Buildings and Climate

A Neglected Climate Topic: Buildings

by Conor Ploeger

As people move to Montana in droves, housing demand has increased aggressively and housing affordability seems to be a thing of the past. Builders are eager to capitalize on this demand and construct houses as quickly — and cheaply — as possible. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial for Montana to have up-to-date building codes to reduce carbon emissions and help Montanans to save money on their utility bills. Fortunately, the Montana Department of Labor & Industry is considering adopting updated codes this fall.

Buildings account for almost one-third of global carbon emissions. In the U.S., more than 40% of total energy use is for heating and cooling buildings, and residential and commercial buildings are responsible for about 13% of greenhouse gas emissions. When a building or home is built or renovated, building codes determine how much energy that building will need annually.

Energy-efficient homes and buildings also allow owners to save on operating costs. By providing more natural light, better ventilation, and better temperature control in their homes and buildings, owners can save money on costly utility bills.

It is also cheaper to build energy-efficient buildings from the outset, rather than retrofit them down the line. Replacing a building’s lighting design, improving the insulation, or plumbing is often pricey and time-consuming. The cost and time of retrofit projects only increase if the building is older, because the building was never designed to accommodate modern technologies.

The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) provides a model for energy codes designed with energy efficiency in mind. The energy codes modeled after the IECC include various requirements such as improved insulation, energy-efficient windows, and better systems to heat or cool a home or business. The IECC updates its recommendations every three years to adapt to advancements in technology and research, and the most recent recommendations were published this year.

Most states adopt the IECC as their statewide energy code, including Montana. Here, local building codes fall under the jurisdiction of the Montana Building Codes Bureau at the Department of Labor. Once the department adopts the IECC, local governments may then choose to enforce the building energy codes.

The 2021 IECC offers many improvements