Publications

This report provides an assessment as to whether new buildings constructed to the commercial energy efficiency provisions of the 2018 IECC would save energy and energy costs as compared to the 2015 IECC. The Commercial Energy Efficiency chapter in the 2018 IECC allows users to either follow the provisions in the IECC or use Standard 90.1-2016 as an alternative compliance path. PNNL also compared the energy performance of the 2018 IECC with the corresponding Standard 90.1-2016 to help states and local jurisdictions make informed decisions regarding model code adoption.

This report provides an assessment as to whether new buildings constructed to the commercial energy efficiency provisions of the 2021 IECC would save energy and energy costs as compared to the 2018 IECC. The Commercial Energy Efficiency chapter in the 2021 IECC allows users to either follow the provisions in the IECC or use Standard 90.1-2019 as an alternative compliance path. As such, PNNL also compared the energy performance of the 2021 IECC with the corresponding Standard 90.1-2019 to help states and local jurisdictions make informed decisions regarding model code adoption.

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.

With fewer building department staff, longer distances to travel between job sites, and less opportunity for workforce education and training, energy code enforcement can present unique challenges in rural communities. This webinar will highlight some of these specific challenges faced by code officials and others in the field and describe existing solutions and new opportunities to help improve code enforcement and compliance.

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).
 

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

Presentation slides from the 9/8/22 Energy Codes and Utility Programs: The Peanut Butter & Jelly of Energy Efficiency 2022 Summer Seminar Series webinar.

From August 1997 to September 1999, one hundred new Arkansas homes were evaluated in two areas in the state where there was significant building activity in order to determine the energy performance of current building practices. One of the positive findings was that homes are now being built significantly tighter than a few years ago. Homes built in the early to in.id 1990's were experiencing an average of 0.5 natural air changes per hour (NACH), an acceptable level considered normal for new construction Only 24 homes in this evaluation had leakage rates exceeding 0.4 NACH; the majority of homes (58 percent) had leakage rates of 0.35 and under.

Technical analysis in support of the 2018 IECC Determination.

The most recent edition, the 2018 IECC, was published in August 2017, triggering the DOE review and determination process. In response, DOE and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) conducted a technical analysis to determine energy savings for the 2018 IECC residential provisions relative to the previous edition—the 2015 IECC. This report documents the methodology used to conduct the analysis and summarizes the results and findings.

The most recent edition, the 2021 IECC, was published on January 29, 2021, triggering the DOE review and determination process. DOE and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) conducted a technical analysis to determine energy savings for the 2021 IECC residential provisions relative to the previous edition, the 2018 IECC (ICC 2017). This report documents the methodology used to conduct the analysis and summarizes the results.

Section 304(a) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act, as amended, directs the U.S. Secretary of Energy to review the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)1 and make a determination as to whether updated editions would improve energy efficiency in residential buildings. The IECC is developed by the International Code Council (ICC) through an established industry review and consensus process with updated editions typically published every 3 years. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reviews the energy saving impacts of updated code editions and publishes its findings in the Federal Register. The DOE determination and accompanying technical analysis serve as useful guidance to state and local governments as they review and update their building codes. 

The most recent edition, the 2024 IECC, was published in August 2024, triggering the DOE review and determination process.2 DOE and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) conducted a technical analysis to determine energy savings for the 2024 IECC (ICC 2024) residential provisions relative to the previous edition, the 2021 IECC (ICC 2021). This report documents the methodology used to conduct the analysis and summarizes the results. 

Technical analysis performed in support of the Standard 90.1-2016 Determination.

To meet statutory requirements, DOE conducted an analysis to quantify the expected energy savings associated with Standard 90.1-2016. This report documents the methodology used to conduct the analysis. Based on the analysis, DOE has determined that the 2016 edition of the ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 would improve overall energy efficiency in buildings subject to the code compared to the 2013 edition of Standard 90.1.

To meet the statutory requirement, DOE conducted an analysis to quantify the expected energy savings associated with Standard 90.1-2019. This report documents the methodology used to conduct the analysis. Based on the analysis, DOE preliminarily determined that the 2019 edition of the ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 would improve overall energy efficiency in buildings subject to the code (compared to the 2016 edition of Standard 90.1). This report represents the final version of the analysis supporting DOE’s determination on Standard 90.1-2019.

EnergyPlus TMY3 weather file for climate location associated with the ASHRAE Standard 90.1 Prototype Building Models.

EnergyPlus TMY3 weather file for climate location associated with the ASHRAE Standard 90.1 Prototype Building Models.

EnergyPlus TMY3 weather file for climate location associated with the ASHRAE Standard 90.1 Prototype Building Models.

EnergyPlus TMY3 weather file for climate location associated with the ASHRAE Standard 90.1 Prototype Building Models.

EnergyPlus TMY3 weather file for climate location associated with the ASHRAE Standard 90.1 Prototype Building Models.