Program Highlights - January 2007
Welcome to the U.S. Department of Energy Building Energy Codes Program's (BECP) monthly newsletter. This newsletter provides the latest information on our work to increase the energy efficiency of the nation's commercial and residential buildings.
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 REScheck™ for the 2006 IECC
An updated version of REScheck with support for the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), REScheck 4.0.1, was released in mid-January. The update addresses multiple HVAC equipment issues.
Coming Soon! COMcheck™ for the 2006 IECC
COMcheck is being updated to support the 2006 IECC. Significant changes relate to envelope skylight limit, lighting compliance methods, and mechanical mandatory requirements. Watch for the release of the new version of COMcheck in March.
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RESNET and Defining Conditioned Space
BECP worked with Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) members to prepare for a session about the definition of conditioned space at the 2007 RESNET Building Performance Conference held February 17-21, 2007. Conditioned space is defined in multiple ways by codes, standards, RESNET guidelines, energy-efficient design guides, real estate rules, and other sources; the session purpose was to discuss how these definitions might be consolidated and/or coordinated. BECP's Todd Taylor served as an invited panelist at the session and represented concerns related to codes and standards.
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Provided Assistance to States
- Arizona
Changes were incorporated into the REScheck 4.0.0 desktop software to support demonstration of energy code compliance for buildings located in Pima County, Arizona.
- Montana
Preliminary results were provided to the Montana Energy Office about the issue of slab insulation effect on energy savings, and these results were communicated by the Energy Offices to local builders at a recent code council meeting.
- Hurricane Katrina-Affected States
Reports were submitted to the General Accounting Office (GAO) regarding energy and economic analyses of residential and commercial building energy efficiency codes and above-code programs for Hurricane Katrina rebuilding efforts. This information will feed into a report being developed by the GAO about the rebuilding efforts and the role energy efficiency can play.
BECP Website
Website hits totaled 3,536,977 in January.
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Setting the Standard
The latest edition of Setting the Standard was released January 26th. This quarterly newsletter, published by BECP, is a key instrument in information exchange for building industry professionals, state and local code officials, and other interested parties, often providing late-breaking energy code information. Join the e-mailing list to be notified when new editions are published.
Webcasts
- Comply! Energy Code Tools You May Be Missing will be broadcast March 15, 2007. The webcast will showcase tools and materials designed to simplify the energy code compliance process. It will cover new features in REScheck and COMcheck and will highlight BECP's Web-based technical materials and services available to the building energy codes community at no cost. The 60-minute webcast presentation will be followed by a 30-minute live Q&A session.
- REScheck for the 2006 IECC, a live one-hour webcast followed by a 30-minute question and answer session broadcast February 15, 2007, was recorded and will be available for viewing on the BECP website in mid-March. The webcast provides an overview on how to use REScheck to show compliance to the 2006 IECC.
Earn Learning Units and Education Credits!
American Institute of Architects continuing learning units and International Code Council continuing education credits can be earned by viewing some BECP webcasts, including REScheck for the 2006 IECC.
Calendar of Events
Check it out! BECP provides a Calendar of Events that identifies buildings-related conferences and workshops as well as national energy code training and state energy code training conducted across the nation. Visitors to the site are encouraged to add a training or event - in January alone, 113 new events were added to the calendar by website visitors and BECP staff.
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