Publications

Presentation slides from the 9/22/22 Energy Code Implementation: Insights from the Field to the Classroom 2022 Summer Seminar Series webinar.

Described separately from the U.S. DOE Multifamily Residential Energy Efficiency Field Study, this report is a simultaneous study of building air tightness occurred using several of the main study buildings and additional sites that met the building type criteria. Overall, 26 sites were evaluated this way using semi-automated testing equipment (blower doors).
 

Project Goal: Assess and record energy code compliance of buildings currently under construction, following the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) processes, in compliance with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), and identify procedural changes in code enforcement and training needed to improve compliance rates.

Data Collection Supplemental Worksheets used to support the Commercial Energy Code Field Study.

Data Collection Forms used to support the Commercial Energy Code Field Study.

This document attempts to answer the following questions: What is the potential value of increasing compliance with the energy code and which code requirements should be emphasized during these studies? Ultimately, these are the questions that policy makers, funders, and program implementers care about. To answer them, a far more sophisticated approach is needed, one that addresses not only the question of value, but also the resource requirements to determine that value.

This report is focused on the analysis of collected data in support of the development of an updated methodology to measure the impact of energy codes on commercial buildings and identify opportunities for savings through increased compliance. The primary goal was to analyze the data collected during the field study and determine the actual energy cost impact of each measure in a non-compliance situation. The energy impact results allowed for ranking the measures to identify which have the highest potential for lost savings.

This study was conducted to estimate as-built energy use characteristics for homes that were not part of the Energy Efficiency Fund New Construction Program (RNC) as a baseline for the RNC Program. Resulting information will be applied to estimation of the net effects of the RNC Program on efficiency improvements. Additionally, these results are used to establish preliminary estimates of User Defined Reference Home (UDRH) inputs to be used as baseline characteristics against which construction within the RNC Program can be compared. Findings are based on the results of on-site inspections, including Home Energy Rating System (HERS) ratings, of 69 homes that were not part of the RNC program, were completed from November 2009 through July 2011, and whose owners agreed to have their home inspected.

In support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Commercial Buildings Energy Code Field Study (DOE Field Study)1 this data collection methodology and protocol (DOE Commercial Methodology) provides guidance on all aspects of undertaking a compliance study, from development of a sampling plan to recruitment to code requirements and compliance checks for each energy code measure specified to be collected.

Appendix C: Activities and Subcategories

In support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Commercial Buildings Energy Code Field Study (DOE Field Study)1 this data collection methodology and protocol (DOE Commercial Methodology) provides guidance on all aspects of undertaking a compliance study, from development of a sampling plan to recruitment to code requirements and compliance checks for each energy code measure specified to be collected.

Appendix B: Code Measure Reference Chart

In support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Commercial Buildings Energy Code Field Study (DOE Field Study)1 this data collection methodology and protocol (DOE Commercial Methodology) provides guidance on all aspects of undertaking a compliance study, from development of a sampling plan to recruitment to code requirements and compliance checks for each energy code measure specified to be collected.

Appendix A: Data Collection Measures

In support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Commercial Buildings Energy Code Field Study (DOE Field Study)1 this data collection methodology and protocol (DOE Commercial Methodology) provides guidance on all aspects of undertaking a compliance study, from development of a sampling plan to recruitment to code requirements and compliance checks for each energy code measure specified to be collected.

This guide provides key information to policy makers on energy codes and standards and offers guidance on how policy makers can support the creation of statewide energy efficiency goals and standards. In addition, this guide instructs policy makers on how they can:

• Encourage the adoption of statewide codes.
• Establish energy code awareness programs.
• Support enforcement of and compliance with energy codes.
• Participate in the development of model codes and standards.
• Determine the viability of the new code.

This guide provides information for anyone dealing with a lighting energy code or standard. It provides background and development information to help readers understand the basis for requirements and their intent. The guide also provides detailed explanations of the major types of requirements such that users can more effectively design to meet compliance while applying the most flexibility possible.

This guide provides an aid that will make it easier to apply the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control requirements found in building energy codes and addresses requirements defined by 2009 and 2012 editions of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010.

This guide provides key information on energy codes tailored for architects and provides guidance on how they can support the adoption of new or updated energy codes and the resources needed to ensure compliance with what is adopted. The guide also includes information on the importance of architects in the development and compliance verification processes; information on the interface between codes and the design process; design and compliance tools; information on building construction and commissioning, and many other resources that are key to helping architects understand the important role energy codes through the design process play in addressing our energy, economic and environmental challenges.

This guide includes practical plan review and inspection resources, including the U.S. Department of Energy Building Energy Codes Program's REScheck™ and COMcheck™ quick reference guides, case studies, and sample inspection checklists; as well as excerpts from International Code Council's commentaries, workbooks, and code companion materials.

This collection also includes many other helpful items and points to further resources available on the web. Residential and commercial building officials can easily add state and local guidance in order to use this binder as a one-stop resource to support compliance in the field.

This guide is a resource for understanding the air leakage requirements in the 2012 IECC and suggestions on how these measures can be met. It also provides information from Building America’s Air Sealing Guide, best Practices and case studies on homes that are currently meeting the provisions. The 2012 IECC and a few International Residential Code requirements are referenced throughout the guide.

Presentation slides from a 12/7/15 webinar that provided an overview of the U.S. Department of Energy Building Energy Codes residential field study, including methodology, sampling and current status. Data gathered across 10 states were reviewed, followed by a summary of initial findings that can inform future education & training activities. The potential savings associated with these activities were also be presented, which are of interest to government agencies, utilities and other entities.

A research project in the State of Arkansas investigated the energy code-related aspects of unoccupied, newly constructed, single family homes across the state. The study followed a DOE-prescribed methodology, which allowed the project team to build an empirical data set based on observations made directly in the field.

This document is intended to be a reference manual for the Appendix G Performance Rating Method (PRM) of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2022 (Standard 90.1-2022). The PRM can be used to demonstrate compliance with the standard and to rate the energy efficiency of commercial and high-rise residential buildings with designs that exceed the requirements of Standard 90.1.

This document is intended to be a reference manual for the Appendix G Performance Rating Method (PRM) of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2019 (Standard 90.1-2019).

The purpose of this report is to document findings and final results from the Alabama field study, including a summary of key trends observed in the field, their impact on energy efficiency, and whether the selected education and training activities resulted in a measurable change in statewide energy use.