2011 MIDWEST REGIONAL
BUILDING ENERGY CODES
CONFERENCE
October 5-6, 2011
Chicago, IL
Purpose
• Establish a regionally coordinated effort
on behalf of adoption, enforcement and
evaluation of building energy codes
• Increase knowledge and information
sharing of Midwest energy code activity
• Get to know each other
MEEA’s Role in the Midwest
• Nonprofit serving 13 Midwest states
• 10 years serving utilities, states and communities
• Staff of 24 in Chicago
• Actions – Advancing Energy Efficiency Policy
– Designing & Administering EE Programs
– Delivering Training & Workshops
– Coordinating Utility Program Efforts
– Regional Voice for DOE/EPA & ENERGY STAR
– Evaluating & Promoting Emerging Technologies
Agenda
• State Updates
• 2012 IECC / ASHRAE 90.1-2010
• Utility Programs and Energy Codes
• Compliance Evaluation Pilot Studies
• 3rd Party Enforcement
Structure
• Quick Introduction to Subject
• Panel Discussion
• Q&A / Open Commentary
Norms
• No one here is the Smartest Person in the
Room.
• Respect the knowledge and
understanding of others.
• Discussions must be civil (especially when
there is disagreement).
• Statements should be brief, on topic and
to the point (and no commandeering of
discussion for your pet topic).
2012 IECC /
ASHRAE 90.1-2010
2012 IECC/ASHRAE 90.1-2010
• 30% more energy efficient than 2006
IECC
• 25% more energy efficient than 90.1-2004
• Overwhelming support of code officials at
ICC Final Action Hearings
• Non-residential amendments had broad
support
Brief History/Background
• RESIDENTIAL
– End -point of work on 30% Solution
– Whole house approach to energy code.
• NON RESIDENTIAL
– Suite of amendments originally based on
requirements of Core Performance Guide (CPG)
– State of Massachusetts adopted a stretch code based on CPG
– AIA, New Buildings Institute, and DOE collaborated
on set of amendments based on MA stretch code
– NBI Analysis indicates that amendments improve the
energy efficiency of Chapter 5 by 20-30% over 2006
IECC.
Key New Features - Residential
• Whole house continuous ventilation
• Restrictions on pipe length
• No cavity insulation in Climate Zones 6 &
7 for prescriptive path
• Blower door test required
• Strengthening of existing requirements
• 2012 IRC exactly the same as 2012 IECC
Key New Features - Non-Residential
• Increased focus on daylighting
• Commissioning
• Lighting controls
• HVAC – 3 Approaches (includes
renewables)
Midwest Activity
• Illinois
• Minnesota
• Kansas City, MO
• Overland Park, KS
UTILITY PROGRAMS AND
ENERGY CODES
Rationale
• Code compliance tends to be low.
• Utilities face increasing energy efficiency requirements; up to 2.0% of energy sales as early as 2015; code related programs can help utilities meet these goals.
• Code compliance realizes energy potential of policy.
• Utilities can bring resources and expertise to the issue (through programs).
• Significant regional potential savings; up to 123 trillion Btu annually by 2020 or the equivalent of the energy use of 1,000,000 households
Anti-Rationale
• Utilities may hesitate to support improving
the energy efficiency of energy codes
– Increasing the energy efficiency of the energy
code reduces the amount of energy savings
utilities can claim
• How can utilities get credit for energy
savings from code programs?
Basic Framework
• Know relevant state statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Know the various stakeholders involved.
• Focus on compliance enhancement (and to a lesser extent stretch codes).
• Work out appropriate activities (actions that will result in measurable energy savings).
• Develop methodology for measuring energy savings (pay attention to difference between natural gas and electricity).
• Attribution (not all energy savings due to increased compliance will come directly from utility actions).
