High Efficiency Energy Code Proposals Clear First Hurdle
November 18, 2009--Model energy codes that require 30% better efficiency just got a step closer to reality. New Buildings Institute's (NBI) major code proposal, EC 147, was approved by a 6-5 vote on October 30 at the International Energy Code Council (IECC) Code Development Hearings in Baltimore, Maryland. The IECC is the model code recognized in federal law, green building standards and nearly all states.
NBI, along with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), submitted the comprehensive proposal last June. NBI is a nonprofit organization working to improve the energy performance of commercial buildings. AIA is a membership organization and voice of the architecture profession. DOE is the federal agency responsible for code development.
The comprehensive proposal would codify much of NBI's Core Performance® protocol and several addenda to ASHRAE 90.1-2007. Core Performance is already referenced in several local building ordinances and state codes, as well as in voluntary utility programs.
In addition, the development committee signaled growing support for higher efficiency energy codes with the adoption of NBI-AIA proposals to improve performance of the codes opaque envelope tables, by a 9-2 vote, and the fenestration table, by 11-0.
"This is the first hurdle in the long code development process. But, we are greatly encouraged by the adoption of our proposals, which would represent the largest ever single step increase in commercial building energy model codes," said Dave Hewitt, NBI executive director. "High efficiency energy codes are essential if we are to meet the challenges of climate change," he said. The building sector accounts for nearly two-thirds of U.S. electricity usage and 40% of greenhouse gas emissions.
If upheld by the ICC Final Action Hearings in 2010, the proposals recommended for IECC adoption should meet the 30% target included in legislation that has already cleared both the full House of Representatives and the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee.
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