The International Code Council slammed the recently released U.S. Department of Energy report that asserted building code revisions adopted between 2009 and 2021 increased the cost of constructing a typical multifamily apartment building by 9.9%.

A Council news release charged that the DOE “removed longstanding analysis that details the cost-effectiveness of energy codes from energycodes.gov.

Robust analysis was replaced with an unsupported assertion that updates to the International Energy Conservation Code since 2006 have resulted in unnecessary construction costs.”

“DOE made these assertions without disclosing its methodology, despite continuing to solicit public input through an open Request for Information on how that methodology should be updated,” the release says. “A now-deleted page on DOE’s website stated that adoption of the latest energy codes would save U.S. homes and businesses $182 billion between 2010 and 2040.”

DOE has also removed at least six economic analyses produced by its Pacific Northwest National Laboratory evaluating IECC editions, according to the Council. “Each analysis concluded that any incremental construction costs associated with the code would be more than offset by utility bill savings for residents and businesses.”

The Council sharply criticized the DOE’s approach to evaluating the costs and benefits of the ICC. “By focusing solely on construction costs while disregarding long-term energy savings, DOE presents an incomplete picture of the relationship between energy codes and housing affordability,” the Council says.