Jim and Jodi have been teaching NYS Energy Code classes in NYS for years (the NYS Energy Conservation Construction Code is based on the IECC). It is a wonderful full-day course which points to Chapter 5 and says, in brief, “if you touch anything in an existing building, you need to do all the energy code compliance stuff we covered in the rest of the Code, with a few exceptions”. But what does this REALLY mean? How can we help designers and owners understand two key things 1) we can do this work very well and in compliance with code, or we can create problems for the buildings and risk for our firms, and 2) our future work will have to engage in MANY more modernizations projects and retrofit work if we are to meet climate goals in our communities, states and the nation. We have found that there is a lot of misunderstanding about energy code requirements for existing building projects. This includes the belief that some aspects are impossible to comply with. Combined with spotty enforcement, it has created a slippery slope! Designers need to realize that the energy codes can and must be followed. Only then can we reap the benefits that come with reducing energy usage in existing buildings