Buildings consume approximately 40 percent of the energy used in the U.S., and efficiency is widely recognized to be the most effective means for containing demand and reducing use. Institutions of higher education make up a significant proportion of building area and annual energy and facility-related costs in the United States. The national model energy code applicable to commercial construction such as educational facilities is the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which allows compliance with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1 as one option for commercial buildings. While examples of net zero energy buildings and passive house construction establish a high bar for building performance, the incremental method of increasing requirements in the IECC may be approaching the limits of current technology and effective payback. Higher education, with its significant footprint, impact to energy consumption, and financial contribution to a country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), must continue to be involved in the development and evolution of building codes and standards as a steward of the environment and financial resources for future generations.