How much does it really cost to build a home that uses dramatically less energy? According to a new analysis by ICF Consulting, the answer is surprisingly modest. A home built to the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) uses roughly twenty percent less energy than a comparable home built to the 2009 code, while homes built to the latest 2024 IECC deliver even greater savings. Achieving those gains requires an upfront investment of only a few thousand dollars. In return, homeowners receive decades of lower utility bills and greater comfort. These long-term benefits stand in sharp contrast to claims by the National Association of Homebuilders that modern energy codes add tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a new home. By measuring the cumulative costs of the prescriptive requirements in the 2015 and 2024 IECC, the analysis offers builders, policymakers, and homebuyers a detailed picture of what today’s energy codes actually cost.
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Posts Tagged: homebuilding
5-Million HERS®-Rated Homes and Counting
Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET®) recently announced an important milestone achievement: more than 5 million HERS-rated homes. It’s a massive number that reflects the organization’s momentum and impact on the energy-efficient homebuilding industry, but more than that, it’s a sign that builders and buyers value the energy performance rating, which is among the most recognized in the homebuilding industry.
This week, Insulation Institute delves into the HERS-score value proposition, why growth in HERS-rated homes should accelerate, and where the organization sees room to advance energy-efficient home building for a new generation of home buyers.
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