High Performance Buildings

High performance buildings pair the benefits of energy efficiency, electrification, and building materials to improve energy outcomes and human health. View our free, expert-vetted resources on high performance buildings below.

Downloadable Resources

• Energy Codes Then & Now, 1983 – 2021 (ICC Graphic)
• ICC Guide to Energy Codes and Building Performance Standards (Downloadable Resource)
• Frequently Asked Questions About Heat Pumps (Guidelines)
• High-Efficiency Electrification Technology Training From New Buildings Institute (NBI) (Downloadable Resources)
• Instructor Resources at the Building Science Education Solution Center (Downloadable Resources)
• High Performance Building Guides at the Building America Solution Center (Downloadable Resources)

FREE CEU-Bearing Courses

• SUNY Energy Futures: Common Advanced Control Strategies (FREE CEU-Bearing Course)
• SUNY Energy Futures: Fundamentals of Building Controls Systems (FREE CEU-Bearing Course)
• Model Codes and Distributed Energy Resources (Free CEU Online Course)
• High Performance Building Solutions: HVAC and Mechanical Code Training (Free CEU Online Course)
• High Performance Building Solutions: Building Envelope Code Training (Free CEU Online Course)
• Entry-Level Heat Pump Training (Free Online Course)
• Model Codes and Distributed Energy Resources (Free Online Course)
• High Performance HVAC Mechanical Code Training (Free Online Course)
• High Performance Lighting 101 (Free Online Course)
• High Performance Building Envelope Code Training (Free Online Course)

Webinar Recordings

• Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pumps: Efficacy and Building Readiness (Webinar Recording)

Articles

• Net Zero Buildings Week: Clean Energy Resources from Industry-Leading Organizations (Article)
• Life-Saving Energy Codes: What Building Safety Officials Need to Know (Article)
• Utilities, DERs, and Interconnection (Interactive PDF; Article)

Videos & Interviews

• Inspecting the Building of the Future (Video)
• Whole Home Performance HVAC — Good for the Contractor and the Building Owner (Interview and Resources)

Partners

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) in partnership with the International Code Council, International Association of Electrical Inspectors, National Association of State Fire Marshals, Slipstream, FSEC Energy Research Center, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory assembled these resources to provide you with up to date, reliable, vetted information and training related to existing and emerging technologies.

This material was developed by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). It is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Award Number DE-EE0009455 (“EMPOWERED”). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Energy or the United States Government.