of which was earmarked for the Building Code Compliance Program. New Hampshire has taken significant steps towards IECC 2009, but is being hampered by the legislature delaying final enactment of the code. Later this fall, the legislature will be considering an opportunity to update and correct the code, but this unfortunate set back has regressed the state’s energy code to the IECC 2006 standards, which results in lost energy savings in both new construction and building renovation.

There are many reasons why the Building Code Compliance Program is important to New Hampshire. Some of the more important reasons include: Assurances made for ARRA, Reducing emissions, Saving energy and stabilizing costs and Improving the comfort of buildings/work areas. Although there has been a delay in the legislative process, a majority of New Hampshire’s building owners are already pursuing some of the anticipated outcomes of having improved building performance, reduced energy use and stabilized costs through other avenues. They are having their buildings benchmarked and re-tuned, or planning their energy future through an energy management plan.