WASHINGTON -- June 30, 2009 --  The Building Energy Efficient Codes Network (BEECN), a diverse and even unlikely new coalition of utilities, the building and manufacturing industries, regional and national energy efficiency organizations, labor, academia, think tanks, and more today launched an integrated national campaign advocating strengthened codes to greatly reduce energy from America's largest user -- its homes and commercial buildings. Substantial research documents the role strengthened building codes play in bring down energy costs for consumers, businesses, governments and other institutions, BEECN asserted.

  BEECN's major goals are to:

  --  Pass national legislation setting ambitious energy building code

      efficiency improvements of 30 percent for all new buildings starting