Oregon Approves Residential Energy Code Requiring Heat Pumps in New Homes
US: Oregon’s Building Code Division Residential and Manufactured Structures Board (RMSB) has approved updates to the state’s residential energy code requiring new homes to be built with energy-efficient heat pumps instead of ducted air conditioning under the 2026 Oregon Residential Specialty Code. An analysis by the Building Code Division estimates the changes will save residents an average of USD 125 per month and over USD 1,700 per year in energy bills. The update comes as energy bills in Oregon have risen by about 50% since 2020, increasing pressure on household budgets. Heat pumps, which provide both heating and cooling, are expected to improve comfort, resilience and long-term affordability, while reducing pollution and energy waste. Support for the measure includes a letter from the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE), aligned with the state’s newly released energy strategy, as well as endorsements from 54 building professionals, elected officials and climate resilience organizations.
Under the revised code, the first stage of heating must be met by a heat pump, while methane “natural” gas can be used as supplemental heating to reduce grid strain during peak load periods. Supporters, including representatives from Talent City Council, Birds mouth Design-Build, Earth Advantage and Sierra Club’s Clean Heat Campaign, highlighted that the update aligns Oregon’s building standards with California and Washington, supports state decarbonization and resilience goals, and protects homebuyers from rising operating costs by embedding proven, high-efficiency, non-polluting technologies into statewide building requirements.
Source: Sierra Club
