Publications

Presentation slides prepared for Residential Field Study stakeholder participants.  

This project was initiated to review residential provisions of the Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, 7th Edition (2020) (FBC-EC) in order to make a determination if it meets or exceeds the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).

This project’s code stringency evaluation activities included:

• Reviewing residential provisions of the 2020 FBC-EC and comparing them with residential provisions of the 2018 IECC
• Listing impactful code differences by Mandatory, Prescriptive, Performance and Energy Rating Index categories and providing the anticipated stringency impact for each
• Using EnergyGauge® USA energy modeling software to compare 2018 IECC and 2020 FBC-EC Prescriptive and Performance compliance method stringencies.

Discussion topics and questions from the Future of Codes stakeholder workshop. 

A research project in the State of Georgia 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.

The purpose of this report is to document findings and final results from the Georgia 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.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory analyzed the relationship between the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index and the traditional simulation-based Performance Path used in the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The analysis evaluates, for a single-family residence with various characteristics, the ranges of HERS Index values that would imply compliance with the 2012 IECC Performance Path. Several building characteristics considered likely to result in quantifiable differences in the outcomes of the two approaches, or otherwise believed to be of interest to code developers and policy makers, are considered in the analysis.

A research project in the state of Idaho identified opportunities to reduce homeowner energy costs in residential single-family new construction by increasing compliance with the current state energy code. The study was initiated in January 2018; data collection began in March 2018 and continued through June 2018. During this period, research teams visited 127 homes during various stages of construction, resulting in a collection of data based on observations made directly in the field.

The Department of Energy (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program (BECP) periodically evaluates national and state-level impacts associated with energy codes in residential and commercial buildings. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), funded by DOE, conducted an assessment of the prospective impacts of national model building energy codes from 2010 through 2040. This current version is another fully updated report that includes code updates (ASHRAE 90.1-2022 and 2024 IECC), as well as additional enhancements and updates, including updated energy prices, state code adoption dates, emission factors, and renewable energy contribution among others. 

The Department of Energy (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program (BECP) periodically evaluates national and state-level impacts associated with energy codes in residential and commercial buildings. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), funded by DOE, conducted an assessment of the prospective impacts of national model building energy codes from 2010 through 2040. 

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), funded by DOE, conducted an assessment of the prospective impacts of national model building energy codes from 2010 through 2040. A previous PNNL study evaluated the impact of the Building Energy Codes Program; this study looked more broadly at overall code impacts. This report describes the methodology used for the assessment and presents the impacts in terms of energy savings, consumer cost savings, and reduced CO2 emissions at the state level and at aggregated levels.

DOE has conducted an interim and limited update to its 2016 study to evaluate potential building code updates using the 2016 methodology and data. This interim update includes estimated savings resulting from more recent updates to the model energy codes, including the Standard 90.1-2016 and 2019 editions, as well as the 2018 and 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).