Buildings Blueprint Q3 2025
july – september 2025
Buildings Blueprint Q3
Welcome to SEEA’s Buildings Blueprint, where we share updates and resources on energy codes and the built environment across the Southeast and U.S. Island territories.
Resources
SEEDS Project
SEEA is excited to announce a new funding opportunity for non-profits and/or local governments across cities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee!
We will be awarding between seven to eight micro grants ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 to support initiatives to increase marketing and program awareness, provide case management, and stack local home repair, weatherization, and energy assistance programs.
Public Comment Open for 2027 IECC Draft
The International Code Council (ICC) has released the 2025 Public Comment Draft for the 2027 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The draft includes proposed technical changes from the 2024 IECC and is available online for review.
Public comment will be open from November 1 through December 15, 2025, and submissions must be made through energy.cdpACCESS.com. After reviewing feedback, the IECC Consensus Committees will finalize the 2027 IECC in accordance with ICC procedures.
Field Study Snapshots
SEEA recently published Residential Energy Code Field Study Snapshots, now available on our website! These snapshots quantify energy use and energy cost savings opportunities with improved compliance in seven Southeastern states based on an analysis of data collected in homes under construction using an approved methodology from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Each snapshot highlights state-specific key high-impact areas with the greatest potential to improve energy affordability. The intent is to provide actionable insights that guide future training, outreach, and resource development. Together, the findings help identify where improved code implementation can deliver the greatest efficiency gains and dollar savings for homeowners and communities.
FEMA Publishes Playbook
In June 2025, FEMA published the Building Codes Enforcement Playbook, developed with input from 11 building officials representing jurisdictions across the East Coast, Midwest, South, and Mountain West. The Playbook provides a framework for strengthening local code administration, from legal structures and inspection processes to digital modernization and performance evaluation. By improving consistency in materials, methods, and enforcement, jurisdictions can reduce costly design errors, enhance safety, and build long-term resilience.
For energy efficient buildings, the emphasis on effective enforcement is particularly significant. Proper code administration ensures that measures such as insulation, ventilation, and system performance meet the intent of energy codes in practice, not just on paper. The Playbook positions enforcement as a cornerstone of resilient, high-performing buildings and a vital investment in the nation’s safe and resilient built environment.
SSDN’s Green Minds Podcast
The Southeast Sustainability Directors Network (SSDN) produces the Green Minds Podcast, which explores how local governments are advancing sustainability and equity across the region.
This month’s episode, “Sustainability and AI” (Ep. 29), features Dr. Arun Majumdar of Stanford University discussing how artificial intelligence is shaping energy management, climate modeling, and city operations.
Tennessee Commercial Code Update
DOE’s Building Energy Codes Program recently updated its state energy code adoption maps to reflect state energy codes recently in effect. With Tennessee’s recent commercial update to an amended version of the 2021 IECC, the equivalent level of code efficiency represented on the maps for Tennessee has also changed. Updated maps and the corresponding energy index tables are available at https://www.energycodes.gov/state-portal.
On the commercial map, the Tennessee Commercial Energy Code equivalency moved from ASHRAE 90.1-2007 to 90.1-2016. Our analysis team determined the code equivalency to be in line with ASHRAE 90.1-2016. Additionally, Tennessee’s updated commercial code is now reflected on the DOE state webpage here: https://energycodes.gov/status/states/tennessee.
Regional News
REScheck and COMcheck Now Support LA Energy Code
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released REScheck-Web Version 4.1.0 and an updated COMcheck-Web, now supporting the 2021 Louisiana Residential Building Energy Conservation Code. The update, published on September 5, 2025, allows builders, designers, and contractors to verify that new homes, additions, and renovations comply with Louisiana’s latest residential energy code.
REScheck and COMcheck also assist local building officials and inspectors by streamlining compliance review for both residential and commercial projects. These tools are developed and maintained by DOE’s Building Energy Codes Program, which provides technical assistance to states implementing model and state-specific energy codes.
