Program Highlights - June/July 2008
Welcome to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program's (BECP) monthly highlights. These highlights provide the latest information on BECP's work to increase the energy efficiency of the nation's commercial and residential buildings.
 |
 Improving the IECC® – DOE's 30% Residential Codes Initiative
DOE's 30% Residential Codes Initiative is focused on reducing the energy consumption of International Energy Conservation Code® (IECC) compliant homes by 30%, relative to the 2006 IECC, by the year 2012.
The International Code Council® (ICC) Final Action Hearings that will shape the 2009 IECC took place September 17-23, 2008, at the Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota (see the results). To prepare for the hearings in June and July, BECP staff helped develop DOE's Public Comments for the 2007/2008 ICC code development cycle in close collaboration with stakeholders, including representatives from the Energy Efficient Codes Coalition, Advanced Building Coalition, and National Association of Home Builders.
The most impactful code change proposal submitted by DOE requires pressure testing in residential construction to verify duct sealing. This change alone is estimated to reduce energy consumption in new American homes by an average of 8 to 12 percent. Looking forward, BECP's residential team is already working on code change proposals for the 2012 IECC.
Working with ASHRAE — DOE's 30% Codes Initiative
DOE's 30% Commercial Codes Initiative is focused on helping the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) achieve 30% energy savings as compared to ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA¹ Standard 90.1-2004 by 2010. To this end, BECP staff are developing and refining prototypes for simulations to be used for energy savings analyses and focusing on updates to the Standard that affect lighting, mechanical, and envelope systems.
Simulation support — BECP staff completed review for 13 of 17 target prototypes, referred to as Benchmark buildings. When complete, the 17 Benchmark buildings will account for more than 80% of commercial building energy use.
Lighting — BECP staff reviewed several daylighting addenda, working toward consistency among cross-referenced definitions, formulas, and graphic descriptions. In addition, staff continued work on the cost database, adding additional manufacturers' raw cost data and categorizing additional lamp types for cost coding. Data collection is also underway to support potential proposals on lighting power density changes and allowances.
Envelope — The envelope team is developing daylighting proposals in conjunction with the lighting subcommittee. In addition, BECP staff worked with the Simulation Working Group to develop simulation inputs to handle a variety of model scenarios, such as a medium office with a basement, daylighting, and different fenestration options.
Mechanical — BECP staff worked to develop a new continuous maintenance proposal to Standard 90.1-2007 pertaining to the outside air damper section in Chapter 6. In addition, BECP staff worked with the Simulation Working Group to develop the hourly cooling and heating load profiles for large office and hospital benchmark buildings. These load profiles will be used by the mechanical subcommittee to develop the new continuous maintenance proposal on chiller part load performance requirements.
|
 |
Software Updates in June/July
REScheck™ version 4.1.4 for Apple® Macintosh was released in July 2008. New features include:
- Software version checking to inform users of software updates
- Inclusion of the Georgia state code based on the 2006 IECC with 2008 Georgia state amendments
COMcheck™ version 3.5.3 was released in June 2008 and provides:
- Automatic and manual software version checking
- Modifications to the Georgia state code option
- A multifamily area category option to more fully describe building area categories under the 2003 and 2004 IECC
|
 |
Technical Assistance to Users
Got code questions? We've got code answers. In June and July we received and responded to 571 Technical Support inquiries from the energy codes community. Email your questions to BECP Technical Support at techsupport@becp.pnl.gov, or submit an inquiry online.
|
 |
Energy Codes 2008 a Success!
Energy Codes 2008 reached 226 attendees from 41 states and territories. Participants included architects, builders, code officials, and energy code advocates as well as representatives from industry, trade associations, and model code organizations.
Two days of meetings included plenary sessions as well as residential and commercial technical tracks. Participants were treated to a tour of buildings with energy efficient and green features. This year's tour agenda included the Minneapolis Public Library, which was designed by world-renowned architect Cesar Pelli; the St. Paul District Energy Plant; mixed-income housing at the Wellstone Phase III and Ripley Gardens; and the mixed-use development, The Winnipeg.
Be sure to attend Energy Codes 2009! Don't miss next year's opportunity to learn about a wide variety of energy codes- and standards-related topics and to network face-to-face with other members of the energy codes community through formal and informal meetings. BECP staff will post information on www.energycodes.gov as it becomes available.
Bruce Nelson Receives Jeffrey A. Johnson Award
Bruce Nelson, a Senior Engineer of the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security, was presented the third annual Jeffrey A. Johnson Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Building Energy Codes and Performance at Energy Codes 2008. Sponsored by DOE, the award recognizes Bruce as a leader in the energy codes community with sustained service of the highest caliber in the pursuit of energy efficiency goals. Congratulations Bruce!
Visit Our Website
BECP's website has a wealth of no-cost resources for the energy codes community. Visit www.energycodes.gov for training, software, news, and more! Website hits totaled 3,554,571 in June and 3,688,902 in July.
Get the Latest
Read the latest issue of Setting the Standard. Every edition discusses DOE's support to increase the efficiency of residential and commercial codes and standards by 30%. Not a subscriber? Become one today!
Get AIA Credit
BECP's three-part webcast series about ASHRAE's Advanced Energy Design Guides (AEDG) is online now! These guides, developed in collaboration with partner organizations, including DOE, are companion above-code documents for ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999. They demonstrate how buildings may be built to be 30% more energy efficient than the Standard. Watch today to earn American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System Learning Units!
What Have We Done?
Read about BECP's Fiscal Year 2007 accomplishments. The piece provides an excellent overview of all program activities.
Status of State Codes
Did you know BECP offers a database about the status of all state codes? We work hard to keep this large database up to date and welcome your input. Please send inquiries or additions to techsupport@becp.pnl.gov.
|
Program Highlights Archives
¹The American National Standards Institute/ASHRAE/Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
Printer Friendly Format
