Program Highlights - August/September 2008
Welcome to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program's (BECP) bimonthly highlights. These highlights provide the latest information on BECP's work to increase the energy efficiency of the nation's commercial and residential buildings.
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 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.
BECP staff attended the 2008 International Code Council® (ICC) Final Action Hearings, in September 2008 in Minnesota. Prior to the hearings, BECP staff developed talking points and other materials to facilitate DOE's testimony. At the hearings, BECP residential experts provided technical backup and assistance with testimony as needed.
The Final Action Hearings – the first of three opportunities to effect change on the way to DOE's 2012 goal – marked the end of a very successful code development cycle. When incorporated into the 2009 IECC, approved proposals will result in energy savings totaling at least 15 percent, and perhaps as much as 18 to 20 percent, as compared to the 2006 IECC. The 2009 IECC represents an increase in energy efficiency that is unprecedented in IECC history.
The most impactful approved 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 working on code change proposals for the 2010 Supplement to the IECC, including delivering for DOE's review a draft proposal to limit west-facing glazing.
For more information on results and implications of the hearings, see BECP's article Decoding ICC Decisions.
Working with ASHRAE — DOE's 30% Commercial 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 continued developing prototypes for use in developing mechanical and envelope proposals. Modifications were completed on the first five critical prototype buildings in September, and these were used for the mechanical subcommittee load profiles (see Mechanical below). In addition, the automatic equipment sizing process was completed. The process will significantly reduce the manpower needed to conduct a large number of simulation runs.
Lighting — BECP staff finalized refinements/clarifications to several daylighting addenda, improving consistency among cross-referenced definitions, formulas, and graphic descriptions. In addition, work continued on the cost database; BECP staff added more manufacturers' raw cost data and categorized additional lamp types for cost coding. Data collection continues to support potential proposals on lighting power density changes and allowances.
Envelope — In collaboration with members of the Envelope Simulation Working Group, BECP staff returned to the original Medium Office prototype model that uses slab on grade because this model can be more easily manipulated to evaluate slabs and floors over unconditioned spaces. In addition, work continued to model real windows rather than individual components that may not correspond to real windows. An evaluation was performed to find ways to streamline the process of completing a large number of simulation runs while maintaining quality of work.
Mechanical — Progress was made on two new continuous maintenance proposals to Standard 90.1-2007 pertaining to the outside air dampers and supply air temperature reset in multi-zone systems. In addition, the hourly cooling and heating load profiles for large office and hospital benchmark buildings were completed by BECP staff and submitted to the Simulation Working Group. These load profiles will be used by the mechanical subcommittee to develop the new continuous maintenance proposal on chiller part load performance requirements.
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Software Updates in August/September
REScheck™ version 4.2.0 was released in August with new features to support additions and alterations in the 2006 IECC.
REScheck-Web™ was deployed in September, and the redesign allows resizable table columns, pop-ups, and increased support for more browsers, including Safari.
COMcheck™ version 3.6.0 was released at the end of September and includes changes to support ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 in COMcheck desktop software.
The COMcheck Prescriptive Package Generator now supports the 2006 IECC and state codes based on the 2006 IECC. This Web-based application allows users to generate their own code-compliant insulation and window packages rather than following predefined prescriptive packages.
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Technical Assistance to Users
Got code questions? We've got code answers. In August and September we received and responded to 602 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.
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Read the Latest Setting the Standard
The latest issue of Setting the Standard – BECP's newsletter released to more than 90,000 subscribers in Fiscal Year 2008 – features information about BECP's work with ASHRAE to achieve energy efficiency, details about ICC code change proposals for September's Final Action Hearings, frequently asked residential and commercial questions and answers, and more. Not a subscriber? Become one today!
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 3,224,853 in August and 3,760,819 in September.
Get AIA Continuing Education Credit
BECP's three-part webcast series about ASHRAE's Advanced Energy Design Guides (AEDGs) 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. The live broadcasts were attended by more than 3,800 members of the energy codes community. Watch the recorded webcasts today to earn American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System Learning Units.
Status of State Energy Codes
Did you know BECP offers a database about the status of all state energy 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.
See New Materials in the Resource Center
Have you visited the Resource Center lately? It features new graphics and 9 new articles, including the EERE Renewable Energy Data Book.
Calendar of Events
Advertise to the Building Energy Codes Community! BECP invites website visitors to add a training or event for the building energy codes community on their Calendar of Events – a community source for buildings-related conferences and workshops as well as national energy code training and state energy code training conducted across the nation.
Here are just a few things coming in November:
- November 3, Webcast from ASHRAE – Complying with Requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007 (New changes!)
- November 6-7, Seminar from the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) – Energy Auditing 101: Identifying Cost Saving Opportunities, Las Vegas, NV
- November 11, Webcast from the Building and Fire Code Academy (BFCA) – Understanding Basic Code Enforcement
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Program Highlights Archives
¹The American National Standards Institute/ASHRAE/Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
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