Both programs are available online through DOE’s Building Energy Codes Program at energycodes.gov/rescheck.\
Benchmarking Big Buildings in the Big Easy
On July 10, 2025, the New Orleans City Council adopted its first Building Energy Benchmarking Ordinance (Ordinance No. 35,154), requiring large buildings to track and report their annual energy use. Beginning in 2026, properties over 50,000 square feet must submit data through the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Starting in 2027, properties between 20,000 and 50,000 square feet will also be required to report. Properties that fail to comply could face fines of $1,000–$3,000, though penalties will be waived in the first year of required participation. The City will publish this information annually to improve transparency, guide efficiency policies, and advance its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Large commercial buildings account for about 20 percent of citywide greenhouse gas emissions, making this ordinance a cornerstone of New Orleans’ Climate Action Plan. City leaders emphasize the benefits of benchmarking: more efficient buildings, lower energy costs, and stronger community resilience. “Benchmarking is a foundational step that opens the door to smarter investments and stronger communities,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
The city has already seen success with benchmarking its own municipal buildings. Since 2012, the City of New Orleans has tracked energy use across its municipal building portfolio, cutting consumption by 23 percent between 2018 and 2021. According to the EPA, buildings that benchmark save an average of 2.4 percent in energy use each year, underscoring the potential citywide impact.
For more information regarding the ordinance and information on how to get started, visit https://nola.gov/benchmarking or reach out to benchmarking@nola.gov.
Utility Affordability in Louisville
The Louisville Metropolitan Housing Coalition (MHC) has released its 2025 Affordability Beyond the Rent report, developed in collaboration with SEEA’s Director of Research, Will Bryan. The report examines the growing impact of rising energy and water costs on housing affordability in Louisville, identifying trends that link high utility burdens to energy insecurity and overall housing stability.
According to MHC, one in three Kentucky households is energy insecure, a challenge that mirrors broader trends across the Southeast. The report highlights barriers to affordable utilities and outlines opportunities to reduce household costs through efficiency investments, targeted programs, and improved policy coordination.
Southeast Leaders In LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program is one of the most recognized benchmarks for sustainable construction in the United States. To highlight where green building is most concentrated, 24/7 Wall St. analyzed certification data from the USGBC as of July 2025. Cities were ranked based on the number of LEED-certified commercial and institutional buildings per 10,000 housing units, using U.S. Census Bureau housing data. Only cities with at least 300 certified projects were included in the rankings.
We are proud to showcase that several cities in the SEEA region placed in the top 25 nationally:
- #25 – New Orleans, LA: 30.6 LEED-registered buildings per 10,000 housing units
- #21 – Arlington, VA: 52.2 per 10,000 housing units
- #17 – Alexandria, VA: 66.7 per 10,000 housing units
- #12 – Jacksonville, NC: 149.8 per 10,000 housing units
The authors concluded that cities with a high density of LEED certified buildings tend to have local policies or programs incentivizing energy-efficient buildings and local expertise to support program success. In addition, building portfolio owners with energy efficiency goals, such as universities and the military, also make a big impact.
These rankings show how sustainable construction practices are expanding across the Southeast, with both large and mid-sized cities demonstrating measurable progress in integrating energy-efficient design and construction into the built environment.
Home Repair Program Boosts Weatherization Efforts in NC
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) has launched a $10 million Home Repair Weatherization Readiness Program to assist communities hit hardest by Hurricane Helene. The initiative, a companion to the state’s Weatherization Assistance Program, will provide $6 million to the Western Piedmont Council of Governments and $4 million to existing service providers, with the goal of supporting repairs in more than 575 households.
These homes were previously deferred from weatherization services because they required major repairs that existing funding could not cover. The new program provides repair assistance so those households can move forward with efficiency upgrades that lower utility bills, improve indoor air quality, and strengthen resilience. DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson called the funding a critical step in long-term recovery, while North Carolina Governor Josh Stein noted that families are still awaiting federal recovery support nearly a year after the storm.
What SEEA Staff is Reading
NC Homeowner Cuts Energy Bill in Half
In Buncombe County, North Carolina, homeowner Doris Boyd saw her monthly Duke Energy bill cut in half after receiving free efficiency upgrades through the local nonprofit Energy Savers Network. The process began when she enrolled in Duke Energy’s Customer Assistance Program, which provides monthly bill credits for qualifying households and connects participants to partners like Energy Savers for additional home upgrades. Volunteers later sealed air leaks, replaced a door, and installed a new heat pump at no cost to Boyd.
