NAHB and Rhode Island BA Partnership Gets $1.6 Million for Energy Code Training

Codes and Standards
Published
Contacts: Vladimir Kochkin
[email protected]
Director, Codes & Standards
(202) 266-8574

Paul Karrer
[email protected]
Program Manager, Energy, Codes & Standards
(202) 266-8300

The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources and the Rhode Island Builders Association (RIBA) have received a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to provide energy code training and educational resources to building inspectors, designers, home builders and construction trades professionals in the state.

RIBA will focus on training home building professionals on the new state energy code using materials developed through a partnership with NAHB. The new state code is based on the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and is a significant change from the previous requirements. RIBA’s goal is to bring the building industry in the state up to speed on the new code quickly to ensure continuous supply of homes and remodels. 

Funding for the DOE grant came from a program included in the bipartisan infrastructure law passed in 2021.

NAHB began working with RIBA last year to help the HBA develop training modules on various aspects of the new code. Staff from NAHB and RIBA collaborated with building science and other experts on materials that addressed the particular energy code in Rhode Island and that will hopefully be usable in other jurisdictions.

“We wanted an industry-based training program for the code that could allow RIBA to be a training partner in the space, work in collaboration with its state energy office, and to create a resource for other state HBAs who may soon face these circumstances,” said John Marcantonio, executive officer of RIBA.

NAHB and RIBA held its first in-person training session in January attended by state and local leaders, including the governor, who were interested in the workforce training aspect of the event.

Training and development are a core part of RIBA’s membership strategy. The association offers courses, many free of charge, designed to help experienced trade professionals transition to general contracting and home building. RIBA also offers other education options, including a full suite of NAHB courses.

NAHB responded quickly to the need,” noted Marcantonio. “The two organizations worked over a short period of time to produce and launch a comprehensive and easy-to-understand series of course modules designed for builders by builders.”

The energy codes training modules and training session are a great example of a successful partnership between NAHB, its members and HBAs.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Economics

Apr 23, 2025

Decline in Mortgage Rates Helps to Increase New Home Sales in March

Sales of newly built, single-family homes in March increased 7.4% to a 724,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate from a revised January number, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The pace of new home sales in March was up 6.0% compared to a year earlier.

Member Benefits

Apr 22, 2025

Ford Pro Joins NAHB's Member Savings Program

Through this exclusive program, NAHB members can save up to $5,000 on a wide range of Ford Pro cars, trucks, vans and SUVs. Plus, the member discounts can be combined with local dealership offers.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Apr 23, 2025

New Home Sales Rise in March

A modest decline in mortgage rates and lean existing inventory helped boost new home sales in March even as builders and consumers contend with uncertain market conditions.

Economics

Apr 22, 2025

The Power of Women in the Workforce

Over the past 125 years, women have played a crucial and multifaceted role in the labor force. Increasing women’s participation in the workforce is not only essential for individual and family well-being, but also contributes significantly to overall labor force participation rates and economic growth by adding more workers and enhancing overall productivity.

Economics

Apr 21, 2025

Who Influences the Purchasing of Building Products?

In a previous post, NAHB analyzed where builders and remodelers purchased products, regardless of who ultimately purchases them (themselves or subcontractors). In this post, the question shifts to who is most often responsible for the choice of particular products.