Energy Efficiency Field Studies
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program has developed research methods to support states in studying the impacts of their building energy codes. The objectives of the studies is to document typical design and construction practices, target areas for improvement through workforce education & training initiatives, and quantify energy efficiency and environmental impacts in buildings. States are encouraged to conduct these types of studies every 3-5 years to validate impacts of codes and other energy-efficiency programs, as well as to benchmark technology trends in residential and commercial construction.
Single-family Residential Buildings
Study highlights include:
- Results based on an energy metric and reported at the state-level
- Focuses on individual code requirements within new single-family homes
- Data confidentiality — no personal data shared
- Designed around a single site-visit prioritizing key items
- Designed with statistically significant results in mind
The table below summarizes states who have recently conducted a field study based on the DOE methodology (study results are available where linked):
Resources
- Methodology: Protocols for sampling and field data collection
- Data Collection Instrument (checklist by version of IECC):
- Factsheet: Introducing the study to project stakeholders and site personnel
- Stakeholder Presentation: Presenting the project to stakeholders (e.g., project kickoff meeting)
- Data Sets: Tabulation of available field data by state
Technical Assistance
For states that fund their own data collection activities, technical assistance is available—often free of charge—from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to support development of the study and analysis of results. Assistance typically includes guidance on the established methodology, customization of sampling plans, and technical analysis of the resulting data set. Interested states can submit an inquiry.
Pilot Studies
Pilot Goal: Determine whether an investment in energy code education, training, and outreach programs can produce a significant, measurable change in single-family building code energy use. Participating states:
- Conducted a baseline field study to determine installed energy values of code-required items, identify issues, and calculate savings opportunities [Phase I];
- Implemented education and training activities designed to increase code compliance [Phase II]; and
- Conducted a second field study to re-measure the post-training values using the same methodology as the baseline study [Phase III].
Results:
- Summary presentation (Phase III) at the 2019 National Energy Codes Conference (05/30/2019)
- Baseline (Phase I) Field Study Results Webinar (12/12/2015)
- Baseline (Phase I) Field Study Results Presentation (12/07/2015)
- (Additional pilot state reporting coming soon…)
Participating Pilot States
The following states were selected to participate in the study (original DOE funding opportunity announcement):
Individual State Findings
Phase I
Phase III (Coming Soon)
Individual State Data Sets
The aggregated data set across all field study states:
The methodology and resources above were originally developed through a series of three-phased pilot projects funded through a Funding Opportunity Announcement (2014).
Multifamily Residential Energy Efficiency Field Study
Objective: Validate the impact of building energy codes in low-rise multifamily buildings and identify opportunities for increased energy that can be addressed through workforce education & training programs.
Activities
- Develop a field-based methodology which can be implemented in low-rise multifamily buildings
- Identify and resolve challenges that are unique to multifamily construction
- Construct an empirical data set across four target states {WA, OR, MN & IL}
- Examine envelope air tightness testing protocols and challenges in the multifamily sector
- Provide recommendations as to how multifamily buildings can be better represented through energy code training and other compliance-improvement programs
Findings
- Final Report (includes Methodology)
- Field Study Data (zip file containing individual documents listed below)
- Air Leakage Testing Final Report
- Low-Rise Multifamily Code Compliance Study Results Webinar, October 20, 2020
- 2019 National Energy Codes Conference Presentation Slides
Prepared by Ecotope, Slipstream, and the MN Center for Energy & Environment (CEE).
The low-rise multifamily approach was developed and tested through a pilot project funded through a Funding Opportunity Announcement (2016).
Contact
Jeremy Williams, Project Manager
U.S. Department of Energy
Additional Information
Learn more about additional projects supported by the DOE Building Technologies Office.