News & Resources
Navigating the 2021 Energy Codes
The BIA Building Innovation Committee is hosting a three-part webinar series on the 2021 Energy Codes, which become mandatory in Philadelphia on July 1, 2026. Each session will break down key changes in energy efficiency requirements, explain how they impact building design and construction, and provide practical guidance for compliance.
Whether you’re a builder, developer, design professional, or contractor working in Philadelphia, this series emphasizes practical compliance awareness and risk management — helping teams understand what is different, where assumptions may no longer hold, and how to adjust design and construction workflows early to avoid delays, redesign, or inspection challenges.
Session I
The March 19 session provided a focused overview of the 2021 Residential Energy code updates and highlighted where Philadelphia’s requirements diverge from the model energy code and other states under the 2021 IECC. While the 2021 Residential Energy Code does not introduce the same scale of change as the Commercial Energy Code, Philadelphia’s local adoption includes key deviations from the model 2021 Energy Code that materially affect how residential and low-rise multifamily (3 stories or less, duplexes, and triplexes) projects are designed, reviewed, and constructed within the City.
Download the slides or view the recording using passcode 2026.03.19@BIA_2021IECCResidential.
Upcoming Sessions:
Session II: The 2021 Commercial Energy Code Part 1: Technical Impacts on Multifamily Design and Construction, April 2, 2026 at 10:30 am
Session III: The 2021 Commercial Energy Code Part 2: Best Practices, Executional Success, and Common Pitfalls, May 5, 2026 at 10:30 am