Most new single-family homes meet or exceed local energy code requirements

Preliminary results of a four-year Department of Energy field study indicate that new single-family homes meet or exceed the requirements set by local energy codes. The findings cover six of eight states included in the Residential Energy Code Field Study.

Data collectors visited new, unoccupied houses in eight states: Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. They gathered information on lighting efficiency, window U-factors, window solar heat gain coefficients, envelope performance, duct leakage, and insulation levels in framed walls and foundations.