The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance says even with the region-wide implementation of stronger energy codes from 2011 to 2013, permit numbers for commercial construction projects have continued to grow, largely surpassing pre-recession peaks, while renovations are outpacing new commercial construction throughout the Southeast.
SEEA’s new report, “Construction, Codes and Commerce: The Economic Impact of Energy Codes in the Southeast,” finds that commercial energy codes have no adverse economic impact in the Southeast.
The report finds the region logged its lowest number of commercial construction starts in 2009 (11,898 permits pulled), but showed growth in each of the following years, culminating in its best year to date; 2013 (16,124 permits pulled). In aggregate, the Southeast logged its greatest number of new permits for construction in the retail sector (16 percent), colleges/universities (10 percent) and elementary schools (10 percent), followed by middle and high schools (9 percent).