Publications

State-level analysis results behind the DOE Status of State Energy Code Adoption Map for commercial buildings.

This document lays out the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) methodology for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of energy code and standard1 proposals and editions. The evaluation is applied to new provisions or editions of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES2 Standard 90.1 and the International Energy Conservation Code. The methodology follows standard lifecycle cost (LCC) economic analysis procedures. 

This document is an update to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) cost-effectiveness methodology originally published in August 2015. Changes include correction of a typographical error in lifecycle costing equations and building prototype enhancements; updating the weighting factors for foundation types and system types based on permit data from the U.S. Census and current housing starts data from the U.S. Census and Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), updated representative climate locations for both national and state level aggregations, adding a section on data for measure lifetimes, and the addition of the determination strategy for compiling first costs of measures and economic parameters.

This spreadsheet contains detailed end-use data results from the Determination Analysis of IECC-Residential 2024 conducted by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

The primary method for creating a population of homes from which to derive a random sample, as explained in the methodology, is to contact sample jurisdictions to obtain lists of homes. These lists are then sorted randomly to fulfill the sample. While this method has had success, it is not always possible to obtain a list of permits from a jurisdiction. In addition, even when permit data is available directly through a jurisdiction, it can be difficult to ascertain information on the construction status of sample homes. Knowing the phase of construction can be used to inform the timing of site visits to improve data collection efficiency.

For these reasons, alternative or supplemental methods of creating a home population for random sampling may be necessary. Alternative methods that may be used to build a list of recently permitted homes include target searches using jurisdictional inspection schedules, online real estate services, and general internet searches. The same alternative sources of data used to generate the population of homes may also help in scheduling site visits to arrive during phases of construction that maximize the number of observations per site visit.

This PowerPoint is intended to be adapted by project teams to fit their needs and the needs of their stakeholders. The slide theme and other features may be changed to suit the presenting organization.

Field study project teams are required to perform quality assurance (QA) on the data they collect prior to sending it to PNNL for additional QA and analysis. This document provides a list of QA checks that project teams should perform.

This document contains checklists of items to photograph while onsite to help answer questions that may arise regarding the accuracy of entries in the data collection form. Questions may be raised during quality assurance reviews by the project team and PNNL. For each piece of data entered, it is a best practice to have photo-documentation to facilitate future validation of that value. Photographs are also extremely useful for subsequent training programs, field guides, and educational documents.

Microsoft and PDF versions of the 2021 IECC Single-Family Residential Field Study Data Collection form and Filling out the Residential Field Study Data Collection Form presentation.

This file contains all of the Sample Kickoff and Recruitment Materials, as well as the checklists, templates and guides. 

NOTE: All files included in this zip file are also available for download individually. 

Sample Recruitment Materials include:

• Alabama Sample FOIA Request
• Georgia Field Study Representative Badge Sample
• Alabama Phone Script (Builders)
• Alabama Phone Script (Jurisdictions)
• Pennsylvania Phone Script (Builders)
• Sample Kentucky Press Release
• Sample Digital Ads
• Sample Idaho Email Text (Code Officials)
• Recruitment Flyers for Iowa, New Mexico, and South Carolina
• Recruitment Letters to Code Officials, Builders and/or Jursidictions for Alabama, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania
• South Carolina Recruitment Rack Card
• Colorado and Nevada Request for Proposals for Field Data Collection Services
• Kentucky Request for Proposals for Residential Energy Code Compliance Evaluation

NOTE: These files are also available for download individually. 

Sample Kickoff Materials include Kickoff Meeting Presentations for Alabama, Arizona, Idaho TAG, Idaho, Iowa,  and Utah. A Stakeholder Kickoff Draft Agenda for Alabama is also included.

NOTE: These files are also available for download individually. 

States, territories, tribal governments, and local governments, with the support of partnering organizations, have a unique opportunity to leverage significant federal funding to support improvements to new and existing buildings in jurisdictions across the country. The Department of Energy (DOE) launched two related grant programs that government entities with the authority to adopt building energy codes, and their partner organizations, can access in support of the adoption, implementation, and enforcement of building energy codes.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) tasked Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) with updating commercial building1 construction weights for the purpose of estimating national and state-by-state energy savings impacts of changes made to various commercial energy codes and standards. For commercial building analyses, PNNL typically uses a suite of 16 prototype buildings simulated in the 19 ASHRAE climate zones with 16 of them present in the United States. The 2008-2022 commercial building weighting factors were derived using the same approach employed to develop the 2003-2018 set (Lei et al, 2020).

Facilitated by Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL), in coordination with the six Regional Energy Efficiency Organizations (REEOs) and additional technical assistance providers, the Network will utilize regional code professionals, building science experts, and experienced trainers to customize technical assistance to states and jurisdictions.

Facilitated by Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL), in coordination with the six Regional Energy Efficiency Organizations (REEOs) and additional technical assistance providers, the Network will utilize regional code professionals, building science experts, and experienced trainers to customize technical assistance to states and jurisdictions.

These prototypes are used to calculate Building Performance Factors (BPFs) for use with the Performance Rating Method of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2016 though 2022. These prototypes are used to implement the new approach to calculating BPFs that follow the Appendix G baseline rules and include adjustments to the prototype models made after a specific code has been published. Those BPFs are therefore different than those published in ASHRAE Standard 90.1 2016-2022. This new approach is discussed in more detail in the PNNL Technical Support Document titled, ​Commercial Building Prototypes Based on ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2019 Appendix G PRM.

To meet states where they are and better understand specific needs and priorities related to building energy codes, BECP is expanding proactive, individualized engagement with states and local jurisdictions. BECP continues to offer a robust and ever-evolving collection of information and technical assistance resources available online to help all states, territories, jurisdictions, and tribes save energy and improve their buildings.

These prototypes are used to calculate Building Performance Factors (BPFs) for use with the Performance Rating Method of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2016 though 2022. These prototypes are used to implement the new approach to calculating BPFs that follow the Appendix G baseline rules and include adjustments to the prototype models made after a specific code has been published. Those BPFs are therefore different than those published in ASHRAE Standard 90.1 2016-2022. This new approach is discussed in more detail in the PNNL Technical Support Document titled, ​Commercial Building Prototypes Based on ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2019 Appendix G PRM.

These prototypes are used to calculate Building Performance Factors (BPFs) for use with the Performance Rating Method of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2016 though 2022. These prototypes are used to implement the new approach to calculating BPFs that follow the Appendix G baseline rules and include adjustments to the prototype models made after a specific code has been published. Those BPFs are therefore different than those published in ASHRAE Standard 90.1 2016-2022. This new approach is discussed in more detail in the PNNL Technical Support Document titled, ​Commercial Building Prototypes Based on ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2019 Appendix G PRM.