Urban Energy Technical Note 12: Energy and Resource Efficiency Building Code. Guidelines

The building code is a tool that interacts with the planning law and as such is a part of the authorities’ resources whose purpose is to guarantee the right to sustainable cities and safeguard a healthy and comfortable urban environment. At the same time, it should provide valid solutions according to the local climate, social needs and transformations, local cultural identity and cultural practices.

The purpose of this technical note is to offer orientation to professionals and policy makers in tropical countries for the development of a comprehensive building code on Energy and Resource Efficiency in Building that ensures a healthy urban and building environment whilst promoting the recovery of the huge energy saving potential in the building sector.