FAQs

This project is the result of the community's desire that "Everyone lives and works in healthy, energy and water efficient buildings which transition to become emissions free.". Strategic alignment with City plans is important for any City lead initiative. This initiative aligns with Big Move 6 in the City's adopted climate plan, called Our Climate Future. This creates tremendous opportunity to create healthier, efficient, affordable, and durable buildings and homes that will benefit people for generations to come.

Learn more about Our Climate Future.(External link)

Building to a zero carbon standard will contribute to a better built, more resilient Fort Collins. It will keep utility costs low, improve indoor air quality, and create extremely comfortable indoor environments.

A Performance Code Path to Zero Carbon Construction is the development and implementation of a building code that establishes energy use and carbon reduction targets for all new construction in Fort Collins.

Codes will be adopted with energy reduction milestones every 3 years, with 2030 as the target code year for achieving zero carbon emissions on all new construction in Fort Collins.

Learn more about the Zero Carbon Construction Code: Zero Carbon Construction Code - City of Fort Collins (fcgov.com)(External link)

Energy codes in Fort Collins are adopted by City Council and strengthen energy efficiency requirements for single-family, multi-family, and commercial buildings.

Every three years the City updates its energy code, along with all other building codes. Each code cycle is an opportunity to develop and implement construction code that results in more efficient, healthy, affordable, durable buildings for all occupants. To note, the energy code is the only code out of the entire code body that actually pays for itself by lowering energy costs for occupants. 

Learn more about Fort Collins current building energy code: Energy Code - City of Fort Collins (fcgov.com)(External link)

In Fort Collins the code cycle occurs every three years, and includes a review and revision of all building codes. Our Building Services department manages the code cycle process. Energy Code, which is the subject of this page and the "Performance Path to Zero Carbon" initiative, is only one of the codes that gets reviewed and revised during the cycle.

A typical code cycle begins review in the year indicated in the cycle, and becomes code and must be adhered to in the following year. For example, the "2024 code cycle" work initiates in 2024. Code is reviewed and recommendations are made for the remainder of 2024 and into early 2025. This process includes community and industry member review. Then, the code language will be finalized and adopted by City Council in the second quarter of 2025, at which time it will be required to adhere to.

The code cycle review and revision process occurs again every three years (2027, 2030, etc.)

A zero carbon building does not directly produce carbon emissions. It operates in a way that balances out its carbon emissions, making it carbon neutral. 

Some basic principles can be followed to construct a zero carbon building:

• First, it is designed to be highly efficient. 
• Second, it is operated as efficiently as possible. 
• Finally, the building relies on renewable energy sources, and not fossil fuels like coal or gas.

With thoughtful design and operation, the building can minimize energy waste and reduce its overall carbon footprint. By incorporating renewable energy sources, it becomes zero carbon.

We’re discussing zero carbon construction now, during the 2024 code cycle because achieving our goals in the 2030 code cycle requires thorough planning and incremental code change. The path to 2030 involves an incremental approach across three code cycles (2024, 2027, 2030), and each code cycle will progressively reduce carbon emissions of our newly constructed buildings.

By engaging with people and businesses now, our intention is to understand how it may impact them and to tap their expertise. In this way we can develop, test and refine code more effectively, and ultimately make the transition to zero carbon smoother and more effective for people working with our Energy Code.

Building zero carbon homes and buildings may involve a higher cost of construction, but this project aims to incorporate measures that improve affordability through transparency to 2030 code, flexibility in how we build to energy targets, and improved workforce training and education. Efficient buildings and homes are more cost effective to operate because they are designed to use significantly less energy for heating and cooling. This leads to lower utility bills compared to buildings built at a lower standard.

Furthermore, our elected officials have prioritized this work in consideration of Our Climate Future(External link), and community costs that could be associated with not taking action. Staff is considering industry best practices, creative climate solutions, and the needs of our building community, all at once. 

Staff is committed to supporting and listening to our building community throughout this code development process. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with questions, concerns, or to get more involved.

This code is in alignment with Big Move 6 in the city’s adopted climate plan, called Our Climate Future. Learn more about Our Climate Future.(External link)

First, know that we're listening and recognize that we can't achieve success without bringing the building industry along.

This project will encourage innovation and a change in standard building practices. A Performance Path means all new construction will be modeled to meet energy and carbon reduction targets. These targets will improve in efficiency and carbon reduction over the next three code cycles.

Zero Carbon also means incorporating measures that begin a market transformation away from fossil fuel space and water heating to ultra-efficient electric equipment.

Lastly, resources and trainings will accompany each building code update.

This project is supported by a funding award from the US Department of Energy and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The project has a budget of just over $900,000 and will span 4 ½ years and has enabled supporting partnerships with building industry expert organizations that have a history in advancing building efficiency and building code. Our project partners include The University of Central Florida - Florida Solar Energy Center, New Buildings Institute, International Code Council, and the Colorado Energy Office is the supporting state agency.