Director, Building Codes & Policy

Ian Blanding is MEEA's Director of Building Codes and Policy. In this role, Ian leads regional efforts to reduce energy consumption and improve outcomes for residents through building energy codes, building performance standards, and other building policies across the Midwest. With over a decade of experience directly supporting state and local governments, Ian has dedicated his career to ensuring the adoption and effective implementation of building policies. His expertise includes state and local code development, energy code compliance assessment, and the management of utility and federal code assistance programs. 

Ian started his career in energy codes at MEEA from 2014 to 2020, where he caught the energy codes bug and became a recognized expert in the Midwest. He later took this experience to the national stage, where he led a National Energy Code Technical Assistance Network to support energy code adoption and implementation while working at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the U.S. Department of Energy. 

Having worked across the non-profit, governmental and private sectors, Ian brings a unique and varied perspective on engaging in building policies. Ian earned a Master of Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati, and his B.S. in Environmental Policy and Public Administration from Central Michigan University. When he isn’t nose-deep in a code book or pondering building science conundrums, Ian enjoys spending time with his family, running, and working on house projects.