• Allocation (multiple utilities within state)
How Does A Codes Program
Differ
• Codes are adopted and enforced by governmental agencies
• Multiple organizations (stakeholders) are interested and willing to participate
• Codes affect all new buildings
• “Customers” cannot choose to participate or not participate
• Utility actions affect adoption not behavior
• Utility acquisition programs interact with codes
UTILITY PROGRAMS AND ENERGY CODES
CASE STUDIES: MASSACHUSETTS
AND CALIFORNIA
Massachusetts
• 2010: All 8 Program Administrators (PAs) took a joint decision towards a state-wide residential & commercial C&S initiative
• Why? – Have in-house expertise to assist state with advancing
C&S
– Need to meet aggressive state mandated energy savings goals through innovative and new program initiatives
– Capture market missed by incentive programs & overcome split incentives for building owners/tenants
– Proven through California: cost effective program with large energy savings potential
• Barriers: regulatory barriers, complex energy savings attribution
Massachusetts - Work in 2010-2011
• Began discussions with the state on possible initiatives that PAs can pursue through C&S program
• Hired a consultant team to assist PAs in program planning, energy saving estimates, attribution methodology, etc.
• Initiated research studies to: – Identification of stakeholders and coordinate
communication
– Confirm energy savings potential through C&S
– Complete Code compliance baseline studies
– Design attribution methodology to energy savings
Massachusetts - Timeline
• Late 2011:
– Submit proposal to the state for approval
• 2012:
– Focus on completing research & baseline studies
– Refine program initiatives based on state
feedback: intent, goals, timelines, nature of
energy savings
• 2013:
– Launch C&S program
California
• Statewide Codes and Standards
• California Enhanced Compliance Subprogram
• Near Term (2009-2011) – Research high priority solutions (applies to med and long
term)
– increase training and support for local code officials.
– Investigate regulatory tools such as licensing and registration enforcement.
– Evaluate proposed changes to code and compliance approaches.
– Work with local governments to: improve code compliance; adopt stretch codes and provide training/education.
California (Cont.)
• Medium Term (2012-2015) – Pursue involvement of HERS Raters
– Work with trade associations to improve self-policing
– Streamlining permit process
• Long Term (2016-2020) – Investigate “sticks and carrots” with monetary
incentives/penalties
– Investigate codes that regulate the operation of buildings
California - Activities
• Evaluation of code compliance infrastructure – Conduct gap analysis
– Interview market actors; Identify and implement best practices
– Establish pilot
• Establishment of training program – Role-based training
• Investigation of regulatory tools – Identify processes and tools
– Evaluation of proposed changes to energy code
• Work with local government
Utility Programs - Final Thoughts
• Although framework is beginning to get established, many details remain to be worked out.
• Work is ongoing to:
– Clarify and expand types of utility activities in support of energy codes (move beyond training).
– Establish measurement and attribution protocols.
– Clarify/address statutory and regulatory hurdles.
– Outreach to diverse stakeholders.
COMPLIANCE EVALUATION
PILOT STUDIES
Compliance Evaluation Pilot
Studies
• Recovery Act Requirement for States
Receiving Funding Related to Energy
Codes
• Establish Plan for 90% Compliance with
2009 IECC/90.1-2007 by 2017
• Need to Develop Protocol to Provide
Consistent Measurement Across States
• Save States from Having to Develop
Individually
Questions of Methodology
• Random Sample of 44 buildings
(residential and non-residential)
• Follow Protocol Developed by Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory (Show
Link)
• How Long Does it Take?
• How Much Does it Cost?
• Roadblocks?
• Biases in Sample?
• Baseline Compliance Rate?
Pilot Studies Across the US
Source: DOE BECP
3RD PARTY ENFORCEMENT
Issues and Questions
• Alleviate issue of lack of resources & add new sources of expertise
• Increasing complexity of code (takes longer to learn and enforce)
• Successes in past (Washington State/Fairfax County VA)
• How to revive effort?
• Use of HERS Professionals
• Wisconsin experience
Contact Info
Isaac Elnecave, Senior Policy Manager
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA)
www.mwalliance.org
More information & resources
http://www.mwalliance.org/policy/midwest-regional-energy-codes-conference
