Officials cite modest upfront costs but measurable long‑term energy savings from 2024 codes

Anush Vardapur, Johnson County’s building official, told commissioners during an Oct. 1 committee of the whole that national analysis from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) shows modest upfront cost increases for homeowners but material lifetime energy savings.

"Moving from 2018 to 2024, approximately 4,000 to 7,000 additional construction cost per typical single family dwelling," Vardapur said, citing the PNNL report. He added that the study estimated about a 7% reduction in site energy use and a 6.8% reduction in energy cost for residential buildings under the 2024 provisions.

Commercial buildings, he said, show larger modeled improvements: about 12.1% site energy savings, roughly 10.6% in energy cost savings and an estimated 10.2% reduction in greenhouse‑gas emissions in the PNNL analysis. Staff told commissioners the PNNL document will be included in the briefing packet that returns to the board.

Commissioners framed the numbers inside broader housing‑cost concerns: some argued code changes are only one factor in higher housing prices, and others noted labor, materials and land costs as larger drivers. Staff acknowledged those market forces while urging the board to weigh lifecycle savings and safety improvements in its decision.