Improving Building Energy Efficiency: Adoption, Enforcement,

and Compliance with Energy Standards and Codes

Minjoo LeeASHRAE Summer Fellow

Bucknell University ‘12

August 4, 2011

Commercial Building Facts 68% of nation’s electricity 39% of total energy consumption 12% of water usage 38% of CO2 emission

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/central/Home/DrinkingWater/http://amazinggirlz.com/articles/the-invention-of-electricity/

http://www.dezeen.com/2009/02/19/westerdok-apartment-building-by-mvrdv/

Why the focus on building energy efficiency?

Lower energy bills for consumers Creates jobs Better working environment Raises the value of property Less GHG Limited supply of natural gas and coal

“When it comes to saving money and growing our economy, energy efficiency isn't just low hanging fruit; it's fruit laying on the ground.”

- Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu

http://casa-diseno-blog.com/category/decorating-ideas/sustainable-eco-design/http://speedlaces.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/the-money-tree/

Most Cost-Effective Method of Achieving Energy Efficiency:

Standards & Codes

Adopting, enforcing, and complying with existing standards and codes is the cheapest and the most effective way to make buildings energy efficient

Adoption

Enforcement

Compliance

http://www.themiamilaw.com/http://www.clipsahoy.com/occupations/police/police7.htm

http://tallyhypnosis.com/?attachment_id=184

Standards & CodesStandard:Voluntary until

adopted into a codeMore general and

has more purposes in terms of use

ASHRAE develops standards, not codes

Code:Only one purpose –

to be adopted into law

ICC develops codes

http://www.ashrae.org/technology/page/548http://www.lasergrade.com/sbc.shtml

Who is involved?

History of Energy Policies

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA),

2009

Energy Policy Act of 2005

Energy Policy Act of 1992

National Energy

Conservation Policy Act (NECPA) ,

1978

http://www.city-data.com/articles/U-S-Capitol-Capitol-Hill-Washington-D-C.html

Energy Code Status Within the U.S.

Main Concerns in Achieving Energy Efficiency

Out-of-Date Data Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)

Conducted by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) of DOE since 1979

Currently using 2003 data because 2007 CBECS was invalid; not enough funds for 2011 CBECS

Building Rating Systems Cause confusion in the market US Green Building Council: Leadership in Energy and Environment Development (LEED) Green Building Initiative: Green Globes certification

http://www.crownci.com/drupal7/?q=content/customershttp://harrisconstruction.com/leed.htmlhttp://www.rapidchange.com/Home/RapidReport/RAPIDREPORTMay2009/RAPIDREPORTMarch2009/RapidReportArchive/QADec08/tabid/133/Default.aspx

Main Concerns…

Training for Code Officials Different between jurisdictions Inconsistent structure of training

Upfront Cost Misconception of high cost; not thinking about payback Vancouver example: moderately high-performance building was 9% less expensive and consumed less energy

No Statewide Energy Policy Up to state and local jurisdictions to adopt codes No urgency in energy savings

http://www.mpnj.com/mp_building_dept.asphttp://www.myrecipes.com/healthy-diet/eat-healthy-for-cheap-tips-10000001867714/http://www.layoutsparks.com/1/122455/city-lights-building-skyscrapers.html

Recommendations

1) Target Commercial Buildings

Development of Standards & Codes

2) Up-to-Date Data Collection

3) Focus on Standards of Certain Building

Subsystems

Adoption

4) Support a National Building Code

5) More Energy Disclosure Laws

Enforcement & Compliance

6) Revise Current Programs

7) Training for Code Officialshttp://www.changeyourlifetips.com/articles/

1. Target Commercial Buildings

2. Up-to-Date Data

Collection Best to first look at short term goals rather than tackling both residential and commercial

Easier because it is more leveraged and businesses can afford to be involved

More professionals involved in the projects, more willing to follow codes

Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS):o Need new data to use as

reference for current technology

o Energy Star, ASHRAE, and other organizations use CBECS to set benchmarks

o Need to continue CBECS; more funding needed

o Relatively inexpensive: $4 million

3. Focus on Standards of Certain Building Subsystems

Important to have standards that address all components BUT overwhelming to fix every element of building at once => focus on certain standards, take smaller steps

Standards focused on lighting, heating and cooling systems Lighting: 25%-50% Heating: 33%-50% Increase daylighto Daylighting can help energy savings by

30%-80% annually

Better insulation in walls, ceilings, basement, and windows minimize heat loss

http://modernfurniturepics.com/living-room-designs/bathroom-with-big-window-and-outstanding-view-318http://www.ingeniosus.net/archives/2010/02

4. Support a National Building Code

Hard to establish building policies at federal level because regulated locally

Should be flexible enough to match different climates; advancement in technology should make it easier today

Should not mandate methods but set minimum benchmark, outcome is more important

Waxman-Markey Bill, 2009o Included national building energy codeo Perceived as overly ambitious: 50%

reduction in energy consumption by 2014

Building should compare its performance to its own past performance

5. More Energy Disclosure Laws

Common in Europe and Australia Similar method to labeling appliances with Energy Star Adopted in Washington, D.C., Austin, Texas, New York City, San Francisco, and the state of Washington – quickly gaining popularity Has created jobs in sustainability services firms Stimulate states to adopt energy codes

Benefits:1. More occupants, higher lease, higher

sales2. Competition in the marketplace3. Influence building owners to retrofit

their building to have higher ratings compared to competitorshttp://www.njcleanenergy.com/residential/programs/energy-star-product-rebates/new-jersey-energy-star-product-rebates

6. Revise Current Programs

PACE: Property Assessed Clean Energy Special type of property loan for retrofitting – financing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects; stays with property, not the owner

Popular idea in the beginning Federal government provided over $150 million in grant money to help originally Was intended for residential and commercial

Lack of support from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac discouraged many states Currently 4 active PACE programs and 9 programs in the design process Need to be revised to only address commercial buildings

http://blog.harschrealestate.com/the-berkshires/you-have-decided-to-sell-your-berkshire-home-now-what/

7. Training for Code Officials Training needs to be more consistent and similar between jurisdictions Overall structure of the training should be similar Becomes easier for jurisdictions to figure out what training methods work or what methods do not work when structure of training is similar Communication between jurisdictions can become more widespread in search of better ways to make changes in the training

In-class education by experienced code official, engineer, and

architect

On-site mentorship

Written exams

Annual retraining with workshops

provided by organizations

like ASHRAE and ICC

In Summary… Following energy standards and codes is the most cost-effective way to achieve high energy efficiency of buildings

Better for economy, create jobs

To continue having comfortable lifestyle, changes need to be made to reduce energy consumption

Quicker depletion of fossil fuel – limited supply

Preemptive

http://imagesgellery.blogspot.com/2011/06/buildings-images.html

Questions?