BUILDING CODES
& ENERGY EFFICIENCY:
NEVADA
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 Ne-
vada, the next step should be the adoption of the latest
U.S. model residential and commercial energy codes –
the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code
(2009 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
condition of accepting $34.7 million1 in SEP funding,
Gov. Jim Gibbons certified to DOE2 that Nevada
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.
Nevada must now start laying the groundwork to suc-
cessfully implement the building energy code plans
submitted to DOE. It is in Nevada’s best economic in-
terest 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 Nevada.
BUILDING INDUSTRY BENEFITS
The national model code, the 2009 IECC, offers
flexibility to Nevada builders and design profession-
als, 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 Nevada will enable local ju-
risdictions 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 Nevada.
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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 A MODEL STATE ENERGY CODE FOR NEVADA
Sunrise over Reno, Nevada (Credit—Creative Commons)
N
evada has a nominal statewide energy code
based on the 2003 IECC. This code, however,
has not been actively supported or enforced
by the state. Jurisdictions in the southern and northern
halves of the state, though, have adopted regional energy
codes based on the 2006 IECC.3
In May 2009, Gov. Jim Gibbons signed SB 73 into law,
establishing the standards adopted by the Nevada State
Office of Energy as the minimum standards for building
energy efficiency and conservation. The Office of En-
ergy must adopt the most recent version of the IECC,
and the law requires local governments to adopt these
codes and enforce them.4
The 2009 IECC and Standard 90.1-2007 improve sub-
stantially upon the state’s codes and provide a simpler,
uniform path to benefit Nevada households and busi-
nesses through lower utility costs, increased comfort, and
better economic opportunity.5 Nevada can demonstrate
leadership on energy efficiency issues by regularly im-
proving the state energy code (in coordination with the
three-year model code update cycles, as SB 73 man-
dates4), thereby ensuring the consistency and ongoing
enhancement of model building practice.
ENERGY CONSUMPTION, PRICES & SUPPLIES
Nevada is rich in renewable energy potential but has
few fossil energy resources. Natural gas powers more
than half of the state’s electricity generation, and over
one-half of Nevada households use natural gas as their
** NOTES **
1
US DOE (http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=215)
2 8
US DOE (http://www.energy.gov/media/Gibbons_Nevada.pdf)
3 9
BCAP (http://bcap-energy.org/node/81)
4
BCAP (http://bcap-energy.org/node/432)
5 10
BCAP (http://bcap-energy.org/node/330)
6
US EIA (http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=NV)
7
US EIA (http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_rankings.cfm?
primary energy source for home heating. Coal supplied
primarily from Arizona and Utah provides about two-
fifths of the state’s electricity.6
Amidst growing residential and commercial energy de-
mand, Nevada’s building sector bears comparatively
high energy costs, paying the 15th-highest residential
electricity prices (about 10 percent above the national
average in fall 2009)7 and the 11th-highest overall energy
prices (about 15 percent above the national average)8,
making the state quite vulnerable to future fluctua-
tions in energy costs and peak demand. Reducing local
demand for electricity and natural gas will decrease costs
for consumers and increase profits for businesses.
AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE
With energy prices projected to rise sharply over the me-
dium- and long-term, reducing Nevada’s energy demand
will also enhance the state’s energy security and
stimulate its economy.
A limited DOE analysis of the changes from the state's
current residential code to the 2009 IECC resulted in
estimated energy savings of 13 to 17 percent, or $205
to $252 a year for an average new house at recent fuel
prices.9 Another DOE analysis of the changes from the
state's current commercial code to Standard 90.1-2007
estimates energy savings of 3 to 6 percent.10
Energy codes also offer large-scale gains. BCAP esti-
mates that if Nevada began implementing the 2009
IECC and Standard 90.1-2007 statewide in 2011
(making incremental steps toward 90 percent compli-
ance in 2017), the state would realize substantial sav-
ings over BCAP’s business-as-usual scenario:
By 2030, $302 million in annual energy cost savings for
households and businesses, or $2.6 billion from 2011-30.
By 2030, annual CO2 emissions reductions of 1.5 million
metric tons, or 13 million from 2011-30.
By 2030, residential sector source energy savings of 9
percent, representing annual savings of 13 trillion Btu.
By 2030, commercial sector source energy savings of 13
percent, representing annual savings of 14 trillion Btu.
For more information, please visit www.bcap-ocean.org
keyid=18&orderid=1)
US EIA (http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/states/sep_sum/html/pdf/rank_pr.pdf)
US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/state_codes/reports/residential/
Residential_Nevada.pdf)
US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/state_codes/reports/commercial/
Commercial_Nevada.pdf)
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Washington, DC 20036
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