Press Releases

NBI studies impact of design decisions and operations on building energy use

November 29, 2011—With growing energy needs to run equipment and more complex HVAC and lighting systems in today’s commercial buildings, architects and engineers can only go so far in delivering on energy efficiency. Read more »

Online tool helps designers apply real-world experience to create daylit spaces

September 19, 2011—New Buildings Institute (NBI), a nonprofit working to improve energy performance of commercial buildings, announced today the official release of its Daylighting Pattern Guide, an online, no-cost resource to help industry professionals integrate proven daylighting strategies into commercial building projects. Read more »

2012 IECC is released with efficiency gains of up to 30 percent

July 28, 2011--The International Code Council today released the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which includes efficiency improvements of up to 30% over conventional commercial building practices. The IECC is updated every three years and serves as a model for jurisdictions to use as a starting point for local code development. Read more »

NBI’s technical director honored with BetterBricks Award

February 11, 2011—Mark Frankel, Technical Director at New Buildings Institute (NBI), was recognized for “Outstanding Industry Contribution” during the BetterBricks Awards breakfast today in Portland, Oregon. A licensed architect and experienced project manager and technical consultant, Frankel has spent his career working to improve the energy performance of buildings. Read more »

Historic changes to commercial building energy codes will drive energy efficiency

November 2, 2010—Local and state building code officials last week approved a package of revisions to the commercial section of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) that represent the largest single-step efficiency increase in the history of the national model energy code. The changes mean that new and renovated buildings constructed in jurisdictions that follow the 2012 IECC will use 30 percent less energy than those built to current standards. Read more »

Coalition submits final recommendations for changes to model energy code that will drive energy savings, cut carbon emissions

July 23, 2010—Two organizations working to make buildings greener and the federal Department of Energy have teamed to propose comprehensive changes to the nation’s model energy code that would help commercial structures use up to 30 percent less energy than current code practice. Read more »

High efficiency energy code proposals clear first hurdle

November 18, 2009--Model energy codes that require 30% better efficiency just got a step closer to reality. New Buildings Institute's (NBI) major code proposal, EC 147, was approved by a 6-5 vote on October 30 at the International Energy Code Council (IECC) Code Development Hearings in Baltimore, Maryland. The IECC is the model code recognized in federal law, green building standards and nearly all states. Read more »

NBI database features buildings that are at least 30% more energy efficient

October 19, 2009--Commercial building professionals have a new tool they can use to help them create high performance buildings. New Buildings Institute has teamed with the U.S. Department of Energy, and Building Green to create a searchable database that provides users with examples of buildings that perform at least 30% better than the CBECS (Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey) average for their type. Read more »

Energy Trust, Efficiency New Brunswick add Advanced Buildings Core Performance to commercial efficiency program offerings

October 16, 2009--The Energy Trust of Oregon and Efficiency New Brunswick join utilities and public benefits administrators around North America as sponsors of Advanced Buildings, a suite of tools and resources on best practices in energy-efficient, high performance building design. New Buildings Institute (NBI) developed and maintains the Advanced Buildings program to help architects, engineers, building owners, and others take advantage of the benefits of energy efficiency strategies in commercial building projects. Read more »

Changes to national model energy codes could help buildings save up to 25% on energy costs

June 11, 2009--New Buildings Institute (NBI) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) are proposing comprehensive changes to a national model energy code for new commercial buildings, the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which would create buildings that are 20‐25% more energy efficient than what today’s average standards require. Read more »