Kentucky’s Department of Housing and Buildings Construction (DHBC) is currently considering the adoption of new building codes (which are set at the state level and cannot be altered by local jurisdictions). Louisville Metro Government’s (LMG) Mayor’s Office of Sustainability (OS) is interested in advocating for the 2024 IBC building code and 2024 IECC energy code standards (Kentucky currently enforces the energy efficiency standards of the 2012 IECC for commercial buildings and the 2009 IECC for residential). Standardizing higher energy efficiency in buildings can allow the building industry to more efficiently plan, procure inventory, train workforce, reduce energy costs, and create a healthier environment. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that moving from the 2009 energy code to the 2024 energy code could save a Kentucky household $687 annually. LMG is receiving technical guidance on energy code comparisons from the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to inform our next steps.

We invite you to provide input and collaborate with us during this process per the timeline below:

• October 11 at 12 pm Eastern Time – Register here - Virtual public/stakeholder meeting with MEEA and partners to kick-off coordination. OS will discuss its proposed comments on the building code update and encourage feedback and coordination with others who are interested in engaging in this process.