Greater energy efficiency remains the order of the day among legislators, builders, designers and specifiers. With buildings comprising a significant 40 percent of overall energy consumption in North America, implementing best practices to reduce a building’s energy, carbon and environmental footprint and increase its performance has become commonplace. Not only is it the responsible thing to do, but more effective and efficient construction practices are now mandated in building codes throughout Canada and the United States. The reasoning is obvious. Energy consumption continues to increase. In fact, the energy needs of commercial buildings in the U.S. alone rose a dramatic 70 percent from 1980 to 2005 (U.S. Department of Energy Report—Energy Efficiency in Residential and Commercial Buildings, October 2008), fueled by new construction, population growth, economic changes and climbing energy prices. Fortunately, the motivation to build “green” has also grown among building owners, who cite energy costs, performance—including savings and occupant comfort—and government influence as major drivers behind the green trend.
Arguably, the word “trend” is misleading. Trends come and go, while the transition toward a more efficient and sustainable built environment is one that has firmly taken root from coast to coast. Currently, more than 75 percent of all states have adopted commercial energy codes to ASHRAE 90.1—2007/2009 IECC or higher. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that “model building energy codes and standards have the potential to save U.S. consumers an estimated $230 billion by 2040.” The environmental benefit equates to an astounding four billion metric tons of avoided carbon dioxide emissions. In Canada, 12 provinces and territories have adopted or are in the process of adopting more stringent building codes. As a result, building owners are expected to see approximately $70 million in cost savings in 2016 alone.