December 11, 2025
BetterBuiltNW December 2025 Newsletter
How modern heat pumps keep working when temperatures drop
Modern cold-climate ductless heat pumps can deliver efficient and reliable heat to homes when outdoor temperatures are low—down to below zero degrees—making them a great choice for our Northwest climates. Selecting the right ductless heat pump for your next build can help maximize efficiency and comfort, with or without auxiliary heat. Read the article.
2026 Oregon Residential Specialty Code development update
The 2026 Oregon Residential Specialty Code continues to move through the adoption process with an anticipated adoption date of October 1, 2026. Code Review Committees have reviewed the public code amendment proposals, model code standards, and existing Oregon amendments.
Oregon’s Building Codes Division (BCD) hosted an Energy subcommittee in December, reviewing final amendments, and will host the Residential and Manufactured Structures Board (RMSB) meetings in January to review the draft code. The RMSB meeting also provides an opportunity for the public to provide comment on the draft code. Visit BCD’s RMSB website to stay informed of upcoming meeting information. Stay informed.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Must-read content from past newsletters just in case you missed it.
High-Performance Home News
Every month, BetterBuiltNW highlights news articles and other media to keep builders and Raters/verifiers informed about key industry updates, program changes, and other features.
Ruralite
Pro Builder
Zero Energy Project
National News
Green Building Advisor