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SEDAC's Energy Code Smart Tips

Illinois Stretch Code: Commercial

The Illinois Stretch Energy Code allows municipalities and projects funded by the Capital Development Board to achieve greater energy efficiency […]

Alternative Code-compliant Framed Wall Assemblies

One of the major challenges with advancing energy codes is helping the homebuilding community learn how to comply with the […]

Illinois Stretch Code: Residential

A stretch code is a more demanding code than a base code that some jurisdictions elect to adopt to gain […]

SEDAC Engineers Attend National Energy Codes Conference

Recently SEDAC Engineers Shawn Maurer and Ryan Siegel attended the 2024 National Energy Codes Conference hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy […]

Energy Codes & Energy Resilience

Energy codes dictate building performance related to energy use and conservation through design, materials,and methods of construction. The codes provide […]

Build Tight, Ventilate Right

“Build tight, ventilate right” is an often-repeated motto of those who consider energy efficiency and comfort as critical to the […]

Cold Climate Heat Pumps Work!

Heat pump technology is far from new. The concept was first developed in the mid to late 1800’s and has […]

2021 IECC: Code Basics and Simplifying Code Compliance Workshop

SEDAC Energy Code trainers Shawn Maurer and Ryan Siegel traveled to Springfield on October 17, 2023 to present an energy […]

Building Electrification

Building electrification describes the shift to using electricity rather than burning fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal for heating […]

Illinois Stretch Energy Code

On September 15, 2021, Governor Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2408, enacting the Illinois Energy Transition Act (formerly known as the […]

2021 IECC Significant Changes

Updates to the International Energy Conservation Code (2018 to 2021) aim to improve building energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases. […]

Zero Code

In 2018, the non-profit organization Architecture 2030 created the Zero Code with the goal of reducing overall building sector emissions […]

Passive House

Do you know Passive House certified homes use about 90% less energy than the average home? Passive House building standards […]

Energy Code Benefits for Architects & Engineers

Energy codes provide an opportunity for architects and engineers to serve the public good by creating buildings with low environmental […]

Energy Code Benefits for Homeowners and Realtors

For over 25 years, building energy codes have played a significant role in saving American homeowners money on utilities while […]

Urbana downtown

Energy Code Benefits for Communities

How do energy codes benefit communities? Energy codes lower utility costs, increase resilience to climate events, reduce pollution, place less […]

Construction worker drilling a hole into a board

Energy Code Benefits for Contractors

A common myth is that energy codes are bad for the construction industry. In fact, energy codes have many benefits […]

Image capture of Manual J

Manual J Load Sizing

Check out SEDAC's Energy Code Smart Tip on Manual J Load Sizing. Learn about why modern buildings need Manual J […]

hot water circulator

Domestic Hot Water Recirculation

Can Domestic Hot Water Recirculation Systems Conserve Energy? The US Department of Energy estimates that more than 400 billion gallons […]

Crawlspace wall spray foam

Below-grade Insulation

Check out our new Energy Code Smart Tip for below-grade insulation! What insulation is required for below-grade walls? On the […]