Rhode Island 2024 IECC Commercial Energy Code Training

Rhode Island Energy’s Energy Code Technical Support initiative provides free residential and commercial energy code training and technical support. Continuing education credits will be offered to building officials, contractors and architects. Certificates of completion will be emailed to all attendees.

The current Rhode Island energy code is based upon the 2024 IECC, which was adopted in 2024. An updated version of the Rhode Island energy code was released in 2025, which includes Appendices RK and CH, establishing electric-ready provisions for residential and commercial buildings

Please join us for two presentations offered FREE of charge by Rhode Island Energy on techniques to help meet the current commercial energy code.

Location: TACO Comfort Solutions

Presenter: Stephen Turner PE, CCP

Morning Session: 9:00-11:30 AM

2024 IECC Overview - Commercial Buildings (2.5 hours)

2024 IECC includes substantive and extensive changes that impact commercial design and construction practices, as well as compliance and enforcement strategies.

This session will provide an overview of changes and cover how the required code updates – particularly the energy code updates taken together with the mechanical code updates – are expected to impact the building industry.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the new Rhode Island Energy Code requirements.
• Examine the impact of the code updates on energy code compliance procedures, with a focus on Prescriptive Compliance.
• Understand the energy code requirements for permit applications, permit document sets, and energy inspections.
• Gain familiarity with the general concepts in Section C406 for the Additional Efficiency & the Renewable and Load Management Requirements

Afternoon Session: 12:30-3:00 PM

2024 IECC 2024 Chapter 5 Existing Buildings (2.5 hours)

This session will cover the 2024 IECC requirements in Chapter 5 for existing commercial buildings including definitions, information required on the permit set, reviews, inspections, approvals and IECC compliance paths, and the way 2024 IECC commercial envelope, mechanical, electrical and plumbing requirements apply to existing buildings in different types of projects.

Learning Objectives:

• Definitions of Additions, Alterations, Repairs, Change of Occupancy or Use
• Gain knowledge of the 2024 IECC existing commercial buildings requirements – Information required on permit set, AHJ review, inspections, approvals, & IECC compliance paths
• Highlights of the 2024 IECC commercial envelope, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing requirements for projects in existing buildings – including energy recovery, economizer, and VAV
• Introduction to the 2024 IECC other new commercial requirements – Onsite renewables/green power, efficiency, renewables, and load management

An overview of the Rhode Island Energy Code Technical Support Initiative and free energy code technical support will be provided.

Schedule:

9:00 – 11:30 AM - 2024 IECC: Overview - Commercial Buildings

11:30 - 12:30 PM - Complimentary lunch provided

12:30 – 3:00 PM - 2024 IECC: Chapter 5 – Existing Buildings

Stephen Turner is a commissioning expert with over 30 years’ experience engineering, constructing, commissioning, operating, and maintaining buildings and systems. He brings deep engineering expertise and a hands-on perspective to diagnosing complex problems and optimizing building performance.

A recognized thought leader in the commissioning industry, Stephen teaches at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and the University of Wisconsin, sharing his expertise in commissioning, sustainable design, high-performance buildings, and building systems. Through his teaching, mentoring, published work in peer-reviewed journals, and industry leadership, he inspires the next generation of commissioning professionals to advance high-performance and sustainable buildings.

Stephen uses his extensive experience with high performance and zero energy building design, testing and balancing, energy efficient equipment design, control strategy optimization, and life cycle costing to assist project owners in meeting their project specific design goals. Stephen has worked on dozens of projects that successfully achieved LEED certification, including Platinum, Gold, & Silver.