BUILDING CODES
& ENERGY EFFICIENCY:
SOUTH CAROLINA
B
uildings account for roughly 40 percent of the
total energy use in the United States and 70 per-
cent of its electricity use, representing a signifi-
cant opportunity for energy savings. Energy efficiency –
through the adoption and enforcement of strong building
energy codes – is the quickest, cheapest, and cleanest
way to reduce energy consumption and achieve a sus-
tainable, prosperous future. For South Carolina, the next
step should be the adoption of the latest U.S. model resi-
dential and commercial energy codes – the 2009 Inter-
national Energy Conservation Code (2009 IECC) and
ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007.
In February 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvest-
ment Act (Recovery Act) – federal legislation appropriat-
ing funds for a variety of state economic initiatives – allo-
cated $3.1 billion for the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE) State Energy Program (SEP) to assist states with
building energy efficiency efforts. As a condition of ac-
cepting $50 million1 in SEP funding, Gov. Mark Sanford
certified to DOE2 that the state would implement energy
standards of equal or greater stringency than the latest
national model codes and achieve 90 percent compli-
ance in new and renovated residential and commercial
building space by 2017.
South Carolina must now start laying the groundwork to
successfully implement the building energy code plans
submitted to DOE. It is in the state’s best economic inter-
est to adopt the 2009 IECC and Standard 90.1-2007
statewide and begin the construction of a more efficient
building sector.
Updated September 14, 2010
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Consumers save money by reducing utility bills, mini-
mizing the negative impacts of fluctuations in energy
supply and cost, and conserving available energy re-
sources. Retail and office buildings constructed to meet
the requirements of the IECC can be over 30 percent
more energy efficient than typical buildings not con-
structed to meet national model energy standards.
Monetary savings derived from codes increase a con-
sumer's purchasing power, and help expand the state’s
economy by keeping local dollars in South Carolina.
BUILDING INDUSTRY BENEFITS
The national model code, the 2009 IECC, offers flexi-
bility to South Carolina builders and design profession-
als, allowing them to optimize the cost-effectiveness
of energy efficient features in their building products,
and to satisfy a variety of consumer preferences.
The 2009 IECC also simplifies guidelines for builders,
providing a uniform code across the state with multiple
options for compliance.
Uniformity throughout South Carolina will enable local
jurisdictions to pool limited resources and combine
personnel to form county-wide, regional and statewide
enforcement and educational programs.
UTILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
Energy codes improve the energy efficiency perform-
ance of new buildings and reduce demand on power
generators, therefore improving the air quality of lo-
cal communities and throughout South Carolina.
Electricity use is a leading generator of air pollution.
Rising power demand increases emissions of sulfur
dioxide, nitrous oxides and carbon dioxide. Energy
codes are a proven, cost-effective means for addressing
these and other environmental impacts.
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 A MODEL STATE ENERGY CODE FOR SOUTH CAROLINA
Angel Oak in Charleston, S.C. (Credit – Mark Requidan)
S
outh Carolina adopted its current energy stan-
dards – based on the 2006 IECC – in July
2009.3 The South Carolina Building Codes
Council had planned to implement the rest of the 2009
International Code Council suite of construction codes
(except maintaining the 2006 IECC as the state’s en-
ergy code) beginning in 2011, but this process was
delayed indefinitely as of August 2010.4 The 2006
IECC, however, does not achieve the energy savings
of the latest national model codes.
The 2009 IECC and Standard 90.1-2007 improve sub-
stantially upon the 2006 IECC and provide a simpler,
uniform path to benefit South Carolina households
and businesses through lower utility costs, increased
comfort, and better economic opportunity.5
South Carolina can demonstrate leadership on en-
ergy efficiency issues by regularly improving the
state energy code (in coordination with the three-year
model code update cycles), thereby ensuring the con-
sistency and ongoing enhancement of model building
practice.
HOUSEHOLD PROSPERITY
In 2008, South Carolina ranked 45th in the nation in
per capita personal income,6 yet ranked 24th in per
capita energy expenditures.7 Energy expenses com-
prise an economic drain on low-income communities.
** NOTES **
1 6
US DOE (http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=190)
2 7
US DOE (http://www.energy.gov/media/Sanford_South_Carolina.pdf)
3 8
BCAP (http://bcap-ocean.org/state-country/south-carolina)
4
BCAP (http://bcap-ocean.org/news/2010/august/30/south-carolina-delays-2009
9
-i-codes-implementation-2006-iecc-remains)
5
BCAP (http://bcap-energy.org/node/330)
Low-income households typically spend 17 per-
cent of their total annual income on energy, com-
pared with four percent for other households. Ac-
cording to some estimates, more than four-fifths of
energy expenses leave low-income communities.
Higher energy costs deprive these communities of
resources they need to generate additional economic
activity.
AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE
With energy prices projected to rise sharply over the
medium- and long-term, reducing South Carolina’s
energy demand will also enhance the state’s energy
security and stimulate its economy.
A limited DOE analysis of the changes from the
state's current residential code to the 2009 IECC re-
sulted in estimated energy savings of 16 percent,
or $207 a year for an average new house at recent
fuel prices.8 Another DOE analysis of the changes
from the state's current commercial code to Standard
90.1-2007 estimates cost savings of 2 percent.9
Energy codes also offer large-scale gains. BCAP esti-
mates that if South Carolina began implementing the
2009 IECC and Standard 90.1-2007 statewide in
2011 (making incremental steps toward 90 percent
compliance in 2017), the state would realize sub-
stantial savings over BCAP’s business-as-usual
scenario:
By 2030, $418 million in annual energy cost savings for
households and businesses, or $3.6 billion from 2011-
30.
By 2030, annual CO2 emissions reductions of 2 million
metric tons, or 19 million from 2011-30.
By 2030, residential sector source energy savings of 8
percent, representing annual savings of 17 trillion Btu.
By 2030, commercial sector source energy savings of 11
percent, representing annual savings of 21 trillion Btu.
For more information, please visit www.bcap-ocean.org
US BEA (http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/spi/2009/pdf/spi0309.pdf)
US EIA (http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/states/sep_sum/html/pdf/rank_pr.pdf)
US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/state_codes/reports/
residential/Residential_South_Carolina.pdf) (page 20/21)
US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/state_codes/reports/
commercial/Commercial_South_Carolina.pdf) (page 16/23)
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