AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) – Homes and other buildings account for about 40 percent of Texas’ overall energy use, but the state is hoping to take care of that.

A statewide building code that will take effect in January should cut the energy consumption of new single-family homes by more than 15 percent, according to the Energy Systems Laboratory at the Texas A&M University System. The state tightened codes for commercial, industrial and other residential buildings in April.

Some Texas cities are being proactive when it comes to becoming more energy efficient. Building codes in Houston and Austin have already gone beyond what the statewide codes will require.