Building Codes Assistance Project

What Building Codes Assistance Project does

Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization founded in 1994 to promote the adoption and implementation of building energy codes across the United States. The organization operates as a national technical assistance and information hub, supporting state and local governments, code officials, builders, architects, and homeowners in navigating U.S. building energy code policy. BCAP delivers its mission through an ecosystem of free, publicly accessible online resources rather than a unified software product, including the Residential and Commercial Code Builders (explaining how building components like HVAC, insulation, fenestration, and lighting contribute to energy efficiency), the Policy Action Toolkit (sample laws and best practices for jurisdictions adopting codes), the Local Implementation Action Kit (a six-step municipal framework), the Compliance Portal (jointly maintained with IMT and DOE), and interactive Code Status Maps tracking residential and commercial energy code adoption across all 50 U.S. states.

BCAP's underlying technology is fundamentally a curated knowledge platform: the Code Status Maps, state-specific code information, Code Builders, and Beyond Code Portal (covering stretch and reach codes above minimum requirements) represent accumulated content and structured information delivery rather than a proprietary software architecture. The organization references and links to third-party compliance verification tools including REScheck (residential), COMcheck (commercial), and Score+Store (electronic compliance data storage for building departments) rather than developing competing commercial software.

BCAP's business model is that of a federally supported nonprofit: services and resources are provided free of charge to code officials, governments, builders, and consumers. Revenue derives primarily from government grants and funding, principally through the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Energy Codes Program (DOE-BECP). The organization reaches its audience through its website platform (bcapcodes.org), email newsletters (BCAP Newsletter and The Decoder), social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, X), events and webinars, and partnerships with professional associations including NAHB, AIA, ASHRAE, and Regional ICC Chapters. With 1–10 employees, BCAP is a small, mission-driven organization that has occupied its federally backed technical assistance role for over 30 years.

Name

Building Codes Assistance Project

Legal name

Building Codes Assistance Project

Website

https://bcapcodes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit founded in 1994 that provides free technical assistance, online tools, and policy resources to help U.S. state and local governments adopt and implement building energy codes across all 50 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Energy Code Technical Assistance

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architecture, Construction & Building Codes Reference (Design, BIM, Safety Codes) (EDAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Building energy codes
• Energy code technical assistance
• Code adoption support
• Energy code compliance tools
• Building code policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: BCAP operates as a nonprofit organization providing technical assistance to state and local governments on energy code adoption and implementation. The organization receives funding primarily from the U.S. Department of Energy and other government sources to support its mission of advancing energy-efficient building codes nationwide.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BCAP provides free technical assistance, educational tools, and compliance resources to support the adoption and implementation of building energy codes across the United States. Its core offerings include state-by-state Code Status Maps, Residential and Commercial Code Builders, a Policy Action Toolkit for legislative adoption, a Local Implementation Action Kit for municipal implementation, a Compliance Portal, a Consumer Portal co-hosted with Consumers Union, and an Energy Code Ambassador training program.

