Program Highlights - September 2006
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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 Latest newsletter published
Setting the Standard newsletter was distributed electronically to 81,000 subscribers and via hardcopy to 3,800 subscribers.
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COMcheck 3.3.0 released
COMcheck 3.3.0 is now posted on the BECP website. This version includes a new Preferences feature that allows users to preselect certain settings in the software. Another new feature is Beyond Code Advisor, which provides links to pertinent and current information on different energy topics and building practices beyond the scope of simply complying with energy code requirements. The RTF report option has been added back into the software with this release.
Package Generator updated
The REScheck and COMcheck Package Generators have been updated to provide compliance reports in both PDF and RTF format, allowing users to display, download, and email the reports in either format.
COMcheck Help and TSD
The Technical Support Document (TSD) for COMcheck version 3.2.0 (PDF 695 KB) was completed and placed on the BECP website.
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IECC and IRC code development hearings held
The International Code Council (ICC) International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) code development hearings were held September 26 and 27, 2006 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. A total of 132 code-change proposals were received by ICC. Of these 132 proposals, 6 were withdrawn by the proponents, 70 were denied, and 56 were approved as submitted or as modified. The ICC International Residential Code (IRC) hearings were held on September 28, 2006. DOE's code-change proposals, along with dozens from other entities, were heard by the development committees of the IECC and IRC. Any proposals denied or approved may now receive public comment. Any proposals receiving public comment will be discussed at the Final Action Hearing in Rochester, New York in May 2007.
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Four states received technical assistance
Customized technical assistance was provided to Illinois, Michigan, Montana, and West Virginia.
- For Illinois, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) analyzed the energy and economic impacts of adopting the 2006 IECC as the residential energy efficiency code in Illinois. The report will be completed in October 2006.
- For Michigan, PNNL analyzed the cost effectiveness of adopting the new lighting requirements in energy standard 90.1-2004 in place of those in the current Michigan energy standard (90.1-2001). The analysis showed this to be a cost-effective option.
- For Montana, an analysis of the minor differences between the Montana state code and the 2006 IECC for residential buildings was completed and is pending DOE approval.
- West Virginia requested assistance from DOE to compare the energy efficiency of their state energy code for residential buildings and the 2003 IECC. This analysis and report will be completed in October.
Support was provided to the GAO
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) requested BECP's assistance to determine the energy efficiency impacts of using newer, more energy efficient residential and commercial energy codes for buildings in Louisiana and Mississippi being rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina. BECP staff held a conference call with GAO staff to discuss ways BECP could help in this effort.
BECP website continues to be popular
The BECP website, totaled 2,875,950 hits in September and ended the fiscal year with 36,921,638 hits.
Technical support to users
During September, previously recorded PNNL webcast videos were accessed via the BECP website 153 times, and online training was accessed 125 times.
Credits and certification now available
Continuing education credits and AIA/CES Learning Units towards ICC certification renewal are now available to users for completing the self-paced modules REScheck 101, COMcheck 101, and Codes 101.
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September 28, 2006
The 2006 ICC Code Development Hearings were held in Orlando, Florida. Staff from BECP attended these hearings to support Ron Majette of DOE.
September 26-27, 2006
IECC code hearings took place in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Staff from BECP attended to support Ron Majette of DOE and to listen to the debates over various code-change proposals.
September 17-18, 2006
Eric Richman and Rosemarie Bartlett attended the International Code Council Annual Expo in Orlando, Florida. They staffed the BECP modular booth providing information on REScheck, COMcheck, and other BECP tools.
October 26, 2006
The live webcast, On the Road to the 2009 IECC, will provide an overview of the ICC code development process and provide a status of the recent residential and commercial code-change proposals to the IECC.
January 26-29, 2007
The ASHRAE Winter Meeting is planned for January 26-29, 2007, in Dallas, Texas. Staff from the Building Energy Codes Program will attend to support the development of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 and to work with ASHRAE on code related issues in ASHRAE's Code Interaction Subcommittee of Standards Committee.
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