The program connects participants to local partners that deliver weatherization and retrofit services for lasting savings. Since 2016, Energy Savers has upgraded about 1,400 homes, installing insulation, efficient lighting, and new HVAC systems that reduce energy use and improve comfort. Advocates say the initiative could serve more than 100,000 customers annually if expanded.
Boyd’s story shows how bill assistance and home improvements can work together to ease energy burdens. “It’s only her in the house,” she said of her 93-year-old aunt, who also hopes to enroll. “She could really use this program.”
Solar Savings Under Scrutiny in the Sunshine State
Orlando is on track to power all of its municipal buildings with renewable energy by early 2027, three years ahead of schedule. Mayor Buddy Dyer highlighted the milestone in his recent State of the City address, noting that the city’s shift to solar is both a climate strategy and a financial investment. Between now and late 2026, the city will invest roughly $4 million in solar projects expected to generate annual savings for Orlando taxpayers of about $400,000 within a decade.
The city has also pursued broader efficiency upgrades since 2011, issuing a $17.5 million bond to fund 55 projects such as LED lighting, HVAC replacements, and smart building automation. Those measures have reduced energy use in city facilities by 20 percent since 2018 and now save about $2.5 million each year.
While city officials frame these efforts as both fiscally and environmentally responsible, Florida’s Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) has launched an audit of Orlando and other local governments, examining spending practices and program records. Despite the audit, city leaders maintain that the investments will deliver long-term value for residents, with efficiency gains and solar power building resilience and lowering costs for the future.
Efficiency Upgrades for a Kentucky Public School
Warren County Public Schools (WCPS) in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is the state’s fourth largest and fastest-growing district, adding about 450 students each year. To meet rising demand, WCPS is integrating energy-efficient design into new construction and renovations.
Recent projects include geothermal systems at Briarwood Elementary and the WCPS Board Office. Additional facilities such as Warren Elementary, Greenwood High School, Dillard Elementary, the Impact Center, and a new Central/Board Office are being built with geothermal heating, and several will also feature solar power.
According to Chris McIntyre, COO/CFO for the district, the goal is to link energy efficiency directly to long-term community benefits: “Warren County Public Schools is dedicated to staying ahead of the curve when it comes to energy efficiency and innovation. By leveraging clean energy technologies, we’re not just building better schools for today — we’re creating a sustainable foundation for generations of students to come.” These upgrades are expected to lower long-term operating costs, allowing the district to direct more funding toward classrooms, resources, and teacher pay.
Data Centers in North Carolina
As the Southeast becomes a hub for large-scale computing, North Carolina is navigating how to balance rapid data center expansion with grid reliability. Amazon Web Services has announced a $10 billion, 800-acre computing campus in Richmond County, marking the largest capital project in the state’s history. To the west of Charlotte, Apple, Microsoft, and Google are expanding operations across Catawba and Caldwell counties, forming a growing data center corridor. A proposed load-flexibility agreement between Duke Energy and these facilities could reduce the need for new gas plants and major transmission upgrades. Google also recently signed demand-response agreements with Indiana Michigan Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority, representing the first integration of AI-enabled data center flexibility into U.S. utility planning.
Nashville Schools Save Energy with TVA
Since 2021, 26 Nashville schools have partnered with Nashville Electric Service (NES) through the Tennessee Valley Authority’s School Uplift program to reduce energy use and lower operating costs. The program trains an “energy champion” at each school, paired with an energy coach, to implement efficiency measures ranging from LED lighting and thermostat adjustments to simple behavioral changes like turning off unused lights.
At Cole Elementary, these efforts have reduced energy bills by 8 percent, saving about $22,000 annually. Over five years, that adds up to more than $100,000 in savings with no capital investment required. Students chose to reinvest their grant funds in sunshades and bleachers near the playground, linking energy savings directly to school improvements.
Any K–12 school in Tennessee can apply for School Uplift grants of $10,000 to $200,000. To date, TVA has invested roughly $8 million in the program, helping 430 schools statewide cut costs and energy use. Recruitment is now open for the 2026–27 school year, with plans to support 130 more schools.
Events
SEEDS RFP WEBINAR
SEEA’s SEEDS Project RFP is now live. Join us for an informational webinar covering the project framework, proposal requirements, and time for Q&A. Local governments, nonprofits, and community partners interested in supporting low-income households are encouraged to join!