Product overview

The Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) is a non-regulatory information and resource platform focused on building energy codes across the United States. The organization does not develop a unified software product but instead offers an ecosystem of educational tools, compliance resources, and informational portals. The core offerings include the Commercial and Residential Code Builders, which explain how building components and energy codes work together, the Policy Action Toolkit for legislative advocacy, the Local Implementation Action Kit for municipalities adopting codes, and the Consumer Portal for homeowners. BCAP also provides state-specific Code Status Maps tracking adoption across all 50 states, a Compliance Portal with materials from BCAP, IMT, and DOE, and the Beyond Code Portal covering stretch and reach codes. The organization references third-party compliance tools including REScheck, COMcheck, and Score+Store as recommended resources for code verification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Code Builder Educational resource covering residential building energy code component areas including ventilation, ducts, lighting, HVAC, water heating, fenestration, air sealing, and insulation. Aimed at code officials, builders, and consumers seeking to understand how residential energy codes work.
• Commercial Code Builder Educational resource explaining how material components of commercial energy codes work individually and together to improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings. Targeted at code officials, designers, and building professionals.
• Consumer Portal Guide to residential energy codes for consumers, co-hosted with Consumers Union. Provides information for homeowners and prospective home buyers seeking to understand energy efficiency requirements in their homes.
• Policy Action Toolkit Resource for states and municipalities interested in adopting or updating energy code legislation, featuring sample laws and best practices from across the country.
• Local Implementation Action Kit Six-step guidance framework for municipalities implementing new energy codes at the local level, covering policy, training, compliance evaluation, and outreach.
• Compliance Portal Resource providing up-to-date materials from BCAP, IMT, and the DOE for energy code compliance evaluation and tracking.
• Code Status Maps Interactive maps showing residential and commercial building energy code adoption and implementation status in each U.S. state, available as a table view across all states.
• Beyond Code Portal Portal covering stretch codes and reach codes—standards and regulations that go beyond minimum energy code requirements—featuring examples from Massachusetts and Vermont.
• Energy Code Ambassador Program Training program connecting energy code experts with jurisdictions to support energy code implementation and compliance. Aimed at code officials, builders, and other building professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Buildings account for 40-50% of total national energy use
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCAP receives primary funding and programmatic support from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the DOE Building Energy Codes Program. DOE-BECP provides guidelines and resources for states and jurisdictions to measure compliance with energy codes.
• International Code Council (ICC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCAP collaborates with the International Code Council through Regional ICC Chapter training sponsorships and reference to ICC codes and standards. ICC publishes the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and other model codes that BCAP helps states adopt.
• Consumers UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCAP co-hosts the Consumer Portal with Consumers Union, providing residential energy code information to homeowners and prospective home buyers seeking to understand energy efficiency requirements.
• International Market & Trade (IMT)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCAP partners with IMT as part of the Compliance Portal initiative, providing compliance evaluation materials, checklists, and training resources for jurisdictions implementing updated energy codes.
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBCAP utilizes NAHB chapter network as a channel for reaching builders and construction professionals with information about updated energy codes and compliance requirements.
• American Institute of Architects (AIA)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBCAP leverages AIA chapter network to reach architects and engineers who are key stakeholders in building code compliance and need advance notice of code changes.
• ASHRAEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCAP references ASHRAE Standard 90.1 (Energy Standard for Buildings) as a key model energy code alongside the IECC. ASHRAE standards are incorporated into state energy codes through BCAP's technical assistance.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Institute for Market Transformation: The Institute for Market Transformation is a nonprofit focused on building-energy efficiency, market transformation, policy, and code compliance. Its collaboration with BCAP on the Compliance Portal makes it a close operating peer serving many of the same government and building stakeholders.
• New Buildings Institute: New Buildings Institute develops practical resources, policy models, and code-related guidance to improve energy performance in buildings. It overlaps directly with BCAP in government-facing technical assistance and building-code implementation, although its mission extends more broadly into high-performance and zero-energy buildings.

Regional players

• Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance: Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance advances energy-efficiency policy, building codes, and market transformation across Midwestern states. Its regional service model and engagement with government and industry stakeholders make it comparable to BCAP’s technical-assistance mission.
• Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships: Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships advances energy efficiency through building-code support, policy, training, and technical resources in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. It has a narrower geography than BCAP but serves a similar government and practitioner audience.
• Southwest Energy Efficiency Project: Southwest Energy Efficiency Project is a regional nonprofit that promotes building energy codes, efficient buildings, and energy policy across Southwestern states. Its regional focus and government-oriented code work are materially comparable to BCAP’s national model.
• Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance: Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance drives market transformation in energy efficiency, including building codes and standards, across the Northwest. It is a regional peer with overlapping technical resources, stakeholder engagement, and policy implementation work.

Others

• National Association of State Energy Officials: The National Association of State Energy Officials represents state energy offices and supports their work on energy policy and program implementation. It is not a direct code-resource competitor, but it provides BCAP with a relevant channel to many of its primary government customers.
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory conducts research and develops analysis and tools for building energy efficiency, codes, and technology deployment. It is an enabling research peer that influences the standards and technical evidence underlying BCAP’s work rather than competing for the same government assistance mandate.

Broad incumbents

• ASHRAE: ASHRAE develops building-system standards, including Standard 90.1, and supports professional education and implementation resources. BCAP references ASHRAE standards when assisting jurisdictions, making it an important standards-body peer rather than a direct service competitor.
• International Code Council: The International Code Council develops model codes, including the International Energy Conservation Code, and provides standards, training, and certification. It is a broad incumbent that overlaps with BCAP’s code information and training activities but operates across the full building-code ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BCAPOCEAN
• Facebookfacebook.com/buildingcodesassistanceproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/building-codes-assistance-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Building Codes Assistance Project