Virginia building codes should not remain outdated and inefficient. Do not continue old policies that cut corners and ignore best practices that reduce costs to Virginians and to the environment. The most up-to-date versions of International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) should be adopted, or even more ambitious building codes.

My family has to pay for the energy we use. The buildings of today will stick around for a long time and place an undue burden on families, especially low-income families, who already share a disproportionate energy cost burden in Virginia. Update the building codes to be leading, protect our environment, and not fall behind.

There is a lot at stake beyond a monthly bill for an average family. As Virginia is decades behind on clean energy, energy efficiency, and climate action, there is no time to wait to adopt new policies that change the way we do business. Energy efficiency is a commitment to our own collective future.

As an Environmental Studies student at the University of Richmond with a focus on sustainability and equitable climate action, I support the implementation of IECC and even more ambitious standards such as Earth Craft or Passive House standards.