Commercial Energy Code Enforcement in Oregon and Washington

Abstract

In recent years, many states and local jurisdictions have passed mandatory building codes to achieve energy efficiency in new construction. All too often the political bodies that pass these codes assume that because it's the law, new buildings will be deigned and constructed to these new energy efficient standards. Two recent studies in Oregon and Washington indicate that due to a variety of reasons, just the opposite may be true for commercial buildings in these states. As a result, the intent of the law is being circumvented and the intended savings are not being realized.