Publications

A research project in the state of Maryland investigated energy code-related aspects of residential single-family new construction. The study was initiated in January 2015 and continued through July 2015. During this period, research teams visited 207 homes during various stages of construction, resulting in a substantial data set based on observations made directly in the field.

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

The goals of this study were threefold: 1) Provide feedback to the BECP on the implementation of the BECP protocol 2) Develop a preliminary pattern/range of the existing compliance rates of newly constructed residential dwellings and commercial buildings based on jurisdictions in Illinois that have adopted the building energy codes and 3) Identify areas where home performance and codes training and education activities could be improved or refocused. Measurements of a small sample set (10) of commercial buildings were also taken. Due to the insignificance sample size, a commercial compliance rate is not reported here.

Total System Performance Ratio (TSPR) is a metric for evaluating overall system efficiency instead of individual component efficiency, a solution that could also eventually facilitate the transition to a 100% performance-based code structure. TSPR is a ratio that compares the annual heating and cooling load of a building to the annual energy consumed by the building's HVAC system. This technical documentation provides background on the TSPR and support for the mechanical performance factors that are developed each 90.1 edition cycle to be used in the calculation. The current factors are developed for the 2022 edition of 90.1 in combination with addendum AG.

This technical documentation provides background on TSPR and support for the mechanical performance factors that are developed each 90.1 edition cycle to be used in the calculation. The current factors are developed for the 2022 edition of 90.1 in combination with addendum AG.

62 Commercial Buildings were evaluated for compliance with the 2009 IECC/ASHRAE 90.1-2007 be-tween October 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. Of that number, 17 buildings were eventually dropped from the study for several reasons: Building would not be completed within time frame and no similar building could be found to merge Project “died” prior to construction ever starting Building was completed or nearly so prior to first visit by Evaluator.

This document lays out the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) methodology for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of energy code and standard 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 life-cycle cost (LCC) economic analysis procedures.

DOE supports the development of the International Code Council’s (ICC) International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), the national model code adopted by or forming the basis of residential energy codes promulgated by a majority of U.S. states, as well as other voluntary building energy codes. DOE performs a cost-effectiveness analysis of proposed modifications to the codes as part of that support and also performs an analysis of cost-effectiveness of new code versions.1 This document represents the methodology DOE uses in performing such analyses.

The framework presented in this report is intended to align with industry efforts to develop optional approaches for achieving advanced energy and emissions goals through building codes and standards, including related technical briefs and analysis published by DOE supporting net zero energy (NZE) and net zero operational energy emissions (NZOEE) targets in residential and commercial buildings (Salcido et al. 2024, Franconi et al. 2024). DOE’s briefs contain supporting technical analysis and sample mandatory code language designed to overlay the model energy code (MEC). The documents address all building types and climate zones addressed by MECs, as well as multiple compliance paths contained therein. 

This letter certifies that Minnesota has reviewed the provisions of its residential building code regarding energy efficiency and made a determination as to whether it is appropriate for Minnesota to revise its residential energy code. The letter further certifies that Minnesota has reviewed and updated the provisions of its commercial energy code.

A research project in the state of Montana identified opportunities to reduce homeowner utility bills in residential single-family new construction by increasing compliance with the state energy code. The study was initiated in May 2018; data collection began in June 2018 and continued through September 2018. During this period, the project team visited 125 homes at various stages of construction, resulting in a data set based on observations made directly in the field.

Presentation slides from the 11/17/22 Outside-the-Box Options to Advance Multifamily Building Efficiency 2022 Summer Seminar Series webinar.

National Energy and Cost Savings for New Single- and Multifamily Homes: A Comparison of the 2006, 2009, and 2012 Editions of the IECC

These analyses evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the prescriptive path of the 2015 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), relative to the 2012 and 2009 IECC for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The analysis covers one- and two-family dwelling units, town-homes, and low-rise multifamily residential buildings covered by the residential provisions of the 2015 IECC.

In this analysis, PNNL evaluated the cost-effectiveness of the changes in the prescriptive and mandatory residential provisions of the 2018 edition of the IECC compared to those in the prior edition, the 2015 IECC.

The purpose of this analysis is to examine the cost-effectiveness of the 2010 edition of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES1 Standard 90.1.  PNNL analyzed the cost-effectiveness of changes in Standard 90.1 from 90.1-2007 to 90.1-2010, as applied in the United States.

The purpose of this analysis is to examine the cost-effectiveness of the 2013 edition of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES1 Standard 90.1 (ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 2013). PNNL analyzed the cost-effectiveness of changes in Standard 90.1 from 90.1-2010 to 90.1-2013, as applied in commercial buildings for each state in the United States.

The purpose of this analysis is to examine the cost-effectiveness of the 2016 edition of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1, which is developed by the ASHRAE Standard Standing Project Committee (SSPC) 90.1, and is the model energy standard for all commercial buildings and multifamily residential buildings over three floors.

Companion spreadsheet to the National Cost Effectiveness of Standard 90.1-2016 report.

The purpose of this analysis is to examine the cost-effectiveness of the 2019 edition of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 (Standard 90.1-2019), which is developed by the ASHRAE Standard Standing Project Committee (SSPC) 90.1, and is the model energy standard for all commercial buildings and multifamily residential buildings